Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-10-24

4
meet my creditor again without the mon
ey? could not, and at length [ resolved
and resolved that l would not. arose and
went to the drawer. Iopened it, and saw
the bank notes which had been jammed in
there-I counted out,twenty doIlarsl My
hand trembled and my heart beat quickly.
Thrust the notes into my pocket, and then
hastened back to my seat and not long
afterwards my employer entered.
(" Well, Charles" said he, 81 guess
we'll shut up now" ua Lf7 -
/ arose and went out and put up the
shutters, and when 1 came back l found
Evered engaged in counting the money.
AS approached him. he eyed me with a
sharp, searching look, and trembled like
an aspen. is ga
What ails you ?" he asked.
Nothing, sir" answered. trying to
compose myself.
"But there must be something the
matter" he resumed, for you look as
pale as ghost"
II am tired" said.
:. Well, well, you have worked hard to
day, and you may go. I'll attend to :he
rest"
With desperate endeavor to compose
myself, thanked him for his kindness,
then seized my hat and left the store
The fresh air revived me somewhat, and
hurried on to the tailor's. Ipaid my bill,
and for moment my heart was lighter ;
but it was only for a moment. When l
reached the street again, the thought of
what had done came upon me with over
whelming force, and 1 was miserable
When reached home l professed to be
sick, and retired at once. But my mother,
sick and weak herself, came up TO my bed,
and wanted to fix me some medicine. She
gave me simple preparation, drew up
the clothes -snugly about me, and having
kissed me, she said
Be careful, Charles, for 'twould be
awful indeed TO have you sick. God keep
and bless you. Good night,
o, how these last words rang in my cas-,
What would my mother say-how would
she feel if she knew her son was Miefs
1t was long while before could give the
word shape or form, but it came at last.
could not keep it back. Thief! Thief K!
rang in my soul till an agony was upon me
so intense that all other conceptions Of
pain were as nothing. The night passed
away in sIeepless phantom making rest~
lessness and when the morning came, |
arose and walked out before my mother
and sister was up. did not return until
breakfast, was ready, and then had so
far overcome all outward signs. that little
remark was made upon it. But the worm
was gnawing at my heart.
That afternoon went with my sister to
Az i,a litFl h
l met the gaze of Mr.. Evered. He watch
ed me sharply. and saw marks of pain
upon his face. After the services were
over, saw him in conversation with the
tailor. 1 noticed how earnestly they
spoke-and once saw the tailor point his
finger towards me. L was sure, then.
that all was discovered.
" For mercy's sake, Charles, what is
the matter % cried Lucy, as she caught
my arm.
:" He's faint he's faint - 1 heard in
low, tremulous voice, and on turning,
saw Julia Evercd. She was frightened
-and at that moment came the convic.
ton that she loved me. But that other
thought came with it; aud then | knew
ere long she would Gespise me.
all the anxious inquiries of Lucy, only
replied that was not well. o, how mis-
cradle felt, for [ knew that my employ
er had detected the theft. His gaze at me
in church was proof enough but his con-
versation with the tailor made it sure
That afternoon dared not go to church,
and my mother worried over me. Ii she
would only have left me alone might
have been less miserable; but she clung
close to me, and had TO lie to her-the
first faIsehood | ever spoke TO that noble
woman.
Another night of restless agony, and
then [ came to the severest part of all. l
must meet my employer It was late
when l descended to the kitchen. and l
found my mother as pale and deathly as
death itself. For the moment forgot my
own pain, and hastened to her side. She
gazed up into my face with. such a look
as hope may never see again.
"Don't ask me any qestions, Charles, "
she said, ''but go at once to the store. =
Mr.. Evered wants you Immediately"
could not ask a question-not even
speak. Without breakfast-Without wait
ing to see Lucy, | started from the house.
People whom / met gazed at me sharply,
and once heard the word THIEF pronoun-
ced o, EYered had told the story of my
crime / How could he. No, no, twas the
tailor who told it, for my employer would
never have done it. Yet il. was known
| stopped. and suddenly the thought ol
flight occurred to me. Why had 1 moi
thought Of it before? Why should stay
longer where shame only could be minef
l turned to fee, and just then my sister
came rushing after me. with her hail
floating wildly in the morning air. and
her face as pale as death.
90 Charles she uttered, +" come will
me at once f.! Come. come. our mother i
dvino I''