: __“:’_-.._...
iiiAi TELFORD ROAD
The transients who: are nightly pro-
vided with lodging at the Smith street
station-house had they have been .in-
vited to exchange their quarters for
those opened to the public at the so-
called Town House, in response to the
call for a special town meeting, would
no'doubt have said “our quarters are
preferable.”
And yet there were about 75 voters"
who Monday afternoon, assembled in
what is probably one of the worst look-
ing and most cheerless public meeting
rooms in Fairfield county, if not in the
state. to take action'on a call promul-
gated by the selectmen for the follow-
ing purposes:
To repeal so much of the .vote of said town
passed at its annual business meeting held on
the 20th day of January, 1896'. authorizrng and
directing the Selectmen to cause to be im-
proved a certain highway according to the
prowsions of Chapter CCCXV of the Public
Acts of this State of the year 1895, entitled
“An Act to Provide for the Improvement of
Public Roads,” as reads as follows, viz :—
“that certain highway known as the Connecti-
"cut Turnpike. beginning at the city line
“of the City of South Norwalk about 140
“feet West of Taylor Avenue and extend-
“ing Easterly as far as' out be done With
"the sum of money appropriated therefor,”
and in the place and stead thereof to designate
and direct some other highway or section of
highway to be improved according to the
provisions of said vote and public Act.
Town Clerk Smith read the call, after
which the namesof James Golden and
Jeremiah Donovan were offered as
moderators of the meeting, both of
whom declined.
'l‘allmadge Baker was then elected
moderator and kindly consented to act,
but with a; reluctance that seemingly
showed that he expected war,’ but
throughout the meeting he proved that
his selection had been in no wise mis—
placed.
The call was then read for the. second
time.
It remained for MrJDonovan to fire
the first gun which he did by asking the
question as to whether or not there was
a quorum present, and suggesting that
as it {took a vote of fifty to pass the
original vote it would require a similar
number to rescind it. "
It. H. Golden asked if the meeting
had been called by reason of a petition
from the taxpayers. This was gun num-
ber two. ,_
Selectman Isaac Selleck said that the
meeting had been called by reason of
the statement that the vote passed at a
previous meeting in reference to the
matter now before the meeting, had
been decided by the town’s attiorney
to be illegal. .
Mr. Donovan then raised a point of
order, and claimed that the meeting
had been called simply at the instiga-
tion of Selectman Selleck and that the
call had not been signed by the two
other members of the board, Merrill
and Thomese—or at least he had been
given to so understand. This gun par-
took of the nature of a bomb, and near-
, ly every one present- seemed to feel the
force of the shock including the first
selectman.
All quickly recovered, however, when
Town Attorney Warner arose and quiet-
ly remarked that in his judgment the
road proposed could not according to
law he built, as voted at the former
mechng. If built at all under the law
regulating the construction of the same
it would have to be constructed'further
west and outside of the city lines. and
that the town could not consent even
with the approbation of the city to
build the same. The validity of the
act in reference to the part the state had
in the construction of the road had
nothing whatever in common with what
the city might vote in reference to the
building of the road, and in no wise de-
pended on such vote. He said that law-
yers would agree that i 11 other con-
structioii which might b..-. placed on the
act would be absurd and not worthy of
discussion. If the road Was built at all
the town would be liable for all needed
repairs, etc. The law he said was un-
questionably made that the towns, not
cities, should derive the benefit of the
same.
Mr. Donovan asked if the laws could
be construed as applying in the same
manner to corporations, the laying
of street railway-lines, etc.
Mr. Warner replied that this statute
had no provisionslwhatever in reference
to matters presented in Mr. Dono
Van’s question. It Was a statute pro-
viding for the construction of roads,
and everything was left at the discretion
of the selectmen. ' ~
Mr. Donovan then asked, “You mean
to say then that the vote was illegal be-
cause it contemplated the building of
the road within the city limits? ”
Mr. Warner replied that the law was
not intended to provide for the building
of roads within city limits. If such had
been the intent of the law it would have
been incorporated in the same. It was
within the power of cities to order such
road built as they saw fit, be it either
of belgium, brick or whatsoever they
chose. The town had no voice in the
matter. He then somewhat dramati-
cally added, “This road will never be
built under this law, however this meet-
ing may vote. The courts will never
sustain any such action.”
