SI twit FllAXK MORTIMER, 1 Editor and Proprietor. AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. (Terms: IX ADVAXCIi, I One Dollar iter Year. Vol. IV. OIic 3IaomMfo whites 2 Published Weekly, At New Illoomfield, Penn'.a. BY FRANK MORTIMER. BIJDSCniI'TION TEKM8. OXE DOLLAR PER YEAH! IX ADVANCE. ADVERTISING HATER. Transient S Cents pur line for one insertion. 13 " " " two insertions. 15 " " " three Insertions. Business Notices in Local Column 10 CcntH per line. Notices of Marriages or Deaths inserted free. Tributes of Respect, fce., Ten cents per line. YEARLY ADVERTISEMENTS. One Square per year, including paper, $ 8 00 Two Squares per year, Including paper, 13 00 Three Squares " " " 10 00 Four Squares " " " !!0 00 Ten Lines Nonpareil or one Inch, is one square. CORRIE SHERWOOD'S HERO. An Excellent Story. CONCLUDED. LINDSEY slipped to the door and turn ed the key. lie mould not bo inter rupted now he must know all. " Robert Mr. Sherwood," ho said lirmly, coming and standing before him, "I have a right to know what this means, and I must." " It moans that wo are all beggars " "Yes," ho interrupted, "I understand that, only tell mo it is nothing worse. That cheek of Morrison's " "I meant to pay it, God knows, Lind say !" ho exclaimed covering his face with his hands. " I expected to have the money to return to the bank long before his re turn." "Ho did not give you the check, then?" " Wo had some of his blank checks, and I O my God!" "Enough, I understand," Lindsey inter rupted strongly moved by his companion's anguish. After a while, Sherwood controlled him self enough to tell the story. Some six months before, a friend bad induced his father to invest heavily in a now oil com pany just beginning operations under the most Uattcring prospects. At tho same time, ignorant of his father's investment, ho bad himself bought ono bundl ed shares in another company whose promises were even more Uattcring than tho other. This left them very short of funds, and tho bill just paid was for goods bought on six month's credit, contrary to their usual cus tom, but made necessary by the circum stances. The first three months things looked favorable, and under the prospect of success other debts were incurred. Latter lysay for tho last month rumors of fail ure in tho first-named company had been circulated, and the morning after the party, they bad seen in a paper tho announcement of tho failure, and tho flight of the treasu rer with what little funds remained over the expenses that had been incurred in what had proved fruitless labor. Still they hoped tho story false, as no other had been received from tho agent in New York. Tho morning mail, however, brought one, con firming the newspaper report, and pronoun cing it a dead loss to stockholders. Tho effect on Ins father had been such as to nearly deprivo him of reason ; and his anx iety about Gorham's bill, so near due, drove him wild, and lie declared in a frenzy of passion, that he would never live to be dis graced by having bis store closed, or an at tachment put on bis property by Gorham, who he knew would not hesitato to do it. In this strait, his father half crazod, his mother and sistor weeping, and begging him to do something to save them and qui et bis father, tho temptation to use Morri son's name came to him. lie fought against it until ho himself was balf-distractcd, yielding at last, by comforting his con science with tho assurance that Morrison would gladly accommodate them if hewcio at home. "God knows, Lindsey, I had never dream ed of such a possibility as this I" he gasped in a hoarse whisper, "I had invested ten thousand dollars witii the prospect of trip ling my money in six months. The six months expired yesterday, and I have scarcely slept an hour this week, I have been in such a fervor of expectancy. It is all over now ! Bentley writes, tho whole tiling was an enormous swindle, and the sharp fellows who got it up are already on their way to Europe with tho money of their dupes ; an old worn out oil well, being all that is left for tho stockholders. 1 daro not tell father and that check O my God, I shall go wild!" And springing to his feet ho paced the floor in an agony of re morse and despair. " Why not write to Mr. Morrison at once, telling him the story as you havo told it to me. I don't think ho would prosecute the ease you could securo him by a mortgage on the store and contents : you say you have accommodated each other. "I will do so-ut once. Heaven bless you Lindsey ; I feel new courage already. I can bear the disgrace of bankruptcy but crime !" shuddering convulsively. A rap at tho door interrupted them. Lindsey turned the key and looked out. The shop boy stood a littlo in advance of thrco men, two of them tho same who had visited the store the morning after