The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-12-06


They paused at the carriage s.eps, and
the seamstress took heart of grace
feel ashamed to speak TO them.' she
said, looking as do. and in Broadway !.
hut-I'll do it, and she gulped down a
sob of terro. and cast one womanly
glance at patched Johnny and his toes.
beyond wonan's patching. and stepped
forward.
Mrs Bullion
BLESS me if it isn't-I-welI, for
get your name. Anything the matter 2
IL took home the work, nlaa am
Ye- es
Its nicely done-rm sure you'll
like it
'Ah, ye'es'
And if you could pay me- even
part--Id be very much obliged
Mrs. Bullion was in the habit of pay
ing her debts. She was not stingy. nor
dishonest; but on that particular day,
heedfai of her spouse's mandate, she
had calculated all the wants for the next
two months to nicely. There was
nothing that could be done without
every item was down in her pocket tab
lets
Carey she whispered, could you
wait for your organdie
And the summer half overf No,
Ma
Mrs. Bullion turned to her seamstress
I'm so sorry, she said; really l
haven't anything with me Besides /
ought to see the work. Cali
This evening?
oh, no-next week some time. Now
coachman. Colonel, we shall see you
at dinner
Il would not Lave troubled you in so
public a place. but that l need
The whip smacked, the wheels spat
tered the mud over the poor woman's
shabby shawl, and she stood alone.
Bat for the curious eyes OF the pedcs
trians she could have burst into tears
1t WAS a frighiful misery TO her. small as
i, might seem to others
She stood staring after the carriage,
when Johnny gave a cry:
Look. ma--a purse"
And in the child.s hand she saw lit
blue velvet toy, with gold fringes and
chain.
Mrs. Rullion's purse, for She knew it
hv sight. And II was stuffed to burst
ing with bank notes
Il found IL on the pavem ent there. ma.
liSi tilefe. 1Oot-nOW we We got iotS Oh
monev'
The mother could not think. Her
heart was beating and her brain throh-
hing too wildly for that She could
only hurry home and fly into her hus-
bands presence with her story.
Wat shall do. dear, I could pay
myself and retrrn her the lest ] ought
- must You suffer-the children
starvP-
But there she paused.
Her husbands hand came down upon
her shonlder, and her husbands voice
said calmly:
You must and will do what is right
Yon will return the purse to Mrs. Bull
lion, with its contents not even looked
at
'No-tbat would be wrong
sLoveD
81 mean 1 cannot She owes me,
dear
The husband put the purse under his
pillow, and they sat and locked at
each other-tears in his eyes and in hers.
For hours neither spoke.
1t was dreadful day to both. The
hours passed like lead. They counted
every moment, every second. At times
the children cried and clamored for din
ner. Then the mother would stretch
out her small hand beseechingly to-
ward her husband. Her own will would
not have upheld her
AT last evening came, and then. wrap
ping her old shawl about her,the soldiers
wife made her way through the lighted
streets TO Mrs Bullion's door, and once
more rung and waited
IL
ant mood. The five hundred dollars
which should have been spent in rib
hons, laces and feathers, was gone Mr.
Bullion had spoken in earnest that morn
ing, she knew well. and shopping OPP
portunlties were over for long time
She dared not even tell him OF .heF loss.
and she had suffered as much from 81
lence on the subject as anything else
In her anger, she bad called nurse Bet
sy an idle dawdle, and that indignant
female was ready for revenge, consc-
quen.ly. when the black boy who opened
the door answered the applicant by
Missus is at dinner
Nurse Betsy stepped forward
No NATTER she said You come in
and wait. Jest sit down in the hall, and
YOU can speak to her when she goes up
And coEsoling herself with the refec-
ton that As Mrs Bullion had told her
she had not cent lett. she hsd contriv-
ed to nortify her in some slight degree.
nurse Betsy vanished.
The hungry woman listened to the
clatter OF knives and forks for half an
hour. Then the dining room door OPEN
ed. and the ladies sailed out. accompani-
ed by Mr.. Bullion and the handsome
yonng colonel.
The lady started and turned pale
Really. my good woman. haven't
time to talk to you just now, she said
L think told you to call next week
Having no money to pay me with
this morning:' queried the soldiers
Hey? no money 2 gasped Mr.. Bull
lion.
This is my concern, Mr. b. said his
wife. You don't understand it, my
dear
You lost your purse this morning,
believe said the soldiers wife.