John H. Light was then recognized
by the chair and said: “Evidently
Messrs. Warner and Selleck are de-
termined that the vgte shall not be car-
ried out and theiwork done. Mr. Sel-
leck, as I understand it, has gone
"to get aside from carrying out the in-
tent of the Vote passed so unanimously
at ii previous meeting of th - voters. ,
. Fl {went further am- said th it not the
name of a single Voter appeared on the
original call for the meeting. He also
said that he had been told that the call
for the meeting had been made before
the signatures of the other two select-
men had been affixed to the same.
This was (innit-d by Mr, Selleck and
Mr. Lightletthe point piss, but not
without asking if the board had hr-ld ‘a
meeting together and discussed the
mentor. He received no reply and sat
down.
Mr. Selleck was then recognized and
remarked that he had no feeling against
South Norwalk, but the road would in t
be built. He was interrupted by Mr.
Light who asked him if he did not at
the meeting in Hartford say that he
“had no respect for the lawyer who
might say the road could be legally
built.” Mr. Selleck’s reply was weak
and not to the point.
Mr. Light then told a pat story which
he ended With the remark that while
Mr. Selleck might be open to convic-
difl'er with him. .
Mr. Selleck replied that “ the town of
Norwalk may have by vote said billlil
the road, but if our attorney says it 1-“
illegal [don’t carejl ti-s Whole U‘Jiletl
States is against me I won’t have ll.
(lone ” .
Attorney Light said that the passage
of the law was largely brought about
through the work of wheelmen who
wanted good roads, and these on the
main”thoroughfares. He said tn..t he
had talked with the chairman of the
state highway commission, and alike
with himself he did not believe that it
was necersary that the cit-y should take
any action in the premlePS whatever.
He read from the Suite act in question,
and asserted that if the construction
placed upon it by Mr. Warner was
correct, the entire act was unconstitu-
tional. The selectmen he thought had
absolute power in the construction of
such road, It was not the first time
the question had been raised and had
been settled in favor of the cities. He
said that he felt free to guarantee that
the city would keep the road in repair
after it was constructed. It was a
thoroughfare which was the main inlet
into Norwalk from the west and that
the city of Norwalk would gain more
benefit than would South Norwalk.
Mr. Warner: There is no road in
town that requires improving more than
does the one in question. No one has
any Objection to such improvement
provided it Can be done according to
law. If the work is done the town is
liable for the keeping of the road in re-
pair.
the moneylexpended there. It the city
agrees to keep it in repair there is yet
another objection. It was not intend-
ed that the roads should be built within
the city limits at the expense of the
town. The telford system was a super-
ior one 'and was not only intended for
use but also as object lessons for the
building of like roads in all towns in the
state. Cities enjoyed the right of put-
ting down such roads as suited them.
The road in question had not been in a
reasonably safe condition for a long
time and the city of South Norwalk was
at fault for such condidion. If the
town of Norwalk, he said, has a right
lay a similar road in the city of Nor-
walk. In fact under these conditions
the two cities could saddle all of their
road upon the town.
Mr. Light said that there was [10 law
that could compel any municipality to
make a road other thau:passable.
Mr. Donovan asked, “Out of whom
does this money come to build the road?
This particular road is one of our main
thoroughfares. Not a single voter, he
said, had voiced against its construc-
ion as ordered at a previous meeting.
He then made the pertinent inquiry
“Why is it that one selectman should call
a meeting and afterwards getothermem-
bers of the board to sign the call?” He
was interrupted by Mr. Selleck With a
“who did?” and as if paying no particu-
lar attention to the question said “You
are noted for you strength of lungs and
and language as well.” Continuing he
asked “Was it the intent of the law that
cities in the county paying nineteen
twentieths of the taxes should not get
any benefit from the act?”
Engineer Briggs then asked Mr.
Selleck if he had not said at the meet-
ing in Hartford thatjif the city of South
Norwalk would pay $1,000 of the ex-
pense incured, it would be all right,
and then sent a shaft dead at Mr. Sel-
reconcile this with the statement that
the town has no legal right to build the
road ? "
As on previous occasions Mr. Selleck
dodged behind his barrier of “Our at-
torney tells me it is so.” He further
added “Senator Ferris says Iam right,”
and “Representative Keeler tells me
that it was not the intent of the law to
build roads for'cities.”
