Page images
PDF
EPUB

prisoner. You are charged with robbing your master of £31 17s. 6d."

Paul was amazed. For a few minutes he was unable to speak.

"I do not understand you," he said at last. "What robbery do you mean?"

"The money you received yesterday," said Joe Marlings.

"Why, it is in the drawer in Mr. Elton's private room. You saw me put it there, Joe, and you too, William Fenning."

"You put it in the drawer certainly," said William Fenning; "but you came here in the middle of the night and took it out again."

"Why, I came here," said Paul, "only to""You had better not commit yourself," said one of the policemen. "Whatever you say now will be used as evidence against you."

"I am sorry for you, Paul," said Mr. Elton (who had arrived home early that morning), entering the workshop-" very sorry. You were the last I should have suspected-but you must come before the magistrate; and, if you can prove your innocence, no one will be more pleased than myself."

So Paul was taken to the police-court-Mr. | Elton leading the way, his workmen following, and all the idlers of Maybury bringing up the

rear.

The case occupied some time; but, as the magistrate decided that it should be tried at the quarter-sessions, I shall relate the particulars presently. I need only say at present that some one hinting that Paul should be searched, money equal to the sum of which Mr. Elton had been robbed was found in his pocket. In vain Paul tried to explain that it was his own savings; even the magistrate, who, on account of Paul's previous good character, had all along thought him innocent, changed his mind, and said he feared the evidence against the prisoner was very suspicious indeed.

Then the crowd dispersed, and Paul was taken in a cab to the county gaol, where he would have to remain until the day of his trial. Ever since he had been charged with robbery, Paul had seemed as if in some waking dream, and the sudden accusation had such an effect upon him that he was scarcely able to say a word in his own defence; but when he passed the Manor House, and saw the preparations for the flower-show, the whole truth burst upon him, and he felt himself ruined for ever. Presently he became more hopeful. He would be more collected at the Assizes, and able to prove his innocence; so that by the time he reached the prison, he had made up his mind to bear the few weeks' confinement like a man.

She could not have heard as yet what had happened. But he dared not think of Nellie; the very idea that she too might think him guilty was enough to drive him mad.

The weeks passed slowly by. Paul's mother came to see him two or three times; she did not for a moment doubt his innocence, and gave him hope that it would be proved.

At last the day of the trial came. The court was crowded; and, after one or two unimportant cases had been heard, Paul was led into the dock, and the trial began. If anyone connected with the law should read this tale, let them remember that if the trial is not described in the usual way, it is not through ignorance, but to try and save the story from becoming tedious.

It was stated that Paul had received the sum of £31 17s. 6d. on account of his master, Mr. Elton; that in the presence of his fellow-workmen he had placed the money in a drawer in the private room; that he had locked the drawer, kept the key in his possession, and had been the last to quit the workshop; that he had been seen and owned to entering the shop at near eleven o'clock that same night; and that a sum of money, equal to that which Mr. Elton had lost, was found in his possession.

The first witness was William Fenning. He remembered the night perfectly well. He was present when Paul received the money, and saw him place it in the drawer. After work, he (witness) went to lecture, as was his custom on Tuesday and Friday evenings; and when that was over, he supped with brother Jerningham, reaching home shortly after nine. He lived at the baker's exactly opposite Mr. Elton's; and, as his room was on the ground-floor, even with the shop, could see what took place on the other side of the way perfectly well. The night in question being a warm night he was unable to sleep; so, lighting his candle, he sat up by the window, reading Dr. Blazely's work on "The Conversion of Heathens" (a book which he should be delighted to put into the hands of his worship, if he would accept a copy). He had been reading upwards of an hour, when, looking up, he saw a man on the opposite side of the street, whom, though it was a dark night, he recognised as Paul Dale. He saw him unlock the door, enter the workshop, and, after a few minutes, come out again with a large bag in his hand. He thought it strange; but, knowing Paul was in his master's confidence, and not thinking for a moment that there was anything wrong, he thought no more about it, and went to bed. The next morning he heard of the robbery, and had no doubt but that Paul was the thief.

Yet in the afternoon, in spite of his resolve, Mrs. Grice, Mr. Elton's housekeeper, hopes Paul became again despondent. He wondered his worship will speak a little louder, as she is whether his mother had heard the news. And rather hard of hearing. She heard nothing then the flower-show. They were all there about the money until after the robbery, and now, perhaps enjoying themselves as much as was certain that no one had entered through the if he had been amongst them with his name as house, having locked the doors and fastened much loved and respected as it was but yester- the shutters herself, and found them in the same day. Yesterday! That seemed a long while condition when she came down in the morning. ago now. And Nellie was waiting for him. She knew nothing else.

