TWO KEYS: OR Margaret Houghton's Heroism.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 244, 16 October 1886, Page 3

TWO KEYS: OR Margaret Houghton's Heroism.

By MRS GEORGIE SHELDON,

Author of " Brownie's Triumph." " The For-

saken Bride," " Audrey's Recompense," &o,

CHAPTER V. THE ACCUSATION.

Arthur \A.siin-wall was also still a pupi ol Mr_Al'len's school, and this circumstance was tho only really disagreeable feature of Louis's life at the present time.

The judge's son was more supercilious, ii possible, than ho had boon the previous winter, and he took no pains to conceal the fact that his dislike, even hatred, of Loui3 had increased rather than abated.

One morning Louis hurried through his chores and started for school considerablyearlier than usual.

There wero some difficult problems in arithmetic to bo solved that morning, and he had not suceooded in getting thorn right. Thore was no one in tho school-room when horeachod it, and he bent himself to his task with a will that soon conquorcd all difliaulties. Thon, it being some timo bo fore the bell would ring, he fell into a fit of musing. Among other things his mind wont back to that day of little Margaret Houghton's party, and her kindness to him. He wondered if he should ever soa her again, and if sho would romember him.

Almost unconsciously as ho sat thus recalling that brightest experience of his lifo, be drew a black cord from his neck, and bogan toying with a small gold coiu that was attached to it.

So absorbed was ho in his reflections that he did not hear tho school-room door open, nor was ho conscious of the presence of anyone else until Arthur Aspinwall passed him with a stealthy step on his way to hia own desk

Their oyes met, and Louis colourod, and hastily concealod his precious coin, with a half guilty air. Arthur apparently took no notice of either him or hia act, but his eyes glittered with a strange light, and there waa a peculiar expression on his young faco all the morning. That afternoon be camo in late, and Mr Allen, who looked up as he entered, ob served that he appoared flurried, and that his face wore an anxious expression.

He went directly to his desk—hia mastor etill watching him—bent down and looked within.

An expression of relief immediately replaced that of anxiety as he drew forth his watch and Blippod it into his vest pocket. Then all at onco he started and began to examine his chain attentively.

The next moment he started straight for hiß teacher's desk with a very red face. "Mr Allen, was there anyone in the room during intermission to-day?" he asked, with some excitement in his manner.

"No one except Louis Dunbar, I have given'him peimission to remain here, as he is obliged to stay nt noen ; why 1" •'I left my watch bore to-day; the bar that fastens the chain in my button-hole broke this morning, and I slipped my watch into my desk, intending to take it to the jeweller and have it fixed this noon. But I forgot it, and now I find that some one has taken one of my charms, a gold dollar that my mother gave me one Christmas, four or five years ago. See !' He held up the- chain aB -he spoke, and Mr Allen Baw that somathing had evidently been wrenched from a tiiy ring that was attached to it.

He remembered having seen a gold coin suspended there, and he looked very grave as he listened to the boy's complaint, while ha studied hia fac.a intently"lt was a very careless thing to do, to leave your watch in the school-room ; you might have slipped chain and all into your pocket, and then it would have been safe," Mr Allen said, in roply. " Yes, sir, I know I might, but I thought something might happen to it while I was playing at recets, and that it would be safer here. I am sorry about the dollar, though, because mother gave it to me." "You are quite sure it was attached to your chain when you took tho watch off?" asked hia teacher.

" Yes, Bir, everything was all right but the bar, that I have here," and he drew it forth and held it up to view.

"Do you suspect anyone 1 Do you think of anyone who would bo likely to rob you of the coin ?"

" I do not think I would like to say that I do, sir," responded Arthur, with apparent reluctance.

'■ Very well, you may go to your soat, and 1 will mako aomo inquirioa regarding the matter," returned Mr AHod, but looking greatly troubled. Arthur obeyed, and the maater immediately called the school to order, related what Arthur had told him, and asked if anyone had seen a coin like the one he d>scribed.

No one answered, and every eye was bent upon the maßter in grave inquiry and perplaxity. "I hope," said Mr Allen, sorrowfully, that no one of my Bcholara would be guilty of taking that which belonged to another ; but this coin is miasing, and it is evident that it could not have become detached from Aspinwall's chain without hands. Louis, was there anyone in the room with you during the nooning ?" inquired the gentleman, turning kindly to him. " No, sir."

The master hesitated. He had learned to repose the utmost confidence in the boy, for he had always found him straightforward and honest, and he could not bear to question bim closely about the matter. But he knew that suspicion would naturally fasten upon him, because he was the only one who brought his dinner and remained in the school-room, and it was his duty to eift the matter thoroughly. "Do you know anything about Aspinwall'a loss ?" he asked, with an effort. " No, sir ; I did not even know that his watch was in the room," was tho prompt reply. " Were you here all the noon hour? "All but a very few minutes, when I went across the street to the store, to get a pencil, and there was no oae here when I came back."

