The Georgetown news., 1856-01-03

ter, he resumed, Tor you look as pale as q
ghost"
Il am tired" said.
"Well, well, you have worked hard to-
day, and you may go, I'll attend to the
rest"
With a desperate endeavor to compose
myself, | thanked him for his kindness, and
then seized my hat and left the store. The
fresh air revived me somewhat, and I bur
ried on to the tailor's. | paid my bill, and
for a moment my heart was lighter; but it
was only for the moment. When reached
the street again, the thought of what had
done came upon me with a whelming force,
and | was miserable. When | reached
home | professed to be sick, and retired at
once. But my mother, sick and weak her
self, came up tO, my bed and wanted to fix
me some medicine. She gave me a simple
preparation, drew up the clothes snugly a.
bout me, and having kissed me she said
"Be careful, Charles, for twould be pain
ful indeed to have you sick. God keep and
bless you. Good night"
Q, how those last words rung in my ears.
What would my mother say-how would
she feel-if she knew that her son was a
thief? 1t was a long while before | could
give the word shape and form, but it came
at last. l could not keep it back. Thief
theft rang in my soul till an agony was up
on me so intense that all other conceptions
of pain were as nothing. The night passed
away in sleepless, phantom-making restless
ness; and when the morning came, / arose
and walked out before my mother or sister
was up. | did not return until breakfast
was ready, and then had so far overcome
all outward signs Of my distress, that little
remark was made upon it. But the worm
was gnawing at my heart
That forenoon | went with my sister to
meeting, and as | entered the little church,
| met the gaze of Mr.. Eyered. He watched
me sharply, and l saw marks Of pain upon
his face. After the services were over, |
saw him in conversation with the tailor
l noticed how earnestly they spoke-and
once | saw the tailor point his finger to-
wards me. | felt 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 faintw | heard a low
tremulous voice say; and on turning | saw
Julia Evered. She was Newfoundland
at that moment came the conviction that
she loved me- But that other thought came
with it; and then knew she would ere long
despise me
Sick and faint [ hurried away, and to all
the anxious inquiries of Lucy only replied
that [ was not we'll 0, how miserable |
felt, for | knew that my employer had de
tected the theft. His gaze at me in church
was proof enough; but his conversation
with the tailor made it doubIy sure. That
afternoon | dared not 90 to church, and
my mother worried over me. If she would
only have let me alone, might have been
and | had to lie to her-the first falSeh0od
[ ever spoke to that noble woman
Another night of restless agony, and then
| came to the severest part of all. | must
meet my employer. 1t was late when l
descended to the kitchen, and | 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 look as hope | may
never see again.
Don't ask me any questions Charles, .
Evered wants you Immediately"
| could not ask question: could not
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 tibet pronounced;
O, Evered had told the story of my crime.
How could he?-No, no, twas the tailor
who had told it, for my employer would
never have done it. Yet it was known. |
stopped. and suddenly the thought Of flight
occurred to me- Why had l not thought
Of it before? Why should l stay longer
where shame, and shame only, could be
mine? [ turned to flee, and Just then my
sister came rushing after me, with her hair
floating wildly in the morning air, and her
face as pale as death.
20, Charles" she uttered, "come with me
at once! Come, come, our mother is dy-
ing"
My sister seized my hand, and by main
force dragged me away I reached my
home, l knew not how, for my reason had
almost left me. Into the little bedroom
Lucy dragged me, and there lay my moth
er stark and cold.
80, Charles, you have killed her!'' sobbed
my sister, as she threw herselfupon the bed.
"She could not stand your disgrace
One moment gazed upon that cold, pale
form, and then a wild unearthly cry broke
from my lips. l plunged madly forward
upon the bed
"Charles Charlesl'
I started up. l felt heavy hand upon
my shoulder, and again my name was cal
led.
"What is the matter? Come, rouse up.
For mercys sake, what ails you?"
It was Mr.. Evered who spoke. I was
still sitting upon the stool behind the coun-
ter, but my head had fallen forward upon a
pile ofgoods that lay heaped up before me.