Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-08-12
henceforth

tided over, and then he devoted
himself to his business with a mel
ancholy desperation born of con-
scious guilt. He went little into So
ciety, and especially did he avoid
Clara Berwick, who, with a per-
versity of mocking mischief, tor
tured him with illusions 20 the lost
| pOcdet-book whenever she CHANGED
to meet him. She was thoroughly
| good natured about it, so utterly
careless and trifling that he could not
accuse her of malice; yet his own
| conscience was his sharpest accuSer;
! he imagined know ledge of his guilt.
| when in reality there was none.
He did not conceal from himself
| that the desire to remain in Miss
Berwick's sphere was the principal
cause of his rash act /; yet, now that
he was still where he could meet
her, he shrunk from making an
ayowal of his feelings-he dared not
approach her with his love. So he
argued TO himself, thinking he was
strong enough to withstand the
temptation, although he knew he
had yielded to a lesser one.
But, disguise the fact as we may,
we are all creatures of circumstance.
VIC say, q will not do 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 so. Even as, in spite of
himself, Harry Tyndall had appro-
priated what was not his, also, in
spite of his will. he was at last
thrown into just such circumstances
as forced from his lips a declaration
of love to Clara, though he doubted
as he made it.
Clara arched her brows a mo-
ment in pretended surprise las if
she had not known his struggles all
along), then her old merry, mocking
smile flashed over her face, and
some bantering words rose to her
lips but they were unspoken; for
there was earnestness enough, and
enough of passion and pain in his
face to subaue even her. He scarce
ly knew what she said ; but he went
away feeling as if his head would
strike the stars, because Clara loved
and would marry him; but as ne
walked along he thought Of the
pocket-book, and his ecstacy died
away. Why should he, common
thief, rejoice because under false
colors he had won good WOInan's
heart? But he must play the SC
cepted lover, and he did so, forget
ting when with her, his own un-
worthiness. Sometimes he thought
to tell her all again, he shraak
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 office ?"
He turned pale as death. Was his
sin about to find him out at last?
"No," he said, huskily.
Was there no clue-nothing to
indicate who was the owner ?"
"None at ALL"
Have you it yet, Harry Well,
L should like to see it. VIII you go
and get it 2"
80 have it here" he said.
Like many criminals, he had never
parted with the witness of his crime.
Clara took it in her hands.
"Now, Harry" said she, l have
a confession to make. don't mind
telling you that l fell in love with
you at first sight; and that when l
learned from my lawyer that you
were on the verge of ruin, and that
so small sum of money would save
you, was grieved for your suffer-
ings hut rejoiced to think 1 might
help you."
Here she opened the purse, slipped
the penknife between the two COM
partments, drew out q folded paper.
which sne handed to Harry, who
read it:
"Use this money to take up that
outstanding debt. A FRIEND"
He looked at her smiling face and
light broke in upon him.
I" So it was your purse, after all ?"
"No, Harry, it was not my purse.
found the old thing in the garret;
but it was my money. Tell me, did
it save your"
eyes oh, yesl And ali these
wears have borne about needless
burden, and morning, noon and
night called myself a thief, and
dared not tell you of my love be-
cause of it. All, what have 1 not
suffered?"
"And am the cause of it ALL"
cried Clara, throwing her arms
around his neck, with a burst of
tears, "Can you forgive me?"
"Forgive your" said Harry
fondly, "I would go through twice |
as much to save you single pang |
And, at last, can hold up my head |
among them with a clear con-
science"
"Of course you can. Don't you
remember told you at the time to |
use it? You might have known it |
was all right?"
eyes, might, but L did not. 1t
would have saved me much sorrow
ifI had. However, l do not regret |
it.now."