He looked so honest, and spoke so con- j fidently, that not one in the room bolieved him to be guilty of the theft, unless it was Arthur Aspinwall himself. "How long wore you gone, do you think ?" questioned Mr Allen. "Perhaps five minutes, air ; not even more than that." Some one might have entered the room and stolen the coin in that time, if it hal been known that the watcli was there, but it seemed unlikely. However, Mr Allen was glad to give Louis tho benefit of the doubt: it would have shocked him greatly to have had him proven the thief. " I trust not ono of you ha? boon guilty of thiaact,"'.he aaid, solemnly. "But if anyone has, in a moment of impulse, boon led into wrong, I hope restitution will be made at once ; remember, a sin confessed ia half atoned." A dead calm followed these serious words. Every face in the room was grave and troubled, but no one spoke, and the matter was dropped for the time. Several days went by, and nothing moro was said publicly on the subject, though there was a good deal of talk and surmise among the scholars, and Arthur hinted more than once, in Louis's hearing, at the fact of there being a thief in their midst, and it would be well for everybody to look carefully after his property. Louia paid no attention to theße innuendoes, for he was conscious of his own innocence, and he would not allow himself to be troubled by anything that his enemy could say. He still wore that slender black cord, with its precious coin attached, about his neck; but, strangely lenough, never ence thought of it in connection with Arthur Aspinwall's loss, nor droamsd of the cunning plot that had been laid against him, and was so soon to bring him to shame. " I say, you," said Arthur one day, at recess, and in a confidential tone, to one of the worat boys in achool, " I wonder what Dunbar wears around his neck, and is bo very choice of ?" " Why, does he wear anything ?" aaked the boy, curiously. " Yes ; I've noticed a black cord about his neck lately."

" Perhaps it's his mothor's picture, suggested Arthur's unsuspicious companion. " Maybe it is. I'd give considerable to know, though," responded Aepinwall musingly. "So would I, and I'll manage it before long,"roplied the other, with a resolute air. A day or two after this conversation, one stormy morning, a lot of the scholars were o-athcied round tho stove during recess, and Jim Cotton—for that was the name of Arthur's confidant —managed to sidle up to Louis, who was taking that opportunity to look over his history lesson for the last time before going into the class. Mr Allen was standing near, explaining a difficult problem to a group of girls, and distinctly saw and heard all that followed.

"Seems to me, Louis, you're 'mazing industrious to day," remarked Jim, laying his hand familiarly on his shoulder, ana speaking in a half-derisive tone. " I have to be, you know, in order to keep up with the class," Louis replied, without taking hia eyes from his book. " Humph I I don't think it pays to be moping over one's books all the time. What difference will it make in a hundred years whother you keep up with your class or not?" roturned Jim, while his keen eyts seemed to be closely inspecting something in the region of Louis's collar. " I don't suppose it will make any differonce to the world in a hundred years, but it would make a good deal to me now, if I did not,' Louis quietly responded. "Yes, anybody can see that you are bound to go ahead. Hulloa !" cried Jim, as if he had made a sudden discovery ; "thero's a great coarse black thread on the back of your neck —let me pick it off 1" Before Louis was hardly aware of his intention, he had seized that slondor black cord, and with a dextrous jerk, pulled from its hiding-place in his bosom Margaret Houghton's treasured gift, and it hung gltttoring in his hands, and swinging back and forth bofore his astonished schoolmates.

Jim's "Hulloa!" had beon heard by nearly ovoryono, and tho attention of ovory poison in tho room was attracted by it to the two boys.

Mr Allon had stopped his explanation to look, and now stood regarding Louts in speechless astonishmont and diapleasuro, while a death-like hush instantly porvaded tho room.

" I thought it was a thread on the back of his nock, and tried to pull it off," Jim hastened to explain, but looking halffrightened over what he bad done ; for ho, as did everyone elic, believed that tho thief who had stolen Arthur A-pii.Wj l's coin was at last discovered.

But Louis, Hushing a vivid crimson with sliame to havo his schoolmates know how he had troasured that simple gift, sei/.ed it quickly from Jim and clasped it tightly in h'S hand.

"Louis!" at last said Mr Allon, in a voice of thunder, " what doos this moan ?" ■• Sir ?" and the youth turned toward him with a frightened look at that tone. " How came you by that gold coin ?" " It was given to me, sir. " Given to you I —by whom ?" " A little girl, sir ;" and now Louis began to grow pale, as ho saw toward what these questions wero tending, and marked tho expression of suspicion depicted upon tho faces of those around him. " A little girl gave it to you ?" repeated Mr Allon, severely. "When?" " A year ago last June, sir." " Have you worn it round your neck ever since that time ? " Yes, sir." But Louis hung his head at this confession, and col ued crimson again. Mr Allen and his pupils thought it was from conscious guilt. " I hope you are telling me the truth, Louis Dunbar," said tho master, sternly, but his inflection implied a grave doubt.

" I am, sir," promptly returned the boy, and now his bright dark eyes wero lifted and met his toacher's steadily and frankly, thoui.li the colour still remained In his cheeks.

Arthur Aspinwall now steppod forward, shooting a look of malice at Louis as he did so.

"Mr Allen, I beliove that dollar, is mine," ho said, confidently.

