Roxy Hastings — page 183: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

174 ROXY HASTINGS. “He gave one squalk, and dropped the box, and then showed fight.. But he only wanted one rap with this to make him reasonable, and I brought him along here, where he gave a very contradictory account of himself, though he said it was on account of the blow which kind o’ confused - him.” ‘“Give me Mr. Lee’s number,” said the other, “and I will bring him around for identification. He is in Eldridge street jail just now. I will bring the box and other things at the same time.” The major did so, and then in great glee returned home, where he found the ladies still at the breakfast-table. He called Mrs. Lee out to tell her the news, and when she had exulted over the recovered treasure they decided at once to tell Mrs. Eldon. . “She will want to see her son, of course, when they bring him,” said the widow, ‘‘and we ought to tell her at once.” They did so, but the news added so much to the terror and grief of the poor lady that it was found difficult to pacify her. That her son had really been found with the stolen property on his person (the box, the watch, and trinkets) was such a terrible confirmation of the charge against him that there was no longer room for the faintest hope of his innocence. ‘Did you see the poor boy ?” she asked. “No, ma’am, but I described him to the officers—gray clothes, soft hat, fine boots, a little cracked—and they said it was the same. Besides it was in this very street that he was arrested—but we’ll get him off, ma’am. There’ll be nobody to appear against him—and—and Charley can manage it.” “Yes, yes, but you can never get the guilt off his soul, nor the disgrace off his name, nor close the horrible gulf that separates him from all that is pure and innocent— innocent. Oh, that sweet word! How I value it now— now that I can no longer apply it to my Lewy.” “God will forgive him, ma’am, if he is a true penitent,” said the major, “and he will wash out his guilt in the blood of the Great Sacrifice. Then he will be innocent again, and as to the disgrace, there will be none, for we will hush it—hush itallup. You needn’t let even Celia know it, ma’am—lI suppose that’s his sister.” “Yes, sir.” “Not even Celia—nobody but us—us and Charley. We’ll keep it even from Alfred.” ) S} Fa Comicboo ae .