to several persons who were present, and who resided in the town. Russell had suspected Cecil from the moment of its disappearance, and now provided with both letter and watch, and accompanied by Mr. Brown, he repaired to Mr. Watson's store. Russell had been insulted, his nature was stern, and now he exulted in the power of disgracing the son of the man who had wronged him. There was no flush on his face, but a cold, triumphant glitter in his eyes as he approached his former employer, and laid watch and letter before him. [Pg 34] "What business have you here?" growled the merchant, trembling before the expression of the boy's countenance. "My business is to clear my character which you have slandered, and to fix the disgrace you intended for me on your own son. I bring you the proofs of his, not my villainy." "Come into the back-room; I will see Brown another time," said Watson, growing paler each moment. "No, sir; you were not so secret in your dealings with me. Here, where you insulted me, you shall hear the whole truth. Read that. I suppose the twenty-dollar gold piece followed the watch." The unfortunate father perused the letter slowly, and smothered a groan. Russell watched him with a keen joy which he might have blushed to acknowledge had he analysed his feelings. Writhing under his impaling eye, Mr. Watson said— "Have you applied to the witnesses referred to?" "Yes; they are ready to swear that they saw Cecil bet Turner the watch." "You did not tell them the circumstances, did you?" "No." There was an awkward silence, broken by Mr. Watson. "If I retract all that I have said against you, and avow your innocence, will it satisfy you? Will you be silent about Cecil?" "No!" rose peremptorily to Russell's lips, but he checked it; and the patient teaching of years, his mother's precepts,[Pg 35] and his mother's prayers brought forth their first fruit—golden charity. [Pg 35] "You merit no forbearance at my hands, and I came here intending to show you none; but, on reflection, I will not follow
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