Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-03-02

down stairs and out into the street, anC
stops to look between the pickets int
the fruit garden, where every blushiny
peach of them, every clustering grape
every nodding plum, seems to cry
"Come, and let us drop into you
MOUTH so temptingly that it is too
much for the little rogue, with mammal
seal in his calico pocket, and a gooc
deal of hunger in his capacious stomach
So, in an adventurous frame of mind
he trots round the square and opens the
| garden gate, which moves to the silver
chime of bell, and causes a agentleman
who is giving some orders to the gar
dener, to turn about and give Master
Bert the benefit of a pair of deep, un
sinking eyes shining out of handsome
face, which has the effect of disconcert
| ing the little intruder for the instant
till the deep eyes melt somewhat as they
fall upon the rosy, perplexed face, the
rings of snarly gold hair.
"Good morning, little one," says the
gentleman, with his clear, tuneful voice,
that reminds Bert of the wind blowing
through the trees. What have you
got for me there in your pocket? ?'' for
Bert is holding the seal with great care
in that nook, both plump hands en-
gagged in the service. r.--.
"It's mine," says he, equivocally.
"Ah! And what will you take for
it ?'' laughing. "Can't we strike bar
gain ?''
"Take peaches ~ returns Bert, sharp
at bargain, as his father had been be-
fore him; GRIPPE peaches; sound too.
See r' and he holds up the seal and lets
the sunlight winnowing down through
the leaves overhead, flash upor, it and
light up the old engraving. The words
the gentleman is about to speak, the
laugh that is upon his lips, all dissolve
into profound sigh. Bert is beginning
to fancy that he has done wrongly, that
the gentleman is going to tell mamma
how he was selling her pretty seal for
peaches, as he tries to read the grave
face before him growing graver every
moment, and wrinkled with strange ex-
preston; he fancies, too, that there is a
tear in the unsmiling eyes regarding the
precious seal; and then the gentleman
Sits down in a garden chair, and holds
the seal in his white palm, and seems to
have forgotten Bert and the peaches and
the waiting gardener, and to have gone
long, long way off, quite out of the
sight and hearing of to-day. But by
and-by he comes back again, and calls
Bert to his side, and asks gently, with
the sound of tears in his voice:
Where did you find this, my child?"
Bert is sure now that he understands
all about it, and is ready to drop with
shame. O.
Mamma" he begins, "she Vent to
sleep with the headache, and let Bert
put it on, and didn't say nothing"
"Where did mamma get it ?'
Bert knows nothing about that.
" Mamma has worn it forever" he de-
clares. q
"Win you take me to see your mann
Feehng as though he had been over
reached, Bert consents, and together
they pass out of the gate and walk
round the square, and pass in at the
open tenement-house door, and up the
worn staircase up to Jacqueline's room,
where grandpa lies all day and counts
the flies on the ceiling, and scolds the
children for amusement, and watches
the clouds fit across the sky, within
sight of his window. But it is grandpa
who is asleep now, and mamma has
up to make the porridge for
supper, and to look after the children.
She opens the room door at the sound
of steps, and naughty Bert rushes into
her arms, crying, Dear mamma, Bert's
real sorry )" and then she grows faint
and white, for perhaps Bert has broken
a window, and the funds are so very
lowI
The stranger, with his handsome, Sc
rious face and fine attire, pauses on the
threshold and looks about him. So
poor home just at the foot of his own
garden, within stones throw of his
princely estate why had he not thought
about it? Had his own sorrows blunted
him to those of his neighbors? d? Had
he so pitied himself that there was no
pity left for others? Had prosperity
blinded him to adversely? Then his
eyes rested upon Jacqueline, in her
shabby gown, with her worn, tired face,
her faded eyes; what were those eyes
saying to him-what had they said, over
and over again, years ago?
Jacqueline, is it you to whom the
seal belongs ?'' he cries.
" Yes, Mark she answers, sadly.
And why did you keep it, Jacque-
line, when you had the heart to part
with so much that was precious p s-
Because 1 could not part
with it, Mark 81
" And yet you could forsalze the giver
in his trouble !'' s
81 did it for the best. They-he lied
to me, Mark he said if l would, 1 could
purchase your release by marrying him.
was his dnpe, and l have suffered for
it. But l deserved it for believing that
you could write the letter / received,
beseeching me to accept the terms of
Mr.. Dunn, and save you. | was a fool
to believe it, but l was young, Mark.
After hearing that you were accused 1
could believe almost anything. / was
crazed with trouble. But it was all a
forgery on his part to ruin you. He
confessed to all on his dying bed-the
forged check laid to your charge, the
letter to me. But the mischief was
done, Mark still forgave him. pro-
missed to try and think as kindly as l
could of him. / have tried; but it is
hard. when you see Mark Stretton,'
he said, with his last breath, tell him l
forgive him the debt What debt was
it, Mark? p
'"The debt of your love, Jacqueline.
He hated me because l won you-be-
cause YOU loved me. He can afford to
forgive me now"
"Yes,' said Jacqueline; " but you
will give me back my seal"
"What do you prize it stillr'
Il cannot do without it. | have
worn it all these years. 1t is like dear
friend.''
"Is it so precious to you? And /
who love you-so worthless ?'
"You? You love me?'
@ yes, Jacqueline, love you"
"Then give me back my seal,' she
said, with a charming smile irradiating
her worn features smile beside which
that of youth is prosaic and cold. If
| did not love you | should not care for