The Van Buren press., 1870-10-18

gan to discourse Of something else.
She and Harry had often met in socie-
ty ; but he had never called upon her be-
fore, and when he rose from his chair to
GO she said, Really, Mr.. Tyndall. ]
ought to be grateful to the owner ofthat
pocket book, since it gained me the
pleasure of call. May hope that you
will repeat it some time when you have
no stray articles to dispose OFF,
Harry bushed, murmured something
about the pleasure being on his side, and
hurried away.
90, dear" he said to himself she
actually believes that trumped up that
story Of the pocket book for an excuse to
call on her. Wealth privileges her to be
impertincnt. But oh, if only dared to
use it And just the amount, too! But
| must advertise it."
Harry Tyndall did not advertise the
lost pocket book, and when, three days
later his bill fell due, he paid it and was
free man.
1t is not necessary to recount the sue
cessive steps in temptation which finally
led to the first dishonest act ofa hitherto
spotless life How the pocket book came
there he could not even guess. But it
was there it just supplied his needs, he
appropriated it, and was henceforth
branded thief in his own eyes.
Those months Of financial embarrass-
ment followed were safely tided over, and
then devoted himself to his business with
melancholy desperation porn Of con.
scious guilt. He went little into society !;
and especially did he avoid Clara Ber-
wick. who, with perversity of mocking
mischief, tortured him with illusions to
the lost pocket book whenever she
chanced to meet him. She was SO thor
oughly good-natured about it, so utterly
careless and tri1ing that he could not ac-
cuse her of malice; yet, his own con-
science being his sharpest accuser, he I'M
agined knowledge OF his guilt, when, in
reality, there was none.
He did not conceal from himself that
the desire to remain in Miss Berwlcks
sphere was tho principal cause of his
rash act yet, now that be was still where
he could meet her, he shrunk from max
ing an avowal Of his fcelings--he dared
not approach her with his love. SO he
argued to himself, thinking that he was
strong enough to withstand the tempta-
ton, although he knew he had yielded to
a lesser one
But, disguise the fact as we may, we
are all creatures OF circumstances. We
say, {" will not do so and so,' and 10
in month or year we have done those
very things and it has become matter
of course that we should have done 50.
Even as in spite Of his will, Harry Tyn-
dali had appropriated what was not his; ;
so, also, in spite of that same will, he
was at last thrown into just such circum-
stances as forced from his lips a declara.
ton of love to Clara, though he trembled
and doubted as he made it.
Clara arched her brow moment in
pretended surprise (as if she had not
known his struggles all along) then her
old merry, mocking smile flushed over
her face, and some bantering words rose
to her lips, but they were unspokened;
for there was earnestncss enough, and
enough OF passion and pain in his face
to subdue even her. He scarcely knew
what she said, but went away, feeling as
if his head would strike the stairs, be-
cause Clara loved him, and would marry
but as he walked along, he thought Of
the pocket book, and his ecstaey died
away. Why should he, common thief,
rejoice because, under false colors, he
had won good woman's heart But he
must play the accepted lover, and he did
so forgetting, when with her, his own
unworthiness Sometimes he thoughtto
tell her all, again, he shrank from her
scorn and the loss of her respect.
But one day, when they were together,
after a short silence between them, Clara
said suddenly, Harry, did you ever find
out whose purse that was you found In
your Office
He turned pale as death. Was his sin
about to find him out at last?
"No," he said, husky.
"Was there no clue--nothing to indi-
cate who was the ownerf"
mot at all"
"Have you it yet, Harry? Well l
should like to sec it. viii you go and
get it2'
Il have it here" said he.
Like many criminals, he had never par
ted with the witness of his crime.
Clara took it in her hands.
Now, Harry" said she. 81 have
confession to make. don't mind tell
ing you that | fell in love with you at
first sight, and when l learned from my
lawyer that you were on the verge Of
ruin, and that 90 small sum would save
you, l was grievcd for your sufferngs,
but rejoiced to think might help you"
Here she opened the purse, slipped the
penknife between two compartments, and
drew out folded paper, which she hand
ed to Harry, who read it:
"Usc this money to take up that out
standing debt. IA FRIEND"
He looked at her smiling face and q
light broke in upon him.
$50, it was your purse, after all 2
"No; Harry, it was not my purse. l
found the old thing in the garrett but it
was my money. Tell Inc, did it save
youY'
Yes; oh, yes. And all these years
have borne about a needless burden,
and morning, noon, and night called my.
self thief, and dared not tell you of my
love because of it. Ah, what have ] not
suffered y