Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-07-02


rose up before her creative fancy, of
frock made of silk tissue, the color of a
summer sky, that she had often admired
in her employers shop.
"Low neck, short sleeves, trimmed |
with some of that exquisite lace l IN
packed to-day, tight bodice, and full
flowing skirt, fell unconsciously in mnr-
muring tones from the lips of the excl
ted girl, as she danced about the room.
Much of that long night was spent by
Agnes in devising means to obtain the
gossamer robe that so haunted her imag
inatIon. She had no money, and sne felt
under too much obligation to Mrs. Hol-
man to ask further favors. She had seen
too much of the parsimony, not to say in
justice, with which her mistress, the rich
milliner, treated her apprentices, to hope
for the least consideration from that quar-
ter.
She rose from her restless couch wea-
ry and unrefreshed, and repaired to the
shop. During the day she glanced many
times into the box that contained the de-
sired article. There was nearly whole
piece, and once the thought came into
her mind how easy it would be to take
as much as she wanted, and pay Mrs. B.
when her wages commenced, which
would be in one month. The temptation
returned in the solitude Of her chamber,
but she could not listen to it there, at
that solemn hour, with her mothers BIZ
bic laying upon the little stand before
her, and the way-worn trunk open at her
side, revealing many simple memento
of the home she had left, where honesty
and truth was reverenced and taught
her.
1t was not until the next day, when
the hustle and business of the shop was
at its height, that she succeeded in rea-
soning her simple heart into the belief
that the act of taking thing with the
purpose of paying for it at some future
time was not theft, brt a slight extension
of the credit system. 1t was then that
she severed the requisite number of yards
from the piece, leaving it in the box fold
ed as before. When about to leave for
the night, the gathering darkness afford
ed her a favorable opportunity to draw
the slight fabric from the box and con-
ceal it beneath her shawl.
Once in the open street, she hastened
away with rapid footsteps, glancing ovel
her shoulder at each corner and crossing
as if fearful of being pursued in her hur
ried flight. The dread of detection haG
seized upon her, and she paused not un
til she threw her trembling limbs upor
the couch in her own room overwhelmed
with terror.
| The sound of her name pronounced il
musical tones in the nursery below, ring
ing up the broad staircase, recalled he,
wandering thoughts, and hastily crowd
ing the ill-gotten treasure into her trunk
she nervously locked it and put the ke.
in her pocket, the first time since she be
came an inmate of this house.
The demonstrations of joy from the in
nocent children, and the welcoming snil
that played upon the face of Mrs. Hol
man, smote Agnes heart, and she longe'
TO fall at the feet of her benefactress, an
confess her sin, and beg leave to retur
and restore the shining tissue now grow
hateful to her eyes, to its rightful owner
but she suddenly called to mind the ange
and indignation manifested by Mrs. Hol
man or tie occasion of breastpin bein
stolen by one of the Irish servants, an
shuddered to think how nearly she ha
lost her favor forever.
l o, it is theft" she cried in her soul, a
she stopped and pressed her lips upO
: Willie's golden head TO conceal the gui
: in the face that she feared would betra
her.
d o, the unspoken agony of that lon
evening. The ringing of the bell, hui
ried step, quick voice, the opening
: the nursery door would send the blood
g burning torrents to the brow of the pot
girl, while her heart beat painfully
= her breast like captive bird striving
: burst its prison walls.
: Many times during that fearful nigl
o did Agnes start from her troubled dream
!, and call upon the God she had diosbeye
: to save her from the punishment her ST
: invoked, promising faithfully that Il
r mornings sun should witness the resto
I alton of the stolen article 1t was vii
a faltering step and apprehensive ey
e that she entered the shop the next da
l. bat the pleasant greeting and unchangt
d manner of her companions reassured he
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