Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-08-03
NO. 4S.


the desire to remain in Miss Berwick's
sphere was the principal cause of his rash
act; yet, now that he was still where ho
could meet her. be shrunk from making
an avowal of his feelings-he dared not
approach her with his love- So he argu-
ed to HIMSELF thinking he was strong
enough to withstand the temptation. al
though he knew he had yielded to less
er one.
But, diguise the fact as we may, we are
all creatures of circumstances. We say,
- will not do So" and 10 in a month or
year we have done those very things, and
it bas become matter of course that We
should have done so. Even. us, in spite
of himself, Harry Tyndall had appropris.
ted what was not his, also, in spite of his
will, he was at last thrown into just such
circumstances as forced from his lips .
declaration of love to Clara, though he
doubted as be made it.
Clara arched her brows q moment in pre-
tended surprise (as if she had not known
his struggles all along), then the old mer-
ry, mocking smile flashed over her face.
and some banteriDg words rose to her lips;
but they were unspoken; for there was
earnestness enough, aud enough of passion
and pain in his face to subdue even her.
He scarcely knew what she said but he
went away, feeling as if his head would
strike the stairs, because Clara loved and
would marry him but as he walked n
long he thought of tue pocket book, and
his ecstacy died away. Why should he. a
common thief, rejoice because under false
colors he had won a good womans heart?
But he must play the accepted lover, and
hedid SO, forgetting, when with her, his
own unworthiness. Sometimes he thought
to tell her all again, he shrunk from her
scoru aud the loss of her respect.
But one day when they wore together,
after short silence between them, Clara
said suddenly, Harry, did You ever find
out whose purse that was that you found
in your Office r.
He turned pale as DEATH Was his sin
about to find him out at last?
"No," he said, huskily.
ss "Was there no cluc--nothing to indi.
cate who was the owncr?"
"None at all. -
Have you it yet Harry? Well, I
should like to see it. Will you 60 and
get it"
Il have it here" he said.
Like many criminals, he had never part
cd with the witness of his crime.
Clara took it in her hands.
Now Harry" said she, II have a con-
fession to make. / don't mind telling
you that fell in love with YOU at FIRST
sight; and that when learned from my
lawyer that you were on the verge of ru-
III. and that so small a sum of money
would save you, was grieved for your
suferngs but rejoiced to think l might
help you"
Here she opened the purse. slipped tho
penknife between the two compartments,
drew out folded paper, which she hand.
cd to Harry, who read it:
Use this money to take up that out
standing debt. A FRIESD."
lie looked at her smiling face and
light broke in upon him.
so it was your purse, after all!'
mo, Harry. it was not my purse, 1
found the old thing in the garret; but it
was my money. Tell me, did it save
you?'
~ es ; on, yes! Ana all these years
have borne about a needless burden, and
morning, noon and night called myself a
thief, and dared not tell you of my love
because of it. Ab. what have / not suf-
credg
And I am the cause Of it ALL" cried
Clara, throwing her arms around his neck,
with burst of tears. ''Can you forgive
me?"
Forgive you ~ said Harry, fondly. II
would 60 through twice as much to save
you single pangl And, at last. can
hold up my head among them with u clear
conscience"
"Of course you can. Don't you re-
member told you at the time TO use il?
You might have known it was all right"
''Yes, might. but did not. 1t would
have saved me much sorrow if [ had
However, L do not regret now