Adam Moor, who had evidently been taking something to give him courage for any crossexamination, remembered the evening as if it was yesterday. After work he went to the Blue Dragon, it being a club-night, and passed the evening with some jolly good fellows. They talked politics and parish matters, but he never said a word about the money to anybody; and if he had, no one could have got into the workshop, as Paul had the only key, and the door was too strong to be broken open, even if it had been, which it wasn't. He was surprised to hear that Paul had taken the money; for he had known him ever since he was a boy, and there wasn't a more industrious lad in all Maybury.

a short time after, the foreman gave their verdict -"Guilty."

A scream was heard from the far-off end of the court, and Paul saw his mother being carried out insensible.

The Judge said that it was impossible to deal leniently with the prisoner, for it was no common offence. It was not like a poor man taking money to keep his family from starving; but here was a case of broken trust-of a man who had received every kindness from his master, had good wages, and yet could rob that master of a sum of money which had been left in his care. His sentence was seven years' penal servitude.

Paul was led away from the court with the maddening thought in his mind that his good name was gone for ever. However, there is no need to dwell on his grief, nor on that of his mother and the few old friends who still behim innocent. Within a short time of his trial he was on board ship, in company with men who had committed every conceivable crime, bound for one of the convict islands.

Joe Marlings, who seemed to look upon a witness-box as a good place for a quiet snooze, said the evening in question was "awful hot." As soon as he reached home from work, he went to sleep under the trees in his back-lieved garden, and did not wake till it was time to go to bed. Begging his worship's pardon, but, as the court was "awful hot" too, he would sooner be in bed than where he was. He wouldn't pick up a penny if he saw it lying in the street,-[A voice in the crowd: "No, Joe, you'd be too lazy to stoop "]-much less rob his master, the kindest, betterest

Here he was told he might retire. Peter, the boy, on account of his tender years, was excused from appearing.

In defence, Paul Dale said he was innocent, True, he entered the workshop alone at the mentioned, but it was only to fetch his tools. which he particularly wanted at home. While looking for the basket, he fancied he heard a noise in the room below, but, finding no one there, he put it down to the wind or his imagination. He had now no doubt that it was the robber he heard, though how he came and went so quickly, and by what means he opened the drawer, he could not make out. He did not think it was any of the workmen, though they all knew the money was there. That found upon him was his own savings, which he was about to take to the bank; and no one was more surprised than himself when he heard of the robbery.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Seven years have passed.

Paul Dale has been the companion of crimihournals, has listened to their vile oaths and disgustthat is wicked that he has sometimes wondered ing language, and has heard and seen so much whether there was any good left in the world, But his own nature is the same. During the or if he was not dreaming some hideous dream. first few months of his transportation, Paul used to wonder whether it would be a sin to put an end to his life, thinking it would be almost impossible to live seven years in such company and he thought of his poor old mother and Nellie Raynot fall into some of their sinful ways; but when dian angel, he would become calmer, and prayfor mond, whose memory haunted him like some guarhelp to live sinless through the bitter long years which were before him. O! what weary years they were! The same monotonous work every day; and when that was over, no companion but his own miserable thoughts. At first he hoped to find some one amongst the prisoners who was not hopelessly bad, or who had already repented, whom he might make his friend and companion; but his search was useless, and he was shunned, laughed at, insulted, and, if it had not been for his strong arm, would have been worse treated, merely because he was better (morally, for there were some there who had been "fine gentlemen" once upon a time) than the others.

The Judge, in summing up the case, said that facts were very much against the prisoner. The story Paul had just told was very well of itself; but any thief could invent a tale like that when found out. He was known to have received the money; had the only keys of the private drawer and workshop in his possession; was seen to enter the place secretly, at a late hour in the night (the story of the footsteps below, the jury might believe if they could, but if William Fenning watched Paul enter and come out again, he would surely have noticed if anyone else had entered the workshop in the meantime); and money equal to the amount of that stolen was the next morning found in the prisoner's possession.

The jury retired; and, when they came back

to England.
And at last his time was up, and he returned

But Paul looked careworn now-at least ten years older than he really was; not that any of his old friends would have recognised him, for

debts.

his sunburnt face, stooping shoulders, and long, gage his cottage and orchard to pay off his beard made him look quite a different man. Of course, as soon as he arrived in England, he hurried off to his native place. There we will precede him, and see what changes have taken place in Maybury since the day when Paul left the town a convicted felon.

being dead, Paul thought it unnecessary to make himself known; so after taking a last look at the cottage in " Cherry-tree Dells," he would quit Maybury and seek work in some distant town, where neither himself nor his previous history would be known.