Corra Uine Sherwood's party. Ho closed the door behind him and walked forward to meet them. " Wo would like to seo tho senior part ner," ono of thorn said, glancing toward tho office door. "Mr. Sherwood is ill at his house, sir," Lindsey returned quietly. "Mr. Robert Sherwood, then." " Ho is busy, just now ; if you would in form me of your business," Alfred began ; but the man interrupted him with a short laugh and an expressive shako of tho head. "Call Mr. Sherwood," Lindsey said, turning to the boy. Robert came out at once, deadly pale, but calm. IIo had evidently overheard the conversation, and knowing tho speaker, divined at onco his business. IIo bowed quietly, and leaning against a pillar, said in a steady voice : "You can proceed with your business, gentlemen ; I think I anticipato its na ture." Tho two men exchanged glances, and then made a sign to tho third, who took out and read a writ of attachment upon tho store and contents, in behalf of Doyles & Hunter, of Hartford, creditors to tho Arm of Sherwood & Son, for goods to tho valuo of nino hundred dollars. Tho business concluded, Messrs. Doylo & Hunter turned to go out, leaving tho officer in charge of tho store. " I know whom I am to thank for this, Clark Hunter," Robert said, an angry flush struggling through tho dead pallor of his face. "Thank you," Hunter retorted. I am sorry I couldn't give you timo to draw on your friend Morrison?" And with a low, exultant laugh, ho walked away. Tho flush faded instantly from Robert Sherwood's face, and a look of despair set tled down upon it. AVith an unsteady step ho opened the office door and went in. "A bad business, Mr. Lindsey" said, looking sorry. "Yes," Lindsey answered abruptly, without looking up, a strange expression growing every instant in his face, and bis gray eyes darkening to jetty black. A moment or two more of struggle, and ho followed las partner intoxtho office. "It is too late for what I proposed," he said, speaking hurriedly, like ono who had made up his mind to do a thing and is in IVew Hlooiuiiolcl, Xn.9 piil haste to havo it over. " I have come to the conclusion that siirnod Morrison's nnmn. I shall be arrested for presenting tho' check 1 shall at once admit that I did it on mv own responsibility " "And bear the punishment for mv miilt ! No, I am not such a scoundrel as to suffer that, Lindsey," Sherwood interrupted. "Hear me, Robert." ho cried. Invintrhis hand on his arm. " Think of vom- unronta and Corrie. You can settle all these de mands and have a homo left for them, at least. 1 ou are young and capable, vou can soon get into some business that will keep you all comfortably and, pardon mo for alluding to it, permit you to marry Miss Austin." " We were to havo been married in a month," be interrupted, sadly. " i es, 1 heard so. Rut if sho is a true woman sho will wait willingly, and sympa thize with and encourage you, meanwhile. If I am anything, or ever might have been, it is your kindness and sympathy that have done it. I ask it as a privilege, my best and truest friend, to bear this burden for you. There is no one dependent on me, now mother is dead, and no ono will be pained or unhappy on my account. I am only a Lindsey, you know, and no ono will be surprised ; beside, I shall not suffer" ho was going to add, " because I have the consciousness of innocence, but checked himself, and substituted, "because I shall have the consciousness of repaying in part the great debt of gratitude I owe you." Sherwood at first positively refused to listen to such a plan, but ho was worn down with caro and loss of rest, and mind and body were nearly exhausted in the strug gle. He felt the force of Lindsey's reason ing, and at last yielded, weakly, perhaps, but not selfishly, for it was not of himself he thought, only of his father and mother, and Corrie and possibly of Floy Austin ; no man is willingly disgraced in the eyes of his betrothed wife. Well, tho blow had fallen, and all Grant ley was confounded. But tho bankruptcy, incredible as that seemed, was quite over shadowed by the dreadful turpitudo of young Lindsey, though not a few were heard to declare that it was nothing more than was to bo expected of a Lindsey, and they were not surprised in the least in fact, had been expecting some such thing to happen ever sinco James Sherwood was so Quixot ic as to take tho boy into bis store. It seemed the whole troublo from first to last, originated in Lindsey's crime, accord ing to tho odd logic of tho Grantley-ites, though Robert Sherwood took every occa sion to declare tho true cause of bankrupt cy to bo an unwise and wild speculation. But this was set down as only another proof of foolish weakness in upholding and coun tenancing Alfred Lindsey ho had al ways dono so. Only ono person in Grantley (save, of