The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-10-24


Ono of the rings that adorned Mrs.
Rawdon's soft fingers would have
procured all the comforts her moth.
er and little Willie so sorcly need
ed. Some such thought flashed
through the ch:ld's mind us she
made her appeal.
o, madam sho said, her blue
eyes full Of imploring entreaty.
"You are richaud happy, and have
all you want; but my poor mother
has nothing; and my little brother
will die without medicine! Do let
me have the money!"
Il tell you I've no change. You
must call again. John, show her
the door,"
The footman obeyed, and Louise
soon found herself upon the mar
bic steps, while the lofty door
closed in her very face with a
hearlless slam. The wind howled
more dismally than ever. and tho
keen singing sleet fell like a show
er of shot. Louise descended the
steps, and crossed over to the op-
posite sidewalk with a dull, 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; tell her that they were not
able to buy even so much as a SOL
itary loaf? Was itright 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 pocket book. She caught it
up with a suppressed cry, and,
thrusting it into her bosom, she
darted off at the speed of an ante
lopc. At last, out of breath, and
half beside herself with excitement,
she paused beneath a lamp.post,
and after glancing stealthily around
her, drew tho treasure from her
bosom. 1t was large, thick and
heavy. Her fingers futtercd ner-
vously as she unclasped it; and
when she caught sight of the green
notes it contained, she uttered u
cry of delight, and DATED off again
like something insane. Mother
and Willie could have all they
needed now.
Just beyond the bakers shop, to-
ward which she bent her stops, n
soldier met her.
Little GIRL" he said, arresting
her flying steps, 'you didn't find II
pocket book as you camo along, did
you?'
Louise paused a single instant,
her heart huttering like a fright
ened bird; then as q thought OF her
mother and Willie flashed across
her mind, she answered:
"No, sirl'
swell, it is gone, Isuppose," and
the soldier passed on; while Louise
hurried away in the opposite direc-
tion.
BY tho time she reached the ba'
ker's she was in . tremor from head
to foot, and her checks seemed on
fire but she drew the pocket book
from its hiding place, and stand
ing outside the door, unclasped it,
and took out q 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 around
the tempting shelves. She would
buy SO many loaves; and even thai
frosted cake. They would have
coal and flour. Why notP The
pocket book was hers, she hac
found it. Still her hands trembled
and her checks burned. She glanc
ed down at the note she held and
saw, with a start of horror, that i
was for fifty dollars. What hac
she done? Robbed that man o
his monoy-and he q soldier. HeI
father had been a soldier. With
II sharp cry, clutching the pocket
book in one hand, and the fifty
dollar bill in the other, she darte(
from the shop, and down the snowy
street. Just a square or two be
yond the glittering mansion o
Mrs. Rawdon, she overlook th'
soldier. He was walking slowly
glancing from ono side OF the ic,
pavement to the other with an anx
ious dcspairing look on his face
Louise was at his side iu an in
slant.
20, sirv" painting for breath, he
hood thrown back, her blue eye
wild and startled. and her brigh
i, hair blown all about her flushed
face, Il did find your pocket bool
here it is. l took this note out
but couldn't spend it. Mother
almost starved and little Will
i will die without his medicine, bu
/ can't steal-I can't; take /
back !"
The soldier took the money fror
the half frozen little hands tha
held il up to him; then lifting tb
child in his arms, he smoothe
back her pale tangled locks, an
looked down into her pale, teal
stained little face with cagel
startled eyes. His swarthy chee
grew pale, and his bearded lips b.
gan to tremble.
"Louise, Louise!" he said, b
voice full Of thrilling tenderness
! ''poor little darling, don't yoa kno
!, mop"
, The child locked up, and the
. her cry of wild delight rang OF
n nlear and ioyous,