The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-03-08

Six ana NOlStCu lay on the uOOl, hno
the chairs still stood around the work
table, just where they lst& been occu-
pied the night before
Mrs. Wharton's dress lay on the pile
of finished work, and it was but the
action of an instant to slip the ten dol
lar bill back into its place beneath the
embroidered handkerchief
Then she drew along breath of relief
it was as if some heavy burden had
been lifted from her over-weighted
shoulders
al can breathe more freely now ~
she murmored ooh, Father ! Inever
before understood the full force of my
daily prayer, Lead us not into tempta-
ton
Ten years had passed away and you
would not have known Katie Selwyn
in the fair, matronly presence of Mrs.
st. George Katie had made what
the world calls "a good match. Mr..
st. George had seen the pretty seam
stress at his sisters house one night,
and had straight-way fallen in love
with and married her. So, from want
and penury, Katie stepped into lux
urious home, and husbands warm,
true heart
II really can't tell what has become
of that money" said Mrs. st. George,
thoughtfuly, as she sat warming one
velvet-slippered foot before the fire.
IL left it on my dressing-b1reau this
morning; of that | am certain, and the
children have not been ut home to
scatter things round.
II know where it is, mamma, said
Harry, pretty boy OF eight years old.
"Was it in two bills ?" "Yes what
do you know of it, my boy y
81 saw Norah hiding something
away under her work-box upstairs
/ and | was curious to see what 1t was,
mamma, so | went and looked after
she had gone down stairs, and there
was n five and two-dollar bill, all
folded up
"Aly boy, you are mistaken said
Mr. ST George, promptly "Norah is
the very soul of honesty r.
Yes, but, Bruce, said his wife, in
low, earnest tone, 'she may be the
soul of honesty and yet III moment
of sudden temptation
She stopped short. Norah herself
had entered the room, with u feather
duster in her hand.
She was pretty young Irish girl OF
sixteen or seventeen years old, with
large violet-gray eyes, jet black hair,
and checks where the soft crimson
giowed through slightly freckled
surface
Il thought you rang, ma'am,' said
Norah, with her eyes fixed on the door
and tell-tale flush on her forehead.
Mrs st. George fixed her cleai
glance on the girls face.
"No, Norah, you thought no such
thing, she said, calmly. Go down
to the nursery--this is no time for mt
to say what l wish.
Norah retired, but she did not &c
down to the nursery, according tC
Mrs St Georges orders. She crepl
up stairs, instead, to her own room
trembling so that She could hardly
walk. For Norah, from the adjoining
room, had heard the whole converse
ton, and knew that this her first thief
was discovered
"Sure what will she do with me-
it's in Jail I'll be put; and my Uncl'
Patrick and my mother neverN holC
up their heads again. o, what did
take the money for? Sure | wish
was only dead and at rest in the Oh,
graveyard in the County Kerry It
the laudanum / got for my toothach
that'll save'em from the disgrace, anC
The vial was close at her tremulou
lips when there was a soft rustic o
silken skirts in the room, ard
light hand was laid upon the nurse
girls arm.
"Norah, stop
The laudanum bottle fell from
Norah's unnered hand she uttered
slight cry.
"NIrs. st. George =
And the fair, young matron drew
the Irish girl close to her arms.
'Norah, you have been very wrong
but it is not yet too late to repent
My child, begin life over again from
! to-day.
Norah took the money from its hid
ing-place, and gave it to her mistres
! with hysteric eagerness
"Sure, ma'am, an its like the angel
of Heaven, you are. I'll never do TIN
; like again, and / don't know whateyi
spirit tempted me But you'll dis
charge me, ma'am p
mo, Norah, | shall still retain yot
? .in my service and trust you rs i'm
> plicitly as before--that is, if yo'
choose to remain.
Norah began to sob on her knee
I at her mistress feet
ooh, maam, if you hadn { come i
P lust then ! should be standin at th
: bar of Heaven now, with my sou
Il blackor than darkness / was wild
Q ma'an 1T seemed as if ! couldn't liy
q to have mother and Uncle Patric
i know | was u thief -
Mrs. ST. George looked pityingly in
r to the girls face.
500 down now, Norah You al
r forgiven; aud remember that from tin