He gave a parting shot at Engineer
Briggs by saying that he Briggs had
stirred up all the contention, and that
he had also said that he had “fixed”
the commission.
Mr. Light jumped up and asked. Mr.
Selleck what he meant by saying that
Briggs had “fixed” the commission?
Mr. Selleck modified his assertion
and the clouds of the battle could be
aperatures in the side of the building.
around seeking some kind of an excuse [ 'But there was another shot in abey-
WEEKLY -
tion he was ready to defy all who might.)
Personally he would like to have '
to lay this road it also hada right to ~
leck in the shape of ”How can you .
seen rolling through one of the large.
N 0‘ R W A
ance which came from Mr. Donovan, i
which sounded something like, “Wt”
you fixed the other selectmen didn‘t
you ? ”
Mr. Selleck did not deign to notice
the shot other than to dodge it which
he did by keeping still. A .
Snap! bang! came another shot from
Mr. Light, who put a leading question, .
“Mr. Selleck, are you willing to abide
by the vote of the town ? ”
Bang! “No sir, Mr. Light—rever so
long as our counsel says that it is il-
legal.”
Finally Mr. Light moved that the
matter be indefinitely postponed,
which was carried with but one dissent-
ing vote that could be heard, and that
an emphatic “ No! ” from M r. Warner.
A motion to adjourn then prevailed,
and the nettle was over, the situa-
tion remaining the same as before the
call for the meeting.
GHOSEMIISHERMAN
A meeting of the archdeaconry of
the Episcopal church in Fairfield coun-
ty was held Monday afternoon at Trin-
ity church in Bridgeport, for the pur-
pose of electing a successor to Arch-
Dencon Tatlock of Stamford, lately de-
ceased. The Rev. Louis N. Booth of
Bridgeport was elected nesident pro
tem and he opened the servmes by of-
fering up a prayer in which all present
joined.
The warrant issued by the bishop of
the diocese calling the arch-deaconry
together was read by, the secretary.
Avote was then taken to determine
whether the first ballot should be a
formal one or not. It was decided that
it should be formal. Nominations being
in order the Lev. H. M. Sherman of
St. Paul’s church, Bridgeport, and
Rev. Mr. French of Noroton were
nominated.
‘Ihe Reverends Lindley and Boyiston
were appointed tellers and when the
ballot was counted it was found that
the Rev. Mr. Sherman had received
the highest number of votes, twenty-
eight. Bev.'Mr. French received 8 and
there were six scattering. The Rev.
Dr. Booth then declared Mr. Sherman
elected for nomination to the bishop.
1f confirmed by the bishop the election
will be considered final.
. FAST DAY.
Governor Collin Issues the Usual Annual
Proclamation.
Governor Coffin yesterday issued his
fast day proclamation as follows:
“In consonence with a practice care-
fully observed for many years, I hereby
appoint Friday, the 3rd day of April, as
a dav of fasting and prayer.
“Remembering dangers safely passed
let us, as a people, earnestly inquire
whether we have used the opportunities
of a year in the manner best calculated
to promote our temporal and spiritual
welfare; and, being mindful that seriouu
perils menace our peace prosperity, let
us, with one voice, ask of Him, from
whom every blessing comes, that guid-
ance which gives clear perception .of
duty, with wisdom and courage to dis-
charge its obligations to the acceptance
of our Father in heaven. '
- O. VINCENT COFFIN,
Governor.”
-———-v _.__._.‘§—
New Wrecking Car.
The Consolidated railroad has a new
big steam derrick, set on a car built en-
tirely of iron. It was constructed in
Bay City, Mich., and is chiefly remark-
able because of its immense lifting pow-
er, being capable of lifting twenty-five
tons.
It was given a trial the other day on
locomotive No. 127, which was damaged
in the Larchmont accident about a
week ago, and is now being stripped in
the New Haven yard. The big derrick
picked 127 up and set it down on
another track six feet away without a
strain or without adding to its injuries.
