The Shasta courier., 1867-04-13
the lofty doors closed in her very face with

the lofty doors closed in her very face with a
heartless slam.
The wind howled more dismally than ever,
ana the Keen, stinging sleet fell like show
er OF shot. Louise descended the stairs and
crossed over to the opposite sidewalk with a
duli, aching pain at her heart, that almost
TOOK away her breath. How could she 90
back to her desolate home, and tell her poor
mother that she had failed to collect her
hard-earned wages-to tell her that they
were not able to buy even so much as a
solitary loaf? Was it right that others
should have so much, while they lacked
daily bread? Just then something beneath
her foot, soft and slippery, almost threw her
to the pavement. Looking down, she saw a
po-Aet. book. She caught it up with sup
pressed cry, and thrusting it into her bosom,
darted oil at the speed of an antelope. At
last out OF breath, and half beside herself
with excitement, she paused beneath lamp
post and after glancing steathily around
her, drew the treasure from her bosom. 1t
was large, thick and heavy. Her finger
futtered nervously as she unclasped it and
when she caught sight of the green notes it
contained she uttered wild cry of delight,
and darted off again like something insane.
" Mother and Willie should have all they
needed nowln
Just beyond the bakers shop toward
which she bent her steps, soldier met her.
Little girl, )" arresting her flying steps,
"you didn't find a pocket. book as you came
along, did you?"
Louise paused a single instant, her heart
futtered like a frightened bird then as a
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 hurried
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 tempt
ing shelves. She would buy ever so many
loaves and even that frosted cake They
would have coal and -four Why not? The
pocket book was hers, she had found it.
Still her 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 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 be-
yond the glittering mansion of Mrs. Raw
don she overlook the soldier. He was walk
ing slowly, glancing from one side of the
pavement to the other with an anxious, de-
spairing 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, 9. I did find
your pocket book-here it is. I took this
note out, but couldn't spend it. Mothers
almost starved, and little Willie will die
without his medicine, but l can't steal-I
can't, can't; take it back I"
The soldier took the money from the half
frozen little hands that held it up to him
then, lifting the child in his arms, he smooth,
ed back her tangled locks, and looked down
into her pale, tear-stained little face with
eager, startled eyes. His swarthy cheeks
grew pale, and his bearded lip began to
tremble.
Louise, Louise 7" be said, his voice full
of thrilling tenderness; poor, little darling,
don't you know me?'
The child looked up, and then her cry of
wild delight rang clear and joyous:
"Oh, papa, papal 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 sprang 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.
Mrs. 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 fell
low moaned, clasping his hot arms about her
neck.
But the last spark of fire had gone out
and Louise did not come.
"Wait moment, darling-just 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 dead husband who
had gone to his last, long home, with no ten
der hand to close his eyes. The shadows
grew heavier and darker; the winds moan
ed dismally and the snow and sleet tinkled
sharply against the windows.
Oh, mamma please make a light, Pm
SO cold, and the dark makes me afraid !"
"Wait little longer, darling! Louise
will come soon."
At last there was noise below, bound
ing joyous step upon the stairs, and Louise
burst into the room, her face glowing and
radiant.
"Oh, mother, mother I" she cried, /" fathers
not dead He's alive-he's come back to
US again !"
The soldiers wife rose to her feet, grasp
ing 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 l had kept it % she
asked.
Then, dear, you would not have found
me. Always remember that wrong wins its
punishment, and right its reward"
A NOVEL elopement occurred recently at
Danyille, New York. A wife became poi