Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-02-08
TOLEDO, TAMA COUNTY, IOWA, FRIDAY, FEB 8, 1867.

require the sacrifice.
"Then Sara would feel the disgrace. so keen.
~, and think Warren was NJ body, and people
would talk so. II dismiss the thought for n
moment, And, walking up and down the
room as she made this determi, alton. the skirt
Of Mrs. Ross's dress brushed past something
II was the morning paper which had fallen
from the chair where it had hastily been
placed.
She stopped to raise it. and az she did Sc
he: eyes lighted on a brief account Of the
trial of young bank clerk who had proved a
defauter to a considerable amount. and been
sentenced to FIVE years in the States prison.
He had occupied position of high trust in
the hank, had hitherto borne an unblemished
reputation, had a wife and two children. and
his indulgence in style of living greatly be-
yond his means was assigned as the cause
which led to the commission OF his crime. A
chill crept through the heart of Mrs. Ross as
she read, which fairly amounted to terror
when she laid down the paper.
"What if this were Warrcni' she thought
10 herself ana her excited imagination. fol-
lowing on the path Of her thoughts, pictured
vividly all the misery and agony which the
commission Of such crime must bring down
on tho heads OF both. How did she know but
stung to desperation. her noble husband might
be tempted beyond his strength and fall.
She did not spura the suggestion, rs her
pride would have don, at another tine. She
only felt the remorsc the f,nit,ess self-re.
proach whici. must crush out her own life il
her husbaud shoui fall.
20, God prayed the lips OF Augusta Ross,
save my husband and will do all nay duty.
And in that very hour she resolved that the
stern lesson which she had read and the prayer
she had uttered should be taken into her heart
and bring forth its fruit abundantly.
Warren Ross happened to have in lis pos
session the keys which opened the bank vault
,ha; afternoon, for he had been ordered to ex-
tract considerable sum tha. day, and in the
afternoon he was icf, alone for an hour. and
in that hour Satan entered into the heart Of
Warren Ross.
Tie glanced At the heavy iron doors, lie SHOOT.
the keys in his hand, he remembered that
there was no morta, eye to sec him, and that
a haudtl.l Of gold from that vault wouli never
be missed, and that it would relieve him Of
the great burden whie,. ha | been crushing
down his life.
He could look his creditors once mere in the
face lie ceuld breathe free gain, and he should
no' Ne compelled 10 witness the pain and NOR
tifealion Of Augusta when the true state Of
his affairs was matte known to her. The dread
that his household furniture might he attached
and which had been haunting him for two
monlh's past, could now be renewed.
Il IN sorry to do this thing nsused Warren
Ross. Il would MT have believed two DAYS
ago that anything could have induced me to
harsor the though, a moment: but what a
man 10 DO with a vii. whom he loves better
than his own life, and whom he 4 yather die
than lear reproach lim with POVERTY and dis
grace Tint he has brought upon Icy.
Il would nj 10 it for my own sake. but
there's Augusta, aud then [ deaf intend to
steal Ills money on ny honor don't. aad Ill
enter into some speculation and repay every
dollar Of il with interest somehow, and when
a man in the tight place that am lie iriy-
en- to desperation. and the end mus, Justify the
means. I'm safe enough, for even if they
should miss SO small an amount. they'd never
think took it, and even then the man felt
glow of pride rs lie thought that in all the ten
years during which he had been in tha. bank
his memory did not hold one deed which could
kindle blush in his cheek.
Warren Ross vas very lale rs lie glanced
all around the room, aid his limbs shook rs
he moved toward the door of the vault. The
key was in the lock and then-had the prayer
of his wife reached the Ear Which is never
heavy that it eanno, hear the cry 0: the chill
drcn of men ?-the mans heart failed him
The great sin which lie was about to commit
stood clear before him, the key did not turn in
the lock
80, cannot, cannot do this Tonight -
groaned the white lips 0: Warren Ross. Il
will 20 home to my wife once more an ninnoceni
man. Some other time, perhaps, but not to-
night--not to night, and he hurried trcmb-
ling away as though he dared not t"ns. him
self to remain in the way Of temptation.
80, Warren, my dear, dear husband, nm
so glad you are conc, have so wanted to sec
you'll
Augusta Ross met her husband at The sit
ting room door that night. and her fair, soft |
arms were about his neck, and her soft, sweet !
liFs close to his cheek.
.What did You want nc so for, darling ?" !
taking her up in his arms with a thought |
which he could not tell at his heart.
40, because We been laying out 4 plan To- /
day." Anl then in her earnest. impnlsiye /
fashion Augusta Ross told her husband that
she wanted to break up housekeeping in the
sity and go Off and settle down in some dainty
bit of cottage in the country, and reduce
heir expenses to thousand a year
''lt would be better for the health of BOTH
he insisted, and they would be as happy as
wo bees in clever
'.What has put this into your head Augusta
ny wife ?" asked the young husband as she
paused.
And then, drawing her face down to his,
v lille the blushos and the tears chased overit.
Augusta Ross told her husband Of the crime