" Wait a moment, Arthur; I have a few more questions to a?k. Louis, you may bring mo that coin." Tho boy opened his hand and looked wistfully upon his treasure ; it was the only keepsake that ho had over possessed, and he could not bear to part with it.

ISut ho hesitated only an Instant. The next he stepped forward and laid it upon Mr Allen's extended palm, though his lip quivered as he parted with it The man regarded him fixedly. The boy's manner did not betray a sign of guilt, yet the evidence seemod strong againßt him.

" What was the name of the little girl who gave you thia ?" ho a9ked. *• I do not know what her last namo was, sir; but I heard a servant call her ' Miss Margaret.'" " Where does she live ?" " She lived then on tho road from Boston to Brookline." "How did ehe happsn to give it to you ?'' In a simple, straightforward way, Louis related how he had strayed from the city on that hot summor'a day ; how he had beon attracted by the sounds of mirth coming from a gentleman's grounds, and how tho pretty child had greeted him, presenting him with the dollar, and then taken him up !o the house and treated him to some of her birthday feast. Mr Allen watched him critically during tho recital, and was convinced of its truth.

When Louis finished his story, the teacher stood thoughtfully considering the matter for several minutes.

"I think I will take charge of this piece of money for the present," ho said, at last

"I've had it so long, and—l told her that 1 would always keep it," Louis pleaded, in a husky voice, and his tone was so earnaßt, his oyos so wistful, that the man ha'f relented.

Bnt there was a doubt about the matter ; justice must be done at any cost, and he said, firmly, though not unkindly : "If it can be proved that it rightly belongs to you, Louis, you shall have it again ; but until this matter of Arthur's loss and your asserted ownership is settled, I shall keep it." Louis said no more, but turned sadly away and went to hiß seat. He was grave and troubled during the remainder of the day, and when at length school was dismissed he hastened home without exchanging a word with anyone. Ho saw that he was regarded with suspicion by the scholars if not by his teacher.and was deeply hurt and mortified.

Nothing moro was said openly about the matter for several days, though tbe children gathered in knots at recess, and before and after school, and cflscussed the case quite spiritedly among themselves. Saturday afternoon, while Louis waa in the corn barn ehelling the golden ears of grain to send to the mill, the door was suddenly opened, and Mr Allen appeared in the aperture. "Come, Louis," ho said in his brisk, hearty way, " I am going into Boston, and I have Mr Brown's permission to take you with me." Tho boy's face lighted, then fell.

Ho could not forget that he was still resting undor a ban, " You are very good, sir," he began, " but "

" We won't stop for ' buta ' jußt now, I am in a hurry. Run in and get ready as quickly as you can. 1 am going to drive in," Mr Allen interrupted. The boy left his work and proceeded to obey, but his eyes wore averted, and his step was not the quick, elastic Btep of a lad anticipating a raro pleasure.

They drave along for a couple of miles, Mr Allen chatting upon indifferent topics, but, coming to a place where two roads crossed each other, instead of keeping straight on he turned to the right. " This is not the way to Boston, Bir," Louis observed. '■ I am aware, of that fact, my boy ; but I am going to drive through Brookline," returned his teacher, smiling. Louis flushed scarlet. " I cannot rest," Mr Allen continued, "until you aro exonerated before the whole school ; so I roßolved that I would spend this afternoon in trying to solve tbe mystery of that contested coin lam going to find your little Miss Margaret, if I can, and with her word to prove the truth of your story; you will stand acquitted of all wrong bofore the school." " You are very good, Bir," was all Louis could say, and Mr Allen saw that hia lips were quivering with emotion, and bis eyes were full of tears. "Should you know the place if we pasß it?" he asked. ... < Ob, yes, sir. I shall never forget it, nor the great iron gate where she tossed the dollar through at me." His face was all animation now He was convinced that his teacher believed in him, and that took a heavy load from hia heart. But he could understand that it was necessary to have some tangible proof in order to satisfy the doubts of others, and surely it was very kind in the master to take all this trouble for him.

After that, tho drive was vory pleasant, and finally they turned again into a road leading directly from Brookline to Boston, and after rolling along at a swift pace for about fifteen minutes, Louis said, pointing to a stately mansion, which reared itself proudly behind its now leafless trees and shrubbery:

" That is the place, sir." But a disappointment awaited them hero, for the house was closed, and no amount of knocking or ringing brought anyone to the door to answer their summons.

"They must have gone into the city, or perhaps south, for the winter," Mr Allen observed, looking doeply disappointed, as they re entered tho carriage and drove away. " Louis looked earnestly up into his face, hia great eyes as honest and frank as it is possible for a pair of eyes to be.

"Mr Allen, that little dollar is mine, and I never stole anything from anybody in my life," ho said, with a quiet dignity that was of itself quite convincing.

" I believe you, my boy, and I believe, too, that it will yet be satisfactorily proved to everybody. We must be patient a little longer —the family will doubtless return by spring, then we will come here again to interview little Miss Margaret," Mr Allen returned kindly and reassuringly, mentally resolving never to give up the matter until he had sot the boy right in the sight of his schoolmates.

But the matter was settled long before tho Houghtonß returned to their country home, and in a way that brought justice to all parties.

{To be Continued.)