course, Robert Sherwood) believed in tho possibility of Lindsey's innocence. Why should they, indeed, sinco he himself had admitted his guilt at tho first ? But Annie Morrison was a stubborn littln thing when once she made up hor mind to anything, and as determined as sho was stubborn. It made her angry to seo every one so willing indeed, rather pleased to believe evil of ono who had fought his way up so bravely against tho prejudices of bis fellow-citizens. She had a natural love of opposition, and so she espoused his cause, and was in her element. If thero was any other reason that influenced her in the matter sho did not admit it, even to herself. Sho managed to seo him after his arrest just long enough to say, in a low voice : " You don't suppose beliovethis absurd story Alfred ? No, I know bettor and I am going to prove it !" "Miss Morrison, I beg,'' he began, but she nodded gayly, in a very positive way, and tripped away. A sharp pang of regret, tho first he had felt, shot heavily through his heart. IIo conquered the feeling after a littlo struggle. 5. 187(). He knew he could never bo anything to Annie Morrison ho had always tried to remember it, but a heart is a wayward thing to manage. " She will never know that I am inno cent," be said, a littlo sadlv. "and bv-nnd- by sho will como to think like tho rent." Aim yet Ins heart beat lighter all day for that whispered word. Before tho day of trial came, Annie had nearly succeeded in converting her father to her belief in young Lindsey's innocence. She had a happy faculty of winding that personngo round her finger. Ho had a great deal of faith in Annie's judgment, and altogether believed her to bo a most wonderful littlo woman. " You see," said Annie, argumcntativcly, " it's not at all probable that he would do this when it wasn't going to benefit himself any, only to pay an old debt contracted by the firm six months before he was admitted into it. And, by the way, I think it a shabby trick in the Sherwoods taking any one into such a shaky concern as theirs very evidently Was. "I think they meant well, my dear," tier lather interposed, mildly. " Perhaps," was the doubtful answer. "But now, father does it look reasonable that any ono would bo so anxious to con viet himself, if ho were really guilty, as you say Mr. Lindsey was ? You say ho seemed ' feverishly eager to criminate him self.' Now is that natural, father ?" "Well, not generally, I think." "Ofcourso not. I tell you bo is not guilty of this forgery, and if you send him to prison, you will do a very wicked thing," she said, vehemently. "But, my child, ho is in tho hands of the law; it will not bo as I say," he re plied. " But you can establish some test see if ho can writo your hand it is said that the imitation was perfect or require him to declare under oath that it was his work something to get at the truth for it is my firm belief that he is sacrificing himself to save the Sherwoods." Mr. Morrison promised to mention these things to a legal friend and get his opinion ; he did not know that could do much more. The day of trial came round ; it was only a formal one, tho accused having confessed his guilt, and requested that no defence be made for him. A counsel had, however, been assigned to him, to sum up tho exten uating circumstances, and beg that the court might bo as lenient as possible in its sentence considering tho nature of tho crime in view of his youth and previous good character. But a new complexion was at onco put upon affairs, by Clark Hunter's coming for ward at tho opening of the court and boldly charging the forgery upon Robert Sher wood. Ho stated that, knowing the finan cial affairs of tho firm to be in a very tick lish condition, ho had, in company with a detective from the city, kept an eyo on the Sherwoods for several days previous to the time of tho forgery. He knew of their dabbling in speculations, and learned ofthe failure of tho concern perhaps before they did. IIo was a littlo surprised to find a new partner in tho firm, and did not know but possibly he might havo money. Ho waited to find out. Ho soon learned that it was only a poor clerk who had long been in their employ. Ho knew Gorham's note fell due the next day, and he had a natural curiosi ty to seo how they managed to pay it. Ho was interested, from tho fact that tho Sher woods owed their firm quite a sum. IIo saw Robert Sherwood como down to the store, and almost immediately young Lind sey go away. IIo looked into tho store twice, but saw nothing of Sherwood, lie afterward saw Lindsey como down to the store, and a moment after, looking in through tho glass door, saw him behind tho counter waiting on some ladies. Afterward, from the same position, saw Shorwooti ppen tho office door and beckon to Lindsey, who came out from behind the