Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-08-15

was her husband. as | found out after
Her husband. Ben, and they'd only been
married few weeks, and if she didn't
love him well, then never stwany bodys
eyes that was lin love, that's all Such
beautiful dark eyes, with soft shining
mist over them. and a smile under them.
that came through and through them, rs
they followed that young black -curled
gentleman all mp the street, and never
left him till he'd gone clean round the
corner aud was out al sight. Didn't |
.,iSh then was him? Bat what had u
puor ragged boy like me to do with such
as hel? All had TO do with her was To
sweep the mud cut of the way OF her
pretty fec. and then aSl; her lor u ha'-
penny, looking nj her NIL the while, and
thinking how handsome she was in her
large white veil, covered all over with
line, white flowers, aud her dark, shiny
hair. and her sweet face
The Young gentleman was gone, and
then the young lady turned her eyes to
where stood. and saw me There was
a smile on her face still, though it wasn't
the same smile. and when she heard Nc
ask for Il hapcnny, she put her hand at
upcc into her pocket and brought out.
not Il ha'penny. but a silver siNpcnce, md
dropped it into my hand without word {;
and then she trippcd on, and all the sun.
shine in the street went after her and the
white veil lgavc stare AT the SIX
pence to see if twas 4 good one. Tor, |
didnl often get many of that sort, aS yon
may DC sure, and | popped it into my
pocket 10 he safe; hut just rs lifted my
broom to give another sweep at spirit or
two OF mud, what should | see at my lcct
but a shining bracelet all gold and color
eel stones! In Il moment ! remembered |
had seen such a one on the yOuag lady :
wrist the minute before, and rs stopped
to pick il up felt sure She must have
dropped it when she pulled her hand out
ot her pocket 10 give me- the siXpcncc.-
Ii was very handsome and heavy, but |
duen tstop to loot. ut il, lest somebody
should see me and take it from me, or call
The police, so turned round quick TO see
il any one was noticing. and rs | found
they weren't wrapped it up in some pa
per and put it in my coat pocket, along
with the sixpcnce Then lifted up my
broom and began to walk away lcisurcly,
wondering what should do with the
bracelet"
"Ot course" put in Ben, you meant
to give it back to the owner:"
His companion shook his head aud
looked sorrowlul rs he replied, Don't
start away from me, Ben, and think yuu
are with thief if tell YOU | dill not, for
that is the lact Remember what was,
though don't want to excuse myself by
reminding you-a poor shoelcSs and
stockinglcSs lad. dressed in rags. with II
sick mother at home dependent on the
ha'pcncc he earned for everything. | had
lust found 4 treasure, Is thought. That
would buy mother doctor an' some
good food, and me some clothes and
schooling. didn't want to spend the
money wrong. All wanted was ever
To get on in the world and help mother.
remembered with 4 sort oi Joy that |
didn't know where the young lady lived.
or what WAS her name, AMI WAS wiling
To think | could never find her. She had
given ms sixpcnct, aud hIl looked
very pretty and very good, and | didn't
wish her 10 lose h.r bracelet, but then 1t
hadn't found ii, some one else would,
and why shouldn't have the benefit? ? 1t
didn't seem at all like stealing To take
what | had found. when didn't know
the owner. s. made my way u shop
| knew. where thought they would tell
me the value of the bracelet and perhaps
buy ii of me, and entering very boldly,
asked to see the proprietor.
He looked at me and he looked at the
bracelet. and alter some rubbing aud
tapping at it he told me it wasn't worth
above Won shilling.
didn't believe him, and said, "never
mind, then | won't sell il, Give it me
back"
But the oldIelow didn't want 10 part
with it, and after awhile offered me
two. three, four, five, shllings, and mt
last six, but vowed he wouldn't give Il
penny more. felt sure he was cheating
me, SO asked for il back again once
more.
Then he turned angry, and called me
IL young thief, who had stolen the brace
let and said if didn't let him have il
quietly for six shillings he would call in
the police. But he didn't trightcn me
that way, though | felt guilty some
thing about me that had never ielt be-
fore, and was halt ready 10 cry at being
called thief had to endure storm
of abuse from the old rogue, and to stand
firm under his fire about the police, that
dare say, after all he'd have been more
frightened To see than should; and
when the bracelet was once more in my
possession, ran home like some wild
animal escaped from the snare. How
calm and quiet all seemed in our poor
little attic when reached it. The morn
inc sun was shining through the broken
panes in the roof, upon the foot of moth
er's he'd. where she lay, her face little