Part 4 (1/2)
”Russell, 'shall not the righteous Judge of all the earth do right?'”
”Shall the rich and the unprincipled eternally trample upon the poor and the unfortunate?”
”Who has injured you?”
”A meek-looking man who pa.s.ses for a Christian, who turns pale at the sound of a violin, who exhorts to missionary labours, and talks often about widows and orphans. Such a man, knowing the circ.u.mstances that surround me, my poverty, my mother's affliction, on bare and most unwarrantable suspicion turns me out of my situation as clerk, and endeavours to brand my name with infamy. To-day I stand disgraced in the eyes of the community, thanks to the vile slanders of that pillar of the church, Jacob Watson. I could bear it myself, but my mother! my n.o.ble, patient, suffering mother! I must go in, and add a yet heavier burden to those already crus.h.i.+ng out her life. Pleasant tidings, these I bring her; that her son is disgraced, branded as a rogue!”
There was no moisture in the keen eye, no tremor in the metallic ring of his voice, no relaxation of the curled lip.
”Can't you prove your innocence? Was it money?”
”No, it was a watch, which I gave up as security for drawing a portion of my salary in advance. It was locked up in the iron safe; this morning it was missing, and they accuse me of having stolen it.”
He took off his hat as if it oppressed him, and tossed back his hair.
”What will you do, Russell?”
”I don't know yet.”
”Oh! if I could only help you.”
She clasped her hands over her heart, and for the first time since her infancy tears rushed down her cheeks. It was painful to see that quiet girl so moved, and Russell hastily took the folded hands in his, and bent his face close to hers.
”Irene, the only comfort I have is that you are my friend. Don't let them influence you against me. No matter what you may hear, believe in me. Oh!
Irene, Irene! believe in me always!”
He held her hands in a clasp so tight that it pained her, then suddenly dropped them and left her.
Mrs. Aubrey recognized the step and looked round in surprise.
”Electra, I certainly hear Russell coming.”
He drew near and touched her cheek with his lips, saying tenderly--
”How is my mother?”
”Russell, what brings you home so early?”
”That is rather a cold welcome, mother, but I am not astonished. Can you bear to hear something unpleasant? Here, put your hands in mine; now listen to me. You know I drew fifty dollars of my salary in advance, to pay Clark.
At that time I gave my watch to Mr. Watson by way of p.a.w.n, he seemed so reluctant to let me have the money; you understand, mother, why I did not mention it at the time. He locked it up in the iron safe, to which no one has access except him and myself. Late yesterday I locked the safe as usual, but do not remember whether the watch was still there or not; this morning Mr. Watson missed it; we searched safe, desk, store, could find it nowhere, nor the twenty-dollar gold piece deposited at the same time. No other money was missing, though the safe contained nearly a thousand dollars. The end of it all is that I am accused as the thief, and expelled in disgrace for----”
A low, plaintive cry escaped the widow's lips, and her head sank heavily on the boy's shoulder. Pa.s.sing his arm fondly around her, he kissed her white face, and continued in the same hushed, pa.s.sionless tone, like one speaking under his breath, and stilling some devouring rage--
”Mother, I need not a.s.sure you of my innocence. You know that I never could be guilty of what is imputed to me; but, not having it in my power to prove my innocence, I shall have to suffer the disgrace for a season. Only for a season, I trust, mother, for in time the truth must be discovered. I have been turned out of my situation, and, though they have no proof of my guilt, they will try to brand me with the disgrace.”
For a few moments deep silence reigned in the little kitchen, and only the Infinite eye pierced the heart of the long-tried sufferer. When she raised her head from the boy's bosom, the face, though tear-stained, was serene, and, pressing her lips twice to his, she said slowly--
”'Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you; as though some strange thing happened unto you. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.' I will wait patiently, my son, hoping for proofs which shall convince the world of your innocence. I wish I could take the whole burden on my shoulders, and relieve you, my dear boy.”