Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-08-16

Though reared amidst the proudcst dis
tinctions of rank, he felt no inclination to
SMILE He blushed and was silent The
heartless conventionalities Of the world stood
rebuked in the presence of affectionate SIM
plicity. He conveyed her to her humble
home, and bade her farewell, with thank
ful consciousness that he had done her no
irretrevable injury to her future prospects.
The remembrance of her would be to him
as the recollection of last years butterflies.
With her the wound was deep. In the soli-
tude of her chamber she wept In bitterness
of heart over her ruined air-castles And
that dress, which she had stolen to make an
appearance beftting his bride Oh! what
if she should be discovered? And would
not the heart of her poor widowed mother
break if she should ever know that her child
was thief?
Alas! her wretched foreboding proved too
true. The silk was traced to her; she was
arrested on her way to the store; and drag
ged to prison. There she refused all nour-
ishment, and wept necessarily. On the
fourth day, the keeper called on Isaac L.
Hopper, and informed him that there was a
young girl in prison, who appeared to be
utterly friendless and determined to die by
starvation. The kind-hearted Friend i'm
mediately went to her assistance. lie found
her lying on the floor of her cell, her face
buried in her hands, sobbing as if her heart
would break. He tried to comfort her, but
could obtain no answer.
'sLeave us alone," said he to the keeper.
'Perhaps she will speak to me, if there is
no one to hear"
When they were alone together he put
back the hair from her temples, laid his
hand kindly on her beautiful head and said,
d in soothing tones NV child, consider me
ts e~--1eH me ali thou hast done.
If thou hast taken this silk, let me know all
about it, I will do for thee as would for
my own daughter; and I doubt not that I
can help thee out Of this difficulty"
After a long time spent in affectionate
entreaty, she leaned her young head on his
friendly shoulder, and sobbed out ooh! I
wish 1 was dead. What will my poor moth
er say when she knows of my disgrace ?"
"Perhaps we can so manage that she
never shall know it, replied he. Alluring
her by this hope, he gradually obtained from
her the whole story of her acquaintance with
the nobleman. He bade her be comforted
and take nourishment; for he would see that
the silk was paid for, and the prosecution
withdrawn.
He went Immediately to her employer,
told him the story This is her first Of
fence, " said he. ''The girl is young, and
she is the only child of poor widow Give
how oho 10 f,1,
and she may be restored to society, useful
and honored woman. will see that thou
art paid for the silk" The man readily
agreed to withdraw the prosecution, and said
he would have dealt otherwise by the girl if
he had known all the circumstances. Thou
shouldst have inquired into the merits ofthe
case,' replied Friend Hooper. ''By this
kind Of thoughtlesness. many young girl
is driven into the downward path, who might
easily have been saved
The kind-hearted man next proceeded to
the hotel. and, with Quaker simplicity of
speech, inquired for Henry Stuart The
servant said his lordship had not yet risen.
Tell him my business is of Importance, %
said Friend Hooper, The servant soon re-
turned and conducted him to the chamber.
The nobleman appeared surprised that a
stranger, in the plain Quaker costume,
should thus intrude upon his luxurious pri-
vacy. When he heard his errand, he blush
ed deeply, and frankly admitted the truth
of the girls statement. His benevolent
visitor took the opportunity to 'sbear tes-
timony'' against the selfshness and sin of
profigacy. He did it in such kind and
fatherly manner that the young mans
heart was touched He excused himself by
saying that he would not have tampered
with the girl if he had known her to be
virtuous. Il have done many wrong
things" said he. ''but, thank God, no be-
trayal of confding innocence weighs on my
conscience. l have always esteemed it the
basest act of which man is capable" The
Imprisonment of the poor girl, and the for
lorn situation in which she had been found
distressed him greatly. When Friend
Hooper represented that the silk had been
stolen for his sake, that the girl had there
by lost profitable employment, and was OBJ
liged to return to her dists Mt home to avoid
the danger of exposurc-he took out fifty
dollar note and offered it to pay her ex-
penses.
May" said Isaac, thou art rich man.
[ presume. l see in thy hand large roll
of such notes She is the daughter of a
poor widow, and thou hast been the means
of doing her great injustice. Give me an
other"
Lord Harry handed him another fifty dol
lar note and smiled as he said +: You un-
dcrstand your business well But you have
acted nobly, and reverence YOU for it. If