The derrick is a. great improvement
over the hand derrick previously used
on the road.
THE EFFECT WAS STARTLING.
Consternation Caused by a Cry of Fire in
a. Philadelphia Tailor Shop.
Next door to the office of a popular
magistrate iii the central portion of
that city there is a small tailor shop
which has this sign in the Window:
“Trousers pressed While you wait.”
Quite a number of politicians frequent
the magistrate’s office, says the Phila-
delphia. Record, and they often drop
into the tailor shop to have the “bags”
taken out of their trouser knees. One
day lately Select Councilman “Tommy”
Ryan and a number of up-country dele-
gates were sitting in the tailor’s back
room While their respective pantaloons
were being ironed. Representative
John H. Fow, Who is forever on the
lookout to play a. practical joke, passed
the door bf the shop and took in the
situation at a. glance. Mr. Fow raised
his mighty fog-horn voice in one wild
cry of “Fire!” The effect was in-
stantaneous and startling. Mr. Ryan,
the first to dash through the shop door,
was clothed, as to his nether extremi-
ties, in flaring scarlet. Two of the
country politicians wore gray and
White, but the third wore, besides the
startled look upon his face, not much
of anything. His “biled” shirt was
pretty long, but it did not prevent the
few pedestrians on the street from see-
ing his bare knees knocking together
with fright. When the victims real-
Lzed the trick that had been played
upon them they scurried back to
shelter.
LK ijA Z ET
autoimmune.
Some weeks since, a genteel looking
drummer while in Bridge-port, found
himself short of funds and going to an
acquaintance requested the limb oi iii).
The party approached tlElDllllel but
was finally prevailed upon to make the
loan in reiu: u, as security, of a check
prof-erred by the young man for twenty
dollars, he being assured wmd if
honor that- cVerylliing was all right
and “on the level.” ' ‘
He took the check and placed it in
the bank aiiila few days later it Was
returned protested, there being no
funds to meet it.
The ’ young man who uttered the
check Was located in Norwalk and his
name given as Fred B. Scofleld. Sunday
night Deputy Sheriff Doolan of Bridge-
port, came to Norwalk with a min-ant
for Scofield’s arrest. He had no trouble
in locating his man and set a close
watch for him.
Not desiring to cause any trouble to
the man’s family the sheriff in company
with ofiicer Bartram waited until Mon-l
day morning and as he came out of
the house on to the street with his silk
hat nicely set upon his head, placed
him under arrest and took him to
Bridgeport.
It did not take long for the report of
the arrest to become known, and then
it was very much in evidence that it
was not the first time that Scofield had
been up to the same kind of misdoings,
in the past. his victims being .a well
known South Norwalk business man, a
Stamford man named Philtop and sev-
eral New Canaan men.
To a GAZETTE reporter, on Monday,
an officer who is well acquaint-ed With
the facts said, the one-half against him
has not been told, and if the parties in
interest choose they can land him in
State prison. _
Scofield is a cigar drummer and at
one time represented Willets tit Co., of
New York, and later a Newark firm.
He always, as the boys say, “put on a
good front" and made several sales in
NorWalk.
It was more out of respect to his wife
and child that those whom he has
swindled did not cause his arrest and
prosecution before, as he so riciily de-
served.
Paid Up.
Frederick B. Scofield who was arrest-
ed Monday by DeputyiSherifi' Doolan
on the charge of having passed a worth-
less check on Thomas Brophy of
Bridgeport, and was taken to that city,
has been discharged from custody be
having settled the claim to the full
satisfaction of Mr. Brophy.
Resigned Without Explaining.
R v. Eugene M. Grant. who has been
past: r of the Universalist church in
Stamford since 1880. surprised his con-
gregation Sunday by tendering his res-
ignation. No reason is assigned.
A Story of Pluck and Sacrifice.
A Rockland (Me.) woman whose story
is briefly outlined by the Courier-Ca-
zette has particular reasons for thank-
fulness that the last years of her life
are spent in the land that celebrates
July 4. This lady, Mrs. Hanmhnn by ‘
name, lived in Ireland at the time of
the potato famine. At last things got
so desperate with her family that they
held a council to see what could be done
to keep them from starvation. Ameri—
ca was thought of, but if the husband
went to the United States what would
keep the mother and children? So the
brave woman decided that she would
go. By hard exertionand bitter suc-
rifice hcr passage money was earned,
and, taking a sad farewell of her home
and little ones, she crossed the ocean.