Such was the state of affairs when Paul came back to Maybury. He arrived there one autumnal evening, and his first question was about his mother. You can imagine his grief, when he heard of her death, and the poverty in which Poor Mrs. Dale was dead! She had strug- her last days had been spent. And then he gled with poverty for a long time, and her neigh-heard that William Fenning was expected to be bours gave her all the assistance in their power; made what he himself once stood a chance of but from Mr. Elton she would not receive any-being, namely, Mr. Elton's partner. His mother thing, saying that money from one who had appeared against her innocent son would only bring a curse upon her. At last, she was obliged to go to the workhouse; and there, one cold winter morning, she died, talking of Paul in her last moments. Adam Moor has taken the pledge, and is now one of the best workmen in Maybury. Joe Marlings is as sleepy as ever. Mr. Elton, who was sorry for Paul, and yet felt inwardly that he had done right in appearing against him, has prospered in business, though his life has been somewhat cheerless. He is now thinking about retiring from an active part in the business, and the partner who will take his place is, so say the gossips, no other than William Fenning, the Methodist.

he was just awakening. As Paul reached Mr. Raymond's cottage, one of the upper windows was opened, and some one looked out at the stars. It was Nellie, looking almost as young and childish as when Paul had asked her to come to the flower-show. But she soon disappeared; and as there was a light in the lower room, Paul ventured to look in through the half-open window. Two men were sitting in the room, old Mr. Raymond and William Fenning. It may have been a wrong thing to do, but Paul listened, and this is what he heard:

The clover fields looked just as they did when he walked through them full of happy thoughts seven years ago; but his old home had disap peared, and in its place a row of model cottages had been erected. How familiar the walk seemed! What dreamy memories came across him as he passed by the dear old scenes of other days! And there was "Cherry-tree Dells," looking the same as ever, and for a few moments it seemed to Paul as if the long years of his transNow, during the seven years William Fen-portation had been a fearful dream, from which ning's worldly prospects had changed more than those of any one in Maybury. Somehow, when Paul went away, William became foreman in the shop, and was soon as much in his master's confidence as Paul had been. Not that Mr. Elton could ever like the Methodist as he once did Paul Dale; but William was certainly a clever workman, and soon knew as much, if not more, of the business than Mr. Elton himself did. Now William Fenning had been well paid, and, as he lived rent-free over the shop (Mr. Elton thought it safe, after the robbery, to have a man always living in the house, in case he should be again absent) had managed to save a good deal of money; so that Mr. Elton, inwardly liking the man in his heart, though he could see no reason for it, had almost made up his mind to receive him as a partner. So far William had been prosperous; but there was something that made his days blank and cheerless, and kept him awake all night: he hopelessly loved Nellie Raymond. He had loved her long before Paul weat away, though he knew well there was no chance for him; but when the young carpenter left, William thought he would try and court Nellie, and went over to Cherry-tree Dells" often of an evening. But it was of no

use.

[ocr errors]

"I think you are treating me very unkindly, William," said the old man, in a weak voice: dis-"hav'nt I gone through trouble enough, without your wishing to turn poor Nellie and myself from our home to wander God only knows where ?"

Nellie would scarcely speak to him; and her father, a strict churchman of the old school, disliked him merely because he was a Methodist and a teetotaller. In vain William would tell Nellie of the riches he was accumulating, and of the grand house she should live in if she became his wife; and all through the seven years he would haunt the house where Nellie lived, though he must have known that he was unwelcome. To make things worse, there had been a bad fruit season, and people said old Mr. Raymond had been obliged to mort

"You mistake me, Mr. Raymond,” said William; “I was merely stating facts. You mortgaged your cottage and ground some time back; the money will be due in six weeks' time, and you are unable to pay it. Now, I, knowing what a hard man you had to deal with, bought the mortgage of him; so if you cannot pay me when it becomes due, this place is legally mine. But I do not wish to be hard upon you. I have loved your daughter Nellie ever since she and I were children. I love her now more than ever; and if you will only use your influence to make her consent to become my wife, I will tear the deed into a thousand pieces, aud lend you enough money with which to begin the world again.'

"But, poor Nellie! she does not love you, and would never be happy as your wife. However, I will ask her; but if she refuses, I will not force her to consent. I would sooner be turned from home, and go to the workhouse."

