Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-03-30

II yiuS slepS, lou uluu uuu pocket
book as you came along, did you ?"
Louise paused single instant, her
heart futtered like a frightened bird ;
then as thought of her mother and
Willie flashed through her mind, she
answered;
"No, sir -
Well, it is gone I suppose" and
the soldier passed on; while Louise hur-
ried away in the opposite direction.
By the time she reached the bakers
she was in a tremor from head to foot,
and her cheeks seemed on fire but she
drew the pocket book from its hiding
place. and standing outside the door,
unclasped it and took out note. The
shop was crowded with customers, and
she had to wait for her turn before she
could obtain what she wanted Her
eyes wandered wistfully round the
tempting shelves. She would buy ever
so many loaves and even that frosted
cake. They would have coal and flour.
Why not ? The pocket book was hers,
she had found it. Still ler hands
trembled and her cheeks burned. She
glanced down at the note she held,
and saw, with start of horror, that it
was for fifty dollars. What had she
done? Robbed that man of his money
and he soldier Her father had
been a soldier. With a sharp cry,
clutching the pocket-book in one hand,
and the fifty dollar bill in the other,
she darted from the shop, and down
the snowy street. Just square or two
beyond the glittering mansion of Mrs.
Rawdon she overlook the soldier. He
was walking slowly, glancing from one
side of the pavement to the other with
an anxious, despairing look on his face.
Louise was at his side in an instant.
'Oh, sir - painting for breath, her
hood thrown back, her blue eyes wild
and startled, and her bright hair blown
about her flushed face, " did find your
pocket book-here it is. l took this
note out, but 1 couldn't spend it.
Mothers almost starved, and little
Willie will die without his medicine,
but 1 can't steal-I can't, 1 can't take
it back %
The soldier took the money from the
half frozen little hands that held it up
to him; then, lifting the child in his
arms, be smoothed back her tangled
locks, and looked down into her pale,
tear-stained little face with eager, start
led eyes. His swarthy cheeks grew
pale, and his bearded lips began to
tremble.
Louise, Louise ~ he said, his voice
full of thrilling tenderness; "poor,
little darling, don't you know me e?''
The child looked up, and then her
cry of wild delight rang out clear and
joyous:
"Oh, papa, papa! we thought you
were dead but you've come back to
US again"
Yes, darling" his broad chest
heaving with suppressed eagerness.
" Where's your mother take me to
her ~
Louise aprang from his arms and
shot off like an arrow down the brilliant
street, through the squallid alleys and
dark by-lanes, and the soldier followed
her
Ms. Halpine sat in her comfortless
attic hushing her sick child upon her
bosom.
Mamma, mamma I'm so hungry;
please give me some tea," and the little
fellow moaned, clasping his hot arms
about her neck.
But the last spark of fire had gone
out and Louise did not come.
d" Wait a moment, darling-just a
moment longer
And the patient little one waited;
and the cold, gray shadows settled down
darker and darker, and the poor mother
clasped the child closer to her bosom,
dreaming of happy days gone by, and
of her dear husband who had gone to
his last, long home, with no tender
hand to close his eyes. The shadows
grew heavier and darker; the winds
moaned dismally; and the snow and
sleet tinkled sharply against the WIN
dows.
'Oh, mamma! please make a light,
I'm so cold, and the dark makes me
afraid v'
"Wait a little longer, darling!
Louise will come soon."
At last there was noise below, a
bounding joyous step upon the stairs,
and Louise burst into the room, her face
glowing and radiant.
"Oh, mother mother!' - she cried,
fathers not dead He's alive-he's
come back to US again -
The soldiers wife rose to her feet,
grasping at the bed-post for support;
as she did so, strong arms clasped her
to warm and loving bosom.
Louise crept up to her fathers feet,
her blue eyes swimming with tears
"Oh, father. what if 1 had kept it ~
she asked.
"Then, dear, you would not have
found me. Always remember that
wrong wins its punishment, and right
its reward"
CoMING.-"Johnny," said mother
L