She procured a situation in New York,
and while the father kept the family to-
gether and earned enough to give them
a scanty living the mother worked
night and day in the far—off city to get
the funds that would bring her dear
ones to this country. At length the
years of probation were over, the fa-
thcr and children landed in New York
and the family was once more united.
“Ah!” said the old lady, “it was a hap—
py day when I saw me man and the chil-
dren landing from the steamer.”
Love and Tattooing.
When young and poor one of the now
wealthy citizens of Waterbury, Conn.,
loved a poor and beautiful maiden. So
much did he love her that he had her
name and a striking portrait of her tat-
tooed on his right arm. Her parents
opposed the match and forced her to
wed a. rich suitor. The young man
vowed he would never marry, and for
forty years he remained a bachelor. He
became many times as rich as the man
who had wrecked his youth’s dream of
love. A few weeks ago he capitulated
to the charms of one of Derby’s fair
belles, and proposed marriage. She ac-
cepted on condition that he should have
the tattooed reminiscence of his first
passion removed. The sight of the
symbol could not fail to prove embar-
rassing to both. A doctor was called
in and performed a painful but not
dangerous surgical operation, and the
counterfit presentment of his first love
was replaced with an ugly scar as a re-
minder, so he now says, to his soon-to-
be bride of the folly of youth.
Punishing ‘a Slanderer.
A Puritan preacher named Boyd was
in the habit of inveighing against Crom-
well. Secretary Thurlow informed the
latter, advising him to have the man
shot. “He’s a fool, and you’re another,”
said the protector; “I’ll pay him out in
his own coin.” He asked Boyd to din-
TE.
her, and, before giving him any, prayed
for three hours. , ' '
1.
HER FATHER’S SECRET.
Emily Vane sat at the drawing-room
window which overlooked the sea and
the Cleveland hills, but she saw neither
sea. nor hills. She and her father, with
the servants, had been now some five
weeks at Saltburn,in a. large house
which Mr. Vane had rented for the sum—
mer. Henry Vane, Esq., owned a good-
sized mansion in Belgravia, where he
had lived for the past eight years dur-
ing the London season; and an estate
near Nottingham, amid picturesque
scenery, where he generally resided
when not in London. Each summer,
however, be rented his house at Salt-
burn; for not only Emily, but himself,
too, was charmed with the quiet, beau-
tiful Yorkshire watering place. From
all of which it. will be at once surmised
that Henry Vane, Esq., was a man of
wealth. '
His’ meney had been acquired abroad,
and though of his family nothing or
little was known by society, he was well
received by some excellent houses; for
even a titled person does not care light-
] y to offend one whose income is £ 40,000
a year.
Emily Vane saw neither sea nor hills.
Her thoughts were wholly occupied by
two letters in front of her. Both had
come that morning, and both were pro-
posals for her hand. The first of them
was from the earl of Seacroft, who for
some time had been paying Miss Vane
noticeable attentions, and who, both as
regarded personal qualities and posi-
tion, was indeed no bad match for any
English maiden. He was yet young and
fairly wealthy, and for some months—
in fact, since Emily had “come out”—
had been a victim to her beauty and
charms. She admitted to herself that
Lord Seacroft’s proposal was not one to
be lightly set aside. .
The other letter was from Mr. Hubert
“’clls. Emily had met him about six
months ago at a country house} since
which time he had been her devoted ud—
mirer. She frankly confessed to lacr-
self that she liked "him, that she liked
lhis society, and that she knew that he
loved her. But Hubert “'ells was not
rich and had no particular position. lie
had only about :1: 400 a, year, which his
father, long,r since (iced, had left him to
live upon.
Emily Vane still set, looking first at
this proposal, then at that. She had, for
the past. week or two. expected both.
and so unsettled and doubtful was she
that she had given neither suitor any
chance of proposing personally. But
now it had come—430th on one morning!
