Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-05-14
me have the money !"

found herself upon the marble steps, while
the lofty door closed in her very face with a
heartless slam. The wind howled more dis
mally than ever, and the keen, singing sleet
fell like a shower Of shot. Louise decended
the steps and crossed over to the opposite
sidewalk with a dull, aching pain in her
heart that almost took her breath. How
could she go 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 so much as a sol
itary 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 pocket-book =
She caught it up with a suppressed cry,
and, thrusting it into her bosom, darted off
at the speed Of an antelope. At last out of
breath, and beside herself with excitement,
she paused beneath a lamp-post, and after
glancing stealthily around her, drew the
treasure from her bosom. It was large,
thick, and heavy. Her fingers futtered
nervously as she unclasped it and when she
caught sight of the green notes it contained,
she uttered a cry of delight, and darted off
again like something insane. Mother and
Willie should have all they need now!
Just beyond the bakers shop, toward
which she bent her steps, a soldier met her.
s.Little girl" he said, arresting her fly
ing steps. ''you didn't find a pocket-book as
you came along, did you?"
Louise paused a single instant, her heart
Auttering 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 stand
ing outside the door, unclasped it and took
out a 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 SO many
loaves, and ever that frosted cake. They
would have coal and -four. Why not? The
pocket-book was hers; she found it. Still
her hands trembled, and her cheeks burned.
She glanced down at the note she held, and
saw, with a start Of horror, it was for fifty
dollars. What had she done? Robbed
chat man of his money-and he 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 a square or two be-
yond the glittering mansion of Mrs. Raw
don, she overlook the soldier. He was
walking slowly, glancing from one side of
the icy pavement to the other with an anx-
ious, despairing look on his face. Louise
was at his side in an instant.
90 sir" painting for breath, her hood
thrown back, her blue eyes wild and startled,
and her bright hair blown all about her
flushed face. 81 did find your pocket-book
hereitis. I took this note out, but | couldn't
spend it. Mothers almost starved, and lit
tie Willie will die without his medicine, but
I can't steal can't take it back"
The soldier took the money from the half
frozen little hand that held it to him then
lifting the child in his arms, he smoothed
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 lips began to
tremble.
''Louise, Louise !" he said, his voice full
of thrilling tenderness ; "poor little darling,
don't you know me ?"
The child looked up, and then her cry
Of delight rang out clear and joyous.
80, papa, we thought you were dead
but you've come back to us again"
Eyes, darling" his broad breast heaying
with suppressed oagerness. "Wherc is your
mother :? Take me to her"
Louise sprang from his arms, and shot off
like an arrow down the brilliantly-lighted
street, through the squalid 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" the little fellow moaned,
clasping his hot arms around her neck.
But the last spark of fire had gone out
and Louise did not come.
"Waita 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 hap
Ply days gone by, and Of the dear husband
who had gone to his last, long home, with
no tender hand to close his eyes.
The shadow grew heavier and darker ;
the winds moaned diamally the snow and
sleet tinkled sharply against the windows.
80, mamma, please make a light! I'm
so cold, and the dark makes ME afraid"
'sWait a little bit longer, darling. Lou
Use will come soon"
At last came a noise below, a bounding,
joyous step upon the stairs, and Louise burst
into the room, her face glowing and radiant.
go mother, mother" she cried, "father's
not dead. He's alive come back to us
again :"
The soldiers wife rose to her feet, grasp
ing at the bed-past for support as she did
so, strong arms clasped her to a warm and
loving bosom.
Louise crept to her fathers feet, her blue
eyes swimming with tears.
"O father what If L had kept it I? she
asked, with tears in her voice.
"Then, dear, you would not have found
me. Always remember that wrong wins its
punishment, and right its reward"
STOPPING A NEwspApER.-An exchange
has the following allegory, which We COM
mend to careful consideration
"a certain man hit his toe against a peb-
bic and fell headlong to the ground. He