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Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

'There now, youiee, _ny'boy r l I would be glad to believe you ; ;but here are two witnesses againsb you! two young men of rank, who would nob stoop\to falsehood !' said the gentleman, sadly. ; 'Sir,'replied Ishmael, calmly, 'be pleased to listen to me* while I tell you what really happened. When you left me in charge of this horse, I l_di him to this stream. and, gave him water, and I was rubbing him; down with a handful of fresh dock leaves, when these two young gentlemen came up. Arid the elder one proposed to.help himself to the contents of the hamper. But the younger ono would not agree to the plan. And I, for my part, toldhimtolet thethings alone. Bub he wouldn'tmindme. linsisted, but he laughed at me and helped himself to the oranges, figs, walnuts, arid raisins. I told him bopubbhem back directly; but he wouldn't. And then I struck him and collared him, sir ; for I thought it was my duty to fight for theproperty that had been left in my care. But he was bigger than I was, and his brother came to help him, and they were too many for me, and between them they thi*eW me down. And then you came up. And that is the whole truth, sir.'

'It isn't! it isn't! He stole the things, and now he wants to lay it on us! that is the worst of all! But we can prove that he did ib, because we are two witnesses against one /' said' Master Alfred, excitedly. ' Yes ; that is the worst of all, my boy; it was bad to take the things, but you were tempted by hunger ; it was worse to deny the act, but you were bempted by fear ; ibis the worst of all to try to lay your,fault upon the shoulders of others. I fear I shall be obliged to punish you,' said the gentleman, 'gravely. J,;r ,■'■■...,■..■:'■--. ., *•.'■?, V' ' Sir, punish me for the loss of the fruit if you please ; but believe me, for I speak the truth,'said Ishmael, firmly. ;. i • Ab that moment he felt a little soft hand steal into his own, and heard a gentle voice whisper in his ear: , >;■■•-■.'•. 'I believe you, poor boy, if theydon't.' He turned, and saw at his side the little orphan girl in deep mourning. She, was a stately little lady, with black eyes and black ringlets, and with the air of a little princess. '•".■-■- / ' Come, Claudia ! Como away, my love,' said tho lady, who had just arrived at the spot. • ' No, aunt, if you please ; I am going to stand by this poor boy here! Ho has gob no friend ! -He is telling the truth, and nobody will believe him !' said the little girl, tossing her head, and shaking back her black ringlets haughtily. Ib was easy to see that, this little lady had had her own royal will ever since she was one day old, and cried for a light until ib was brought. ' Claudia, Claudia, you are very naughty to disobey your aunt,' said the gentleman, gravely. The little lady lifted her jetty eyebrows in simple surprise. ';"Naughty," uncle! How can you say such things to me? Mamma never did; and papa never does ! Pray do not say Buch things again to me, uncle ! I have riot been used to hear them.'

The gentleman shrugged his shoulders, and turned to Ishmael, saying:

' I am more grieved than angry, my boy, to see you stand convicted of theft and falsehood.'

' I never was guilty of either in my life, Bir,' said Ishmael. 'He was! he was! He stole the things, and then told stories about it, and tried to lay. it on us! But we can prpve it was himself! We are two witnesses against one ! two genteel witnesses against one low one! We are gentleman's sons; and who is he? He's a thief! He stole thethings, didn't he, Ben ?' questioned Master Alfred Bon burned away

'An d we thrashed him well for it, didn't we, Ben?' '":■' ■■".'■'"' ;•'.;':: _J .;£l-

'Yes,? said Ben. '.<• :■: , ~ 'So you see, sir, it is true I there ; _re two' witnesses against you; do nob therefore make your case quite hopeless by a persistence in falsehood,' said the gentleman, speaking sternly for the first time. Ishmael dropped his head, and the Burghe bbys laughed. Little Claudia's eyes blazed. ' Shame on you, Alfred Burghe ! and you too, Ben ! I know that you have told stories yourselves, for I see it in both your faces, just as I see that this poor boy has told the truth by Aw face!' she exclaimed. Then putting her arm around Ishmael's neck in the tender motherly way that such little women will use to boys in distress, she said: V -

'There! hold up your head, and look them in the face. Tt is true, they are all against you; but, then, what of that, when I am on your side? It is a great thing, let me tell you, tb have me on your side! I am Miss Merlin, my father's heiress; and he is the Chief, Justice of the Supreme Court. And lam hob sure but that I might make my papa have these two bad boys hanged if I insisted upori.it! And I stand by you because I know you are telling the bruth, and because my mamma always told me it would be .my duty, as the first lady in the country, to protecb the poor and the persecuted! So hold up your bead, and look them in the face, and answer them !' said the young lady, throwing up her own head and shaking back her rich ringlets.

