White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-15
VII.

The next morning Caroline put on her
hat and shawl and went mechanically to
her daily task at Mrs. Carvil's. On the way
she was sadly thinking what she should
do to relieve her mother, and was busily
devising some way to obtain the money
for her. The idea occurred to her OF
throwing herself upon the generosity Of
the lady of some wealthy citizen but
even her little knowledge of human ma
ture had taught her that some ladies are
apt to look with suspicion upon unfortu-
nate girls. and are apt to have less charity
for them than they should have while
she shrunk from applying to gentleman,
lest her motives might be misrepresented.
What to do she knew not. and with a
thousand schemes in her mind, she had
come to no determination, when she found
herself in Walnut street, and within few
doors Of Mrs. Oarvil's. r..'..3 q
30, what, what snail / do? If 60 in,
she will not let me go for the rest of the
day. and something must be effected be-
fore return home. U, that l could fnd
purse with twentyone dollars in it J
for there seems no other way of relief"
She had hardly spoken, when she be-
held lying upon the sidewalk, few steps
before her. small. green pocket-book.
She sprang forward. and caught it up with
a cry between hope and doubt. A glance
showed her it was full of bank notes. The
next moment she was in Mrs. Oarvil's lit
tie parlor, and as she was the earliest there
of the apprentices. she was alone. With
trembling hand she took the pocket book
from her bosom and furtively unclasped
it. Within was a a miniature, and she
recognized it as the same the purchaser
of the gloves had taken out 10 pay her
for them. She trembled still more, and
partly unfolding the notes, she saw the
figures so, Xxx, x. 5. upon them. She
offered up short ejaculation of gratitude.
while visions of the happiness she should
bring to her mother that evening filed her
heart with Joy. But what means this
sudden paleness of the cheek-this sink
ing of the spirits-this dropping of the
whole form. but now SO animate with
hope and joy? What means this des-
ponding air and aspect of despair min
gled with resignation ? Why has che
slowly re-clsspsd the book, and why de-
iectly returned it to her bosom The re-
lection has suddenly flashed upon her
mind that the treasure is not hers-that il
belongs to another-that she has no right
to make use of it without the owners per-
mission-that it is sacred thing. 81
Mono" she said, with virtuous res
olution that gave brightness to her eye
and heightened flush to her cheek, ait
is not minel will let the storm burst
upon our devoted root, ere / seek to avert
it by guilt. No-I will discover. and re-
store it to the owner-and in the mean
while forget that 1 have found it."
Having made this noble resolution, she
opened the pocket book and calmly eoun-
ted the amount it contained. which was
three hundred and seyenty-6ve dollars in
United States Bank notes, and restored
them to their place in it. On the edge Of
the pocket book she then saw written,
Francis Ashley. Mo-, Girard Place =
mo, it is not mine! Heaven has kept
me from using it. If l had taken any
portion Of it, and afterwards been unable
to make it up. my fair name and honor
would have been in his power. Protec.
tor of the innocent, / thank thee for deliv-
ering me from this great temptation y .
With the dissemination Of seuiing her
eldest brother with it to Girard Place,
when she should return home at noon, she
sat herself down to her work with heart
relieved (she knew not why, from great
load. and with that consciousness of rec
titude which ever carries with it its own
reward. She felt, too, less anxiety, than
she had hitherto done about the result Of
the days events, and seemed buoyed up.
with the assurance that all would be well
with herself and all dear 70 her. -
About ten o'clock in theforenoon, the
news boy threw into-the door the morning
paper, which one ofthe young girls caught