Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-12-03

1NpHiAOu MS uSCQ1y AG appropriated
it, and was henceforth branded thief
in his own eyes.
Those months of financial cmbar.
rassment that followed were safely
tided over, and then he devoted him
self to his business with a melancholy
desperation born of conscious guilt.
lie went little into society: and cs-
pecially did he avoid Clara Berwick,
who with a perversity Of mocking
mischief, tortured him with illusions
to the lost pocket book whenever she
chanced to meet him. She was SO
thoroughly good Matured about il, 80
utterly careless and lriGing that he
could not accuse her Of malice; yet
his own conscience being his sharpest
accuser, he imagined knowledge of
his guilt when, in reality, there was
none.
lie did not conceal from himself
that the desire to remain in Miss Ber-
wicks sphere was the principle cause
of his rash act yet, now that he was
still where he could meet her, he
shrunk from making al ayowal of his
ieUlin2s--,he dared net approach her
with his love, So he argued to him
SELF thinking that he was strong
enough TO Withstand the temptation.
although he knew he had Welded to a
lesser one.
But, disguise the fact as we NAV,
we are all creatures Of circumstances.
We say, 4 will not do 50 and so,' and
10! in month or year we have done
those very things and ii has become
a matter Of course that we should
have done 50. Even as, in spite Of his
will, Harry Tyndall had appropriated
what was not lis; so, also in spite OF
that same will, he was at last thrown
into just snch circumstances as forced
from his lips declaration of love 10
Clara, though he trembled and doubt,
ed as he made il.
Clara arched her brow. a moment
in pretended surprise (as if she had
not known his struggles all along !;
then her old merry mocking smile
flashed over her face. and some ban
tering words rose to her lips, but
they were unspokon; for there was
carnestness enough, and enough Of
passion and pain in his face to subdue
even her. lie scarcely knew what
she said but he went away, feeling
as if his head would strike tie stars,
because Clara loved him, and would
marry f; but as he walked he thought
OF the pocket book, and his ecstacy
died away. Why should he, COM
mon thiCf, rejoice because, under false
colors, lie had won good womans
heart? But he must play the accept
ed lover; and ho did SO, forgetting.
when with her, his own unwortliness.
Sometimes he thought to tell her all :;
again, he shrank from her scorn and
the loss of her respect.
But one day, when they were to-
gether, after a short silence between
them, Clara said suddenly: "Harry
did you ever find out whose purse
that was you found in your ofIicc!'
lie turned pale as death. Was his
gin about to find him out at last?
No. lie said huskily.
Was there no clue--nolhing to in.
dicate who was the owner
None at all.
Have you it yet liarryy We'll, [
should like TO see it. Will you 90
and get itt'
4 have it here he said.
Like many criminals, lie had ever
parted with the witness Of his crime.
Clara took it in her hands.
Now, Harry she said. i have
confession to make. | don't mind
telling you that | fell in love with
you at first; ; and that when learned
from my lawyer that you were OH the
verge Of ruin, and that so small a sum
would saved you, | was grieved for
your sutcrings, but rcjoced to think
| might help YOU
Here she opened the purse, slipped
The pen&nife between two cOmpart-
ments and drew out a folded paper,
which she handed to Harry, who read
IT,
Use this money to tlSc up that
outstanding debt. A. FRIEND.
lie looked at her smiling face, and
. light broke in upon him.
SO il was vOur Dursc p
No Harry, it was not my purse. . |
found the old thing in the garret; but
it save your
Yes oh yes. And all these ear.
| have born about a needless burden,
and morning, noon and night called
myself thief, and dared not tell YOU
Of my love because Of it. And what
have not suffered?'
And am the cause OF il ali, cried
Clara, throwing her arms around his
neck, with burst of tears. Can YOU
forgive me-
Forgive your said Harry fondly,
i would so through twice as much
TO save you single pangl And, at
last can holu up my neau among
men with clear conscience
of course you can. Don't YOU re-
told you al the time to use
it? You might have known il was
nll right
Yes, ! might; but | did not, Ii
would have saved Inc much sorrow il
| had. However, ! do not regret il
now.
4 good story is told of a rather
agricultural laborer, who
having by hook and by crook sclaped
together fifty dollars, took il TO his
employer, with request to take
charge of il tor him, A year after
the laborer went 10 another FREUD to
know what would be the interest on
il. lie was told three dollars. "Well,"
said he, Il wish you would lend me
three dollars for day or two. Ny
boss has been keeping fifty dollars
for mo year, and want to pay lin
the interest for it."