"Very well, Mr. Raymond; your fate is in

your own hands. If Nellie refuses, you know | any longer. "I have been one for a great many what will be the consequences. Good night."

years, and will be one no longer. Nellie Raymond may marry the greatest lout in the village, or die an old maid, for what I care."

He looked, though, as if he would have cared. "Has Nellie rejected you, then?" asked Mr. Elton.

And William Fenning rose to depart. Paul had heard enough. He dared not stay until William came out, being afraid to trust himself alone with him; so he ran from the cottage, and did not stop until he was far away in the clover fields, when he thanked Heaven that he Yes, this very afternoon. But enough of had been saved from lifting his hand against a that now. It's my belief she still loves Paul fellow-creature, no matter how black the heart | Dale; and if ever the thief comes back, I hope of that fellow-creature might have been. they'll have a jolly wedding, that's all !"

Early next morning Paul left Maybury. He could do no good by staying, for he was too poor to help Mr. Raymond, though he would like to have done so. Even had he been rich, he could never have asked Nellie to become the wife of one who had been found guilty of breaking the eighth commandment; so after lingering by his mother's stoneless grave he left the place, and soon obtained work as a labourer in a sea-side town some miles off, where they were making a dockyard.

CHAP. IV.

CONCLUSION.

It was Mr. Elton's birthday. A few old fellows like himself had dined with him, and they were now sitting round the fire, drinking their wine and cracking their walnuts. Maybe they were thinking what a nice thing it was to be sitting round a bright fire when the autumn wind was raging without, and the rain was beating against the windows. Their conversation was of that friendly kind which is only heard amongst men who have known one another many years; and many pleasant reminiscences of old times were talked over, and many of the battles which they had all fought in their youth, in the great struggle for existence, were fought over again. William Fenning was the only young man there; but somehow he seemed anything but comfortable. In fact, he had looked anything but comfortable for some time past, and when certain things were said, would start, as if he feared what was coming next; and then, having interrupted the conversation, would apologize awkwardly, saying he did not know what ailed him that evening.

"You don't seem yourself to-night, William," said an old fellow, sitting next the fire. "Why, when I was your age, if I had had only a few hours to wait before I became my master's partner, I should have looked a little more lively than you do now."

William did not answer.

"Young men have things to trouble them which we old chaps have long learned to laugh at," said another old fellow, from behind a large cloud of smoke. "I dare say that somebody has been cross, and that is why William looks so miserable."

"Young men very often make great fools of themselves," said William, unable to keep silent

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

William said this savagely, as if he knew that such an event could never happen; but he never told Mr. Elton that, now Nellie refused to be his wife, he intended, in a few weeks, to turn her father from his cottage. He thought Mr. Elton was better without such knowledge of his character, until the deed of partnership was signed, or the old man might relent at the eleventh hour.

Before ten o'clock William said he was tired, and would go to bed; and somehow, they all felt a certain relief when he had gone.

"And so to-morrow that man will be your partner?" said the old man behind the cloud.

"Yes," answered Mr. Elton. "I am getting old now, and want some one more active than myself, to look after the business. I don't know how it is, but my memory fails me terribly of late. Why, what do you think? Two or three mornings I have found the drawer in my private room wide open, just as it was when Paul Dale robbed me.'

"But did you lock it the previous night?" "I thought I had done so, but I must have forgotten it; and you will laugh at what I am going to tell you now. Why, the other night I fancied I saw a ghost."

"A ghost!" cried all the old fellows, in chorus. "Let's hear about it."

"Well, I had been sitting up one night, long after William and Mrs. Grice had gone to bed, when, as soon as I quited this room, I fancied I saw a figure in white, in the passage. As soon as it saw me it rushed upstairs. I told William next morning, and he said that sitting-up late had heated my imagination."

"Why, bless me," said an old fellow, jumping up, "if I don't hear a footstep coming down stairs now. Perhaps it's your ghost, Mr. Elton; suppose we all go and see."

Mr. Elton took one of the candles from the table, and went quietly towards the door; and the old fellows followed, though feeling somewhat frightened. There was no one in the passage, but a sound of something gliding along was heard in the workshop below. Mr. Elton and the old fellows went downstairs; and there, in a long night-dress, was what Mr. Elton had taken for a ghost, but what they now knew to be a man, walking in his sleep. Mr. Elton held the candle towards him, and they recognised William Fenning, who held a key in his hand, and was about to enter Mr. Elton's private room. Breathlessly the old fellows watched his proceedings. William walked up to the desk and, with the key he had in his hand, unlocked

outside the police-stations, saying that if Paul Dale would return to his native place, he would find the real robber had been found, and that he was proved to be perfectly innocent of the crime.