CHAPTER XXII

ISHMAEL GAINS HIS FIRST VERDICT. Honour and shame from no condition rise; •■:•.: Act well your part, there all the honour lies. Worth makes tho man, and want of it the fel-

low, The rest is all but leather and prunella. '*■ . Pope.

So conjured, Ishmael lifted his face and confronted his accusers. Ib was truth and intellect ..* encountering falsehood and stupidity. , Who could doubt the issue? Hsir,' said the boy, ' if you will look into the pockets of that young gentlenaan, Master Alfred, you will find the stolen fruit upon him.' Alfred Burghe started and turned to run. But the gentleman was too quick to let him escape, and caught him by the arm. -

' What, sir! Mr Middleton ! would "you search me ab his bidding ? Search the son of Commodore Burghe at the bidding of— nobody's son ?' exclaimed the youth, struggling to free himself, while the blood seemed ready to burst from his red and swollen face.

'For your vindication, young sir! For your vindication,' replied Mr Middleton, proceeding to turn out the young gentleman's pockets, when lo ! oranges, figs and nuts rolled upon the ground. 'It is infamous ! so it is I' exclaimed Master Alfred, mad with shame and rage.

' Yes, it is infamous,' sternly replied Mr Middleton.

'Imeari it is infamous to treat a commodore's son in this way !' ' And J mean it is infamous in any body's son to behave as you have, sir !' ' I bought the things at Nutt's shop ! I bought them with my own money ! They are mine ! I never touched your things. That fellow did! He took them and then told falsehoods about it.'

'Sir,' Baid Ishmael, 'if you will examine that bundle lying under that bush, you will find something there to prove which of us speaks the truth.' Master Alfred made a dash after the bundle; but again Mr Middleton was too quick for him, and caught it up. It was a red bandana silk handkerchief stuffed full of parcels and tied at the corners. The handkerchief had the name of Alfred Burghe on one corner; the small parcels of nuts and raisins it contained were at once recognissd by Mr Middleton as his own.

' Oh, sir ! sir !' began that gentleman, severely, turning upon the detected culprit; but the young villain, was at bay i

! *Wen?' he growled, in ! riow ? r w_ai's all the muss about ? - Thosa parcels were what I took off Awperson when he was running away? with tnem. Didn't I, Ben?' ~., « ' Ben: gruriibled -feme inaudible answer, which Alfred assun__ to be an assent, for he immediately added : ' ' 'Andltied'themupirimy handkerchief to give them back;to you. Didn't I, Ben T Ben mumbled something or other. . • ... ii. 'And then I beat him for stealing. 'Didn't I,Ben?'.;- .V ' . ■ " ' 'Yes, you beat him,? sulkily answered! the younger brother. . :'. Mr Middleton gazed at the two boys.m amazement; not that he entertained the slightest doubt of innocence of Ishmael and : the guilt of Alfred, but that he was simply struck with consternation ab this instance of hardened juvenile depravity. 'Sir,' continued the relentless young pro* secutor, 'if you will please to question Master Bon, I think he will tell you the truth. He has not told a downright story.: yet.' ; ■ ~: ■ > ' Whab ! why, he has been corroborating: his brother's testimony all along!' said Mr Middleton.

' 'Only as to the assault, sir ; nob as to the theft. Please question him, sir, to finish' this business.' -'I will! Ben ! Who Stole the fruit arid

nuts from my carriage ?' \ Ben dug his hands into his pockets and turned sullenly away. , ' Did this poor boy steal them ? For if I find he did, I will send him to prison. And ; _ know you wouldn'b like to see an irinocenb boy sent to,prison. ' So tell me the truth ;—did he, or did he not, steal the articles in quesbion ? ? ''' •He did not.; riot so much as one oi them,'replied the younger Burghe. ' Did Alfred take them V '"* "