The ordeal had to be faced; the decision
to be made! Her pride, her love for her
father, her wish to raise the name of
Vane, said: “beacroftf’ yet there was
a small voice underneath which whis-
pered: “Hubert.”
In her .perplexity she picked up the
letters, and went to see her father in
his study. Emily Y. ne’smotherhaddied
other birth; her father was her closest
confidant. As Emily entered, he rose
up and kissed her lovingly, then smooth-
ing her hair, said, quietly:
“Which of the two is it to he, love?”
The beautiful girl gazed at him with
eyes half dimmed with tears, as she an-
swered, blushingly: ,
“Whichever my pupa likes. He al-
ways chooses for the best.”
“Well, my dear, suppose I should say
Lord Seacroft? I have always wished
such a husband for you—titled, yet no-
ble in nature’s best way.”
“Yes, papa.”
“Yet I like this Mr. Wells.”
Emily’s heart beat a shade quicker.
“He cannot give you what the earl of
Scucroft can, and what I have so often
pictured you; and yet— and yet—he is
his father’s son!”
The girl gazed, half in fear and aston-
ishment, for her father was as pale as
death, and shook visibly.
“What is it, papa ?” she said.
“Sit down, my love,” replied Mr. Vane.
“It has only come, as I felt certain some
day it would. God has brought it out
in His time. I must tell you now. Don’t
be afraid, Emily. It is the secret of my
life which I’ve hidden for 35 years;
now you must share it. I feel I should
not be doing right if I let you choose
to-day without; telling you of it. When
you have heard my story, you must
choose for yourself, and be assured
your choice, whichever it is, will please
me. As for what you will hear, it will
remain your secret and mine; I shall
keep it as before, and I must beg of you
to do the same all ypur life, even from
your husband.”
Emily sat in doubt and fear, sure that
her kind father who had so loved her
would not tell her anything to distress
her, if he could help it; and yet anxious
as to What such an awful secret could
be. The master of Olton sat in a. chair
with his face away from the light,
watching intently that clear, sweet face
of his daughter, upon which the full
sunlight shone. .
“Thirty-five years ago a convict ship
was sailing from England for Botany
bay, under the command of a brave cap-
tain and crew. There were no fewer
than 40 convicts on board—desperate.
fellows of every description: thieves,
highwaymen, manslayers, all kinds of
villains. Among them was one Whose
case had excited much interest at home,
since many people believed him inno-
cent—morally, at any rate—of the
crime he was said to have committed.
Among a gang of poachers one night
he, their superior in rank, had had the
misfortune to shoot one of the keepers
who had watched for them and at-
tacked them. The shot had killed the
keeper, but there was some doubt as to
whose gun it had come from, and when
the convict in question was arrested and
charged the keepers swore that he had
fired the shot. For himself, he knew
not whether this was so; several of his
fellow poachers said he was innocent;
and that the real culprit had escaped.
His sentence, however, was that of
penal servitude at Botany bay for life
—-probably the doubt alone saved him
from-being hanged. .
“Naturally his spirit was galled; he
became morose, 'wild, severe in aspect
as in temper, and his reputation on the
convict ship‘ was that of the worst
criminal on board. He rebelled at his
jailers, at his food, at his confinement,
and felt ready for any dark deed. The
chance soon came. The vessel was off
the Cape of Good Hope, some miles
away, ivucn he first got knowledge of
a projected mutiny, in which the cap3
tniu, crew and jailers were all to be
murdered; and the successful muti-
necring convictswwere then to steer for
some unknown point in Africa and land
there.
“It was a desperate scheme, and with
the mutiny he. was thoroughly in uni-
son, but not with the murder. He was
not yet as black as that, and tried hard
to dissuade his fierce companions from
it, but in i-a-in. As they ,cr'sistcd in
their plans, he felt that all he could do
«as to keep quiet till the t il‘lt‘ for action
came; but the captain and his wife
had been really kind to 1111;. and he de—
termined they should not die. Yet he
would not betray his companions, like
a coward.
“On September 8 the attack was
made. He stood near the c .ptain’s cab—
in to protect its unsuspci» .5‘ inmates.
