The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-09-08

cent girIm
Il am, I am" she replied, with con-
vulsive sobs. "Oh, what have ever
done, or said. that you should ask me
such question 2"
The evident sincerity of her words
stirred the deep fountains OF his better
nature. If you are innocent" said he,
"God forbid that should make YOU
otherwise. But you accepted my invi.
tations and presents so readily, that /
supposed you understood me-"
"What could understand" said she,
"except " that you intended to make nae
your wife p
Though reared amid the proudest
distinctions of rank. he felt no inclina-
tlon to smile. He blushed and was 81
lent. The heartIess conventlonallties
of the world stood rebuked in the pre-
sence of affectionate simplicity. He
conveyed her to her humble home, and
bade her farewell, with thankful con-
sciousness that he had done no ire
trievable injury to her future prospects.
The remembrance of her would soon
be to him as the recollection of last
years butterflies. With her, the wound
was Deep In the solitude of her cham
Der she wept in bitterness of heart over
her ruined air-castles. Aud that dress,
which she had stolen to make All ap-
pear4nce beitting his bride Oh, what
Il she should be discovered1 And
would not the heart OF her poor widowed
mother break, if she should ever know
that her child was thief?
Alas, her wretched torebodings prov
ed too true. The silk was traced 10
her; she was arrested on her way 10
the store and dragged TO prison. There
she refused all nourishnenl, and wepi
necessarily. On the fourth day, the
keeper called upon Isaac T. Hopper,
and Informed him that there was a
young girl in prison who appeared to
be utterly friendless and determined to
die by starvation. The kind hearted
friend Immediately went TO her assis-
tance. He found her lying on the floor
OF her cell, with her face buried in her
hands, sobbing as if her heart wonld
break. He tried to comfort her, but
could obtain no answer.
Leave MS alone,n said the Quaker.
I" Perhaps she will speak 10 ME, if there
is no Que to hear" When they were
alone together, he put back the hair
from hertemples. laid his haud kindly on
her beautiful head, and said in soothing
tones, My child, consider me as thy
father. Tell me all thou hast done. If
thou hast takan this silk, let me know
all about it. will do for thee as would
for my own daughter; and | doubt not
| can help thee out of this difficulty"
After long time spent in affection
ate entreaty, she leaned her young
head on his friendly shoulder. and sob.
bed out, "Oh, wish was dead. What
will my poor mother say when She
knows of my disgrace
"Perhaps we can manage that she
never shall know it" replied he. Al
Turing her by this hope, he gradually
obtained from her the whole story of
her acquaintance with the nobleman.
He bade her be comforied, and take
nourishment; for he would see that the
silk was paid for, and the prosecution
Withdrawn.
He went Immediately to her employ
er, and told him the story. "Ths is
her first offence" said he. .The girl
is young, and she is the only child of a
poor widow. Give her a chance 10
retrieve this one false step, and she
may be restored TO society, useful aud
honored woman. will see that thou
art paid for the silk" The man readily
agreedsto withdraw the prosecution, and
said he would have dealt otherwise by
the girl, if he had known all the cir
cumstances. "Thou shouldn't have in
quired into the merits of the case" re-
piled Friend Hopper. By this kind
of thoughtlessness many young crea-
lure is driven into the downward path.
who might easily have been saved"
The kind-hearted man next proceed
ed to the hotel, and with Quaker SIM
plicity of speech inquired for Henry
Stuart The servaAk said his lordship
had not yet risen. WTell him my busi-
ness is of Importance" said Friend
Hopper. The servant soon returned
and conducted him to the chamber
The nobleman appeared surprised that
a stranger, in the plain Quaker costume,
should thus intrude upon his luxurious
privacy. When he heard his errand,
he blushed deeply, and frankly admit
ted the truth of the girls statement
His benevolent visitor took the opportu-
nifty to bear testimony" against the
and sin of prohigacy. He
did it in such kind and fatherly man.
ner, that the young mans heart was
touched He excused himself, by say
ing tha, he would not have tampered
with the girl if he had known her to be
virtuous. 81 have done many wrong
lhings," said he, 6 but, thank God, no
betrayal of confding innocence weighs
Oh my conscience. | have always es-
teened it the basest act of which man
is capable" The Imprisonment of the
poor girl, and the forlorn situation in
which she had been found, distressed
him greatly. When Friend Hopper re-
presented that the silk had been stolen
for his sake, that the girl had thereby