Ben was sullenly silent. ■ ' Did Alfred take them ?' repeated Mr Middleton. ■ •

' I won't tell you '.So there now ! I told you that fellow didn't J bub I won't tell yoii who* did ! It is real hard of>**_i to want' me to tell on my own 'brothe' / exclaimed Master Ben, walking off yvlignaribly. 'Thab is enough.; indeed, the finding of the articles upon Alfred's person was enough,' said Mr Middleton. \„. ' * i *T think this poor boy's.word ought to have been enough !' said Claudia. ■ 'And now, Bir I' coritinued Mr Middle-; v ton, turning to Masber Burghe—-'you have; been; convicted of thefb, falsehood, and cowardice—yes, and of the meanest false**, hood and of the basest cowardice I ever heard of. Under these circumstances, I; cannob permit your future attendance' upon my school. You are no longer a proper companion' for my pupils.- Tomorrow I shall call upon your father, to tell him what ha 3 happened, and v advise, him to send you to sea, under some strict captain, for a three or a five years' cruise !' ; 'If you blow me to the governor, PlI be shot to deabh if I don't knife you, old fellow!' roared the young reprobate. 'Begone, sir!' was the answer of Mr Middleton. . , ' * Oh, I can go! But you look out I You're all a set of radicals, anyhow! making j equals of all the rag; tag and bobbail about.; Look at Claudia bhere,! Wbat Would Judge Merlin say If he was to see his daughter with her arm around that boy's neck ?' Claudia's eyes kindled dangerously, and she made one step towards, the offender, saying : ' Hark you, Master > Alfred Burghe. Don't you dare to take my name between; your lips again land don't you dare to come near me as long as you live, Or even to say to anybody that you were ever acquainted with me! If you dol will make my papahave you hanged ! For I .do not choose to know a thief, liar arid coward.' «Claudia ! Claudia ! Ciaudja ! You, shock me, beyond all measure, my dear ,!',■■ exclaimed the __ly,,sn a tone-of real pain, andthen lowering her voifie,,Bb.e -—'"Thief, liar, arid coward !" what sWck®-''' ing words to issue frbm a young lady'slipS.'- . j ." ■< ;; ' 'I; know they are not nice words, Aunt Middleton, and if you will only teach me nicer ones I will use them instead.; But are there any pretty words for ugly tricks V. As this question was a ' poser' that Mrs Middleton did not attempt to answer, the little lady continued very demurely : •I will look in " Webster " when I get home, and see if there are.' • My boy,' said Mr Middleton, approaching our lad, ' I have accused you wrongfully. I am very sorry for it, and I beg your pardon.' ( '■>; Ishmael looked up in surprise, and with! an 'Oh, sir! please don't,' blushed and hung his head. It seemed really dreadful to, this poor boy that this grave and dignified gentleman should ask his pardon! Arid yet Mr: Middleton lost no dignity in this simple act, because ib was right j 1 he had wronged the poor lad and owed an apology just as much as if he had wronged the greatesb man in the country.! \ :V ■'' And riow, my boy,' continued the gentleman, 'be always as honest, as" truthful and as fearless as you have; shown yourself to-day, arid though your, lot in life may be very humble'— aye,, of the very humblest —yeb you will be respected in your lowly sphere.' Here the speaker opened his portmonnaie and took from ib a silver dollar, saying, 'Take, this,* my boy, not as a;reward for your, integrity— that, understand, is a mabter of more worth than to be rewarded with; money—but simply as payment for your, time and trouble in defending my property.' , ■ ' 'Oh, sir, please don'b. I realty don't) wanb the money,'' said Ishmael, shrinking from the offered coin. ■ ":

' Oh, nonsense; my boy 1 You iriuet be paid, you know,'said Mr Middleton, urging, the dollar upon him. ' ■,' But Ido not want pay for a mere act of, civility.' persisted Ishmael,. drawinjg back. 'But your time and trouble, child; they are money to lads in your lineof life.' ',' 'If you please, sir, ib was a holiday, and I had nobbing else to do.' * But take this to oblige me? 'Indeed, sir, I don't want ib. The pro-; lessor is very free-hearted and well for my work.' .'The professor? What professor, my. boy? I thought I had the honour to be the only professor in the neighbourhood,' said the gentleman, smiling. • 'I mean Professor Jim Morris, sir,' replied Ishmael, in.perfect good faith. 'Oh ! yes, exactly; I have heard of- that ingenious and useful individual, who seems to have served his timo at all trades, and taken degrees in all arts and sciences; but I did not know he was called a professor.. So you are a student in his college !' smiled Mr Middleton.

'I help him, sir, and he pays me/ answered the boy. ' And what is your name, bay good little fellow?' ' Ishmael Worbh, sir.' '| ; 'Oh, yes, exactly; you are the son of the litble weaver up on Hut Hill* just across the valley from Brudeneli Heights?' ' ' I am nephew, sir.' ' Are your parents living ?' ' * •No, sir; I. have been an orphan from my birth.' '

' Poor boy ! And you are depending on" your aunt for a home, and on your owri labour for a support ?' 'Yea, sir.' ■■ •■ »-.'.'<

•Well, Ishmael, as you very rightfully" take pay from my brother professor, I dc nob know why you should refuse ib from me.'' ' •'. ''■■■'.■ •- -■-■■ v 4.

(To be Continued on Wednesday next)

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