counter and fol lowed him into the office. He then walked ISo. 1-4. away down street, not earing to let Sher wood seo him just then. In a little less than ten minutes Sherwood camo out of tho store and walked hastily toward home, lie then entered tho store, several others also coming in ; bought a pair of gloves, and waited further develop ments. Ho had a theory that some means' wcro to be put in operation to procure tho money to meet Gorham's bill next day, and thought possibly tho store and contents were to be mortgaged. " Presently tho sound of wheels mado mo lift my eyes," be continued, " ami I saw Robert Sherwood, and a fellow whom I judged to be ono of tleir servants, drive up in a carriage. Lindsey went hastily out. There was no one in tho store, ami a strong impulse to open the oflico dxr and look in, took possession of me. I did so, and the first tiling that caught my eyo was a piece of crumpled paper lying in front of the desk. 1 took it, and without looking at it, put it in my pocket and hurried out. Sher wood was still talking with Lindsey, who was seated in the carriago with the Irish man. I walked immediately out, and when at a sufficient distance, smoothed out tho paper and read, ' T. D. Morrison' written in half a dozen places, together with tho time and place of date. But the date was 'Sept. 11th,' instead of thirteenth as it really was. I was shocked at the suspicion that forced itself upon me. I had letters in Sherwood's hand, and I compared them with tho writ ing on the paper, and saw at once, that it was the same, only a littlo disguised. I had also a letter of Morrison's, and I remem bered all at once that I had previously ob served that there was a striking similarity between the handwriting of tho two men.'' "I knew Morrison had gone West. I wrote him immediately, asking if he had loaned Sherwood a sum of money to be drawn from the bank during his absence. lie telegraphed back that ho had not, and Mr. Dolo and myself visited tho bank, and found a check for SoOOO had been presented by Lindsey the afternoon of tho liitli. Wo went down at onco and put an attachment, on the store. Subsequent developments yon are familiar with. I demand now that Lind sey give us a proof of his handwriting being tho same signed to tho check, or that on this piece of paper," producing it and lay ing it on tho table. Lindsey firmly refused. There was a littlo excitement, and before it had subsided. Robert Sherwood, his face palo, yet firm, walked into court. "Stop !" he interrupted. "It is I, who am the culprit " " No ! no, it is not, gentlemen O, do not mind what ho says !" Lindsey cried, inter rupting him. " O Robert ! you promised mo you would not interfere," a pleading pathos in his voice. " Damon and Pythias," sneered Hunter. Well, of course the entire complexion of tho matter was changed, and Robert Sher wood, the handsome, generous, talented sou of ono of the oldest and most respecta ble families of Grantley, was condemned t imprisonment for forgery, and Alfred Lind sey's noble conduct was on every tongue. Public opinion, that licklo creature, fell a; once to abusing Robert Sherwood, and if it could have had the fixing of the seiitonci . I am afraid the gallows would have had another victim. By-and-by, however, tin excited s.tato of opinion subsided. Limlsc used every effort to soften the feeling against him, and at the end of a year suc ceeded in getting up a petition headed b Mr. Morrison, for his pardon. .After sonic delay it was granted, and Robert Sherwood, grown sadly old and altered in a year,cani back to Grantley. During his incarcera tion, Lindsey had acted tho part of a sou to tho poor, broken-down old man, win. seemod littl enough like tho proud mer chant of former years. All Grantley propl,. esied that Lindsey's lovo for Corrie Sher wood prompted him to this course of labo. and sacrifice, as well as being at tho bottom of his devotion to Robert. Well, as I said, Robert ,Sherwood cam. back to Grantley, broken in health ami spirits, his good name tarnished, povertv and toil before him, a weak, almost imbe cile fathor, and a helpless mother and sis ter dependent on him for support. Did hi old friends, remembering all his long, up right life, his pure morality, his gcnoroin. noblo nature, iorgive him thisono sin, com mitted under such groat excitement and provocation, and not a deliberate wrong? Mr. Morrison showed not only his true nobility as a gentleman, but his'Cliristian spirit, in using every effort tomake him foci how fully and thoroughly ho forgave bin . and wished to have it quite forgotten. lie also tried bravely to combat the prejudices ot Ins fellow-citizens, but with very indif ferent success. CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE.
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