M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-11-19
grIttteA Stories,
From the N. Y. Weekly Dispatch,l
THE MIDNIGHT ROBBER.
BY LENA wEsTDRooK.

what will" and the speaker, who hac
been rapidly striding up and down til,
} little room, stopped suddenly befor
pale, thin woman, whose wOndrou
beauty had defed, in measure, th,
ravages of the demon poverty.
Courage, Arthur, all will yet b,
well. have nearly finished this gar
! ment, and Mr.. Wilkins has promised
to supply me with as many as, | cal
make at the usual price"
"And what is the usual price
scarce enough to pay for the fuel thai
must be had to keep your fingers from
stiffening."
l"Do not exaggorate, Arthur; though
the clouds loom darkly over us, the
sun still shines. There is One aboy>
who noteth the sparrows even as they
fall. He can command the clouds to
roll away, that the sun may again il,
lumine our path" rs.ai
"Would you could imbue me, sweet
wife, with your own sanguine spirit,
but that would be impossible. Look
at those innocent children-sweet
buds of love, as you once called them
fading rapidly for the want ofnour-
ishment, and yourself, too; think you
| am blind and cannot see the foe that
would snatch you from my bosoml-
Oh! Nellie, God only knows with
what agony have watched your pal
ing cheek and dimming eye, and yet
you whisper courage. Speak of it no
more, it will drive me mad" And
he groaned aloud in bitterness ofspir-
! it. ......
Tear after tear rolled down the
pale wife's cheek, but the fingers only
| flew the faster, and at last, as the greaI
bands of the city clock marked the
hour of nine, the shit was completed
Softly rising, so as not to disturb the
sleeping children, she advanced to a
closet. Taking therefrom q bonnet
and faded shawl, she prepared to go
out. Her husband, who had buried
his face in his hands, hearing her
LIGHT movement, OWNED her inten-
ton, and volunteered to carry home
the finished garment. Forcing a
grateful smile to her lips, she bade him
watch the sleeping ones, as she de-
sired to take the air. Yearly she
wended her way through the dimly.
lighted streets, starting like a timid
fawn at every approaching footstep.-
With sigh of relief, she entered the
brilliantly lighted store, and advanc-
ed to where the foreman stood. With
a sickening leer in his eyes and a half
smile on his sensual lips, he address
ed her:
"woll, pretty one what is want
edp
Appearing not to notice his insult
ing manner, she drew the bundle from
under her shawl, and laid it on the
counter.
"Oh! you have brought the work,
sweet Hope it's well done. Those
dainty fingers Of yourn were never
made to work. Feel highly interest.
cd in you, dcar-must find you some
more profitable employment. Can't
YOU come here at eleven-store closes
then. I'll take you to my sisters
generous woman-loves to befriend
pretty girls-ha! ha! Dress you like
queen--introduce you into good So
ciety--should'nt mind visiting you
occasionally myself. There, here
comes customer Eleven precisely,
love; don't forget. "
And Brother Longface, as he was
called by the sisters Of - church,
| laid Nellie's bundle on the shelf, and
turned toward the front door Of the
store.
Poor Nellie! an indignant flush had
spread over her face during the fore
mans insolent remarks, but the Tho't
of her despairing husband and starv-
ing children restrained the angry
words that rose to her lips. Mr..
Longface valued public opinion too
highly to attempt violence, and she
did not fear him; besides, she could
obtain work nowhere else. Compress
sing the quivering lips, and nerving
the trembling voice, she ventured to
speak: ''- '-.''-' ''..'
"Mr. Longface, l am a wife and
mother-let this save me from further
inault. lam in need of money-can
you pay me tor the. garment have
madeW ~.
"Madam!"-- voice was cold and
| haughty--"it is against the rules to
paw out money after six; tomorrow
YOU can come and getit."
Sad and dispirited did the young
wire seek that ricketty abode, that
was dignifed by the name Of 'home. "
Ahl little do you, children ofthe pow
erful monarch wealth, know, as you
warble in happy ignorance, Home,
SDect Home, while smiling lover.