When the mstineers, haviig' :v; .zs:d the
watch on deck and killed them, came
rushing down, he ordered them back
from thot~cabin; they refused to go.
and a light ensued. The captain became. .
roused, the alarm was given, and, after
21 (1.093314! resistance, the rebels Vi ere
overpowered and put in irons. The
captain begged of the guards to set
the convict who had saved his life at
liberty, but they declined, pretending
that, in reality, he was as bad as the
rest. So he was closely guarded.
“It was on touching at Perth that
the captain’s opportisuity came. Hav-
ing secured the cooperation of his
mates, be entertained the whole of the
guards to dinner one evening, and made
them hopelessly drunk. In the mean-
time, one of his party contrived to se-
cure possession of’their keys, and in a
few moments the convict’s irons‘had
been loosened and he was free. The
captain himself came and shook hands
wit-h him ere he sent him off in the
boat which was waiting for him.
“ ‘I know,’ said he, ‘that what I have
done for you is risky, and may-cost me
something if my part is discovered;
but you saved my life, so I will take
this risk to save you from the crushing
penal servitude. All I have to say to
you is, get away from the coast, after
you have lauded as soon as possible,
change your name and appearance as
much as you can; go into some honest
business, and though it is not- likely, if
ever I do iheai' of you again, let it be in
such a way that will do you creditnand
repay me for giving you your freedom
to-night.’
“The tears' stood in the convict’s
0 yes as be thanked his benefactor, and
grasped his hand. ..
“ ‘Sir, I shall take your advice. My
little bit of good was almost gone by '
the brutal treatment I have suffered—
for I don’t'think I killed that game-
kecper, but even if I did, it was purely
accidental. You have proved to me
that all the kindnessand gratitude are
not yet gone out of the world, and I
hope some day to be able to show you
how I appreciate it.’ '
“Within a few minutes more the boat
had landed him on the mainland. He
watched it return to the ship, and then
departed.
“It was six years after this that, with
money made in sheep farming, Joseph
Turnell, the former convict, turned up
at Ballarat just as the first rush of the
gold fever occurred. It was Turnell
who bought the great tract of land
which was afterward discovered to be
almost. wholly gold under the surface,
and who sold it, after getting some
thousands out of it, for a. very large
sum. But nobody in England or Aus-
tralia, when Joseph Turnell’s name was
mentioned, ever thought for a moment
that. he was the escaped convict about
whom such a stir had been made at.
home, both on his escape, and later,
when a dying tramp confessed that it
was his gunshot that memorable night
which killed the keeper.
“Joseph Turnell was wealthy, and had
married a dear girl in Victoria, who had
borne him a daughter ere she died.
Need I go on, Emily ? You have guessed
it all! He came to England and took
the name of Harry Vane, owing to hav-
ing had some estates left him, as he told
his friends; in reality, to throw any
chance old acquaintance off the scent.
There is no fear now of any discovery
or disagreeable thing happening. I felt
nervous the first year or two, but now
the only two who know all this are you
and I, for even the good old captain is
dead. So, you see, I ‘was imprisoned un-
justly after all, but it has turned out
a good thing for me in the end. And,
now you have wealth and beauty, I
wanted, for my own ambition, to see
you a lady by title and position, and the
earl of Seacroft could have no finer
countess nor you a. more desirable hus—
band.”
She sat pale and agitated, yet smiling
now, for was not her dear father free of
that awful, even if unintentional, crime
which had made her feel. so sick as he
told her the story? .
“So you think I must choose Lo
Seacroft ?” asked she.
“Nay,” replied Mr. Vane; “I have
scarcely done yet. Hear the rest and
choose for yourself. As you know now,
all I have I owe to that good captain—
my freedom, my wealth, my fair fame;
I promised—and God knows I have tried .
—never to forget him and his wife.
Emily, that captain’s name was Hubert
Wells, and this Mr. Hubert- VVells is his
son! I found out all easily by my
agents. I have never repaid the father,
never can, nor the mother, either, for
What they did. My own dearest dar-
ling can, if she chooses—and I half'sus-
pect it Will be agreeable—sacrifice with
me our ambitious hopes and repay the
son for his father’s sake!”
“Yes, dearest papa, and she will.”
“God bless you both,” said he. “The
captain, though far away, will be as dc.
lighted as I am.”—-i T. Y. Sun.
Norwalk Chronicler