the drawer in which Paul Dale had placed the £31 178. 6d. He seemed surprised to find the drawer empty, and, after a few seconds, suddenly turned round, rushed out of the room, and tried to open the door of the workshop which led into the street. But the door was securely fastened, and the unsuccessful attempt at opening it He had been there some weeks, and was becomPaul Dale worked steadily at the dockyard. caused William to wake; when, looking round, ing contented with his new life. Happiness, he found himself surrounded by Mr. Elton and such as he had once dreamed of, he did not exthe old fellows, who now began to understand what it all meant. William Fenning fell down pect in this world; but for all that, he tried to senseless on the floor. They carried him up- forget the bitter years he had passed through, do his duty, and be cheerful, hoping in time to stairs to bed, and before long he was raving. and live such a life that he might again win the From what he said, Mr. Elton found out that it. was he who had stolen the money; and the Somehow it soon became known in the dockrespect and confidence of his fellow-creatures. next morning William confessed the whole truth to his master. It seemed that, years ago, bery, and some of the men kept away from him yard that Paul had been transported for robwhen looking for a key to fit a box he had at home, he found one which he thought belonged rough careless fellows, who either believed Paul as much as they could; but most of them were to Mr. Elton's private drawer. To be certain, when he said he was innocent, or else did not he tried the key, which fitted; and he would have left it there if he had not seen Paul un- cold frosty winter's morning Paul found himcare whether he was guilty or not. But one lock the drawer with the true key soon after-self treated as a hero, as soon as he came to wards. He had not dreamt of robbing at the work. There was a police-station near the yard, time; but when sitting reading on the night and the men, as well as the principals, had seen Paul entered the workshop, evil thoughts came the bill proclaiming Paul's innocence. The into William's head. He hated Paul because latter had not noticed it himself, but when he Nellie liked him; and thinking to get Paul into heard the news he was almost mad with joy. trouble, and enrich himself at the same time, Of course he at once obtained leave, and hurried he thought of his key, got through the open away to Maybury; and there he found Mr. window, entered the workshop, unlocked the Elton ready to do everything in his power to drawer in the private room, when, hearing Paul make up for the punishment which Paul had descend the stairs, he left the drawer open, took unjustly received. At first Paul was too proud the money, and had just time to hurry through to take anything from one who had appeared the window into his own room without anyone against him; but when he thought that Mr. knowing he had been away. But he had not Elton had only done what any other conscienbeen happy. The money, like everything unlawfully come by, proved a curse instead of a blessing. True, it had been the beginning of the savings which made him rich enough to have a share in his master's business. True, Paul had been transported for the robbery, leaving him a chance of winning Nellie Raymond; but Nellie remained true to the poor carpenter, and William was haunted night and day by the crime he had committed, giving him a miserable feeling that he would some day be found out, which nearly drove him mad; and to add to his fears, he had lately become subject to walking in his sleep, having several times before gone down and unlocked the drawer, unconscious of what he was doing, and somehow he always woke when he found the street door would not open; but he had always managed to regain his chamber undiscovered. Fearing some one might see him in his fearful wanderings, he had made up his mind to live in some other house, as soon as he had a sufficient excuse; but Providence, which helps us to find out the guilty, had willed that the true robber should be discovered, and William Fenning's crime was brought to light at last.

The news spread all over Maybury the next morning; but as William Fenning was ill in bed, no proceedings could as yet be taken against him. Still Mr. Elton communicated with the police; and before long bills were seen

tious man would have done under such sus-
would-be kindness to his poor old mother, he
picious circumstances, and remembering his
shook his old master by the hand, and thanked
him for what he had done.

after a long illness, became a hopeless maniac,
I have little more to say. William Fenning,
and ended his days in the county asylum. Paul
was made Mr. Elton's partner. ELTON AND
DALE is now painted over the shop; but Paul is
the active partner, the old man being able to pass
of knowing that his business goes on as well as
his declining years in peace, with the satisfaction
if he was there himself. William Fenning had
some relations who were very troublesome about
Mr. Raymond's mortgage; but when Mr. Elton
heard of it, he immediately paid the money, and
Paul was the bearer of the pleasant news to the
Need I say
cottage in "Cherry-tree Dells."
what happened then? Of course you can guess.
He saw Nellie-simple, childish Nellie-who
had loved him all along, and had resolved to
remain single for his sake; and maybe they
loved one another all the more after the long
years of separation, which both had thought
would last for ever.

And one spring morning Paul and Nellie were married; and when he heard the old familiar church-bells ringing for his wedding, which but a few months back he thought could never take

« PreviousContinue »