Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-09-02

| II I only dared to use I'll And JUS,
the amount, too! But ! must adver
tise It,"
Harry TyndalI did not advertise tn,
lost pocket-book, md when, thres
days later, his bill fell due, he paid 1t
and was a free man.
1t Is not necessary to recount the
successive steps In temptation which
finally led to tile first dishonest act o.
a hitherto spOtlcss life. How the
pocket-book came there he could mol
even guess. But u was there itjusl
supplied his needs, he appropriated
II, and was henceforth branded d
thief In his own eyes. $50 q
Those months. ~ financial embar.
rassment that followed were safely
tided over, and then lie devoted him
self to his business with melancholy
desperation horn Of conscious guilt.
He went little into society, and es-
pecially did he avoid Clara Berwick,
who, with a perversity OF mocfing
mischief, tortured him with illusions
to the lost pocket-bo0k whenever she
CHANGED to meet him. She was
thoroughly good nalured about 1t, 80
utterly careless and trifiing that he
could not accuse her of malice; yet
his own conscience was his siiarpest
accuser; he imagined knowledge oil
his guilr, when In reality there was
none. SIS
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 avOwal Oi
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 .
lesser one.
But, disguise the fact as we may,
we are all creatures Of circumstance.
We say, / will not do sou and 10 |!
IN y 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 Tyndalf had appro-
priated what was not his, also, IN spite
Of his Will, he was ut last thrown
into just such circumstances as forced
from his lips u declaration OF love to
Clara, though he doubted as he made
it.
Clara arched her brows moment
In pretended surprise las n she had
not known his struggles all al0ng),
then her old merry, mocking smile
flashed over her face, and some BAN
tering words rose to her lips; but
they were unspoken for there was
earnestness enough, and enough OF
passion and pain in his face to subdue
even her. He scarcely knew what
she said but he went away feeling
as II his head would strike the stars,
because Clara loved and would marry
him but as he walked along he
thought of the pocket-book, and his
ecstacy died away. Why should he,
a common thief, rejoice because un-
der false colors he had won good
woman's heart? But he must play
the accepted lover, and he did 80, for
getting when with her, his own un-
worthiness. Sometimes he thought
to tell her all again, he shrank from
her scorn and the less of her respect
But one day when they We're to
gether, after 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 rs death. Was his
sin about to find him out last?
"No," he said, huskily.
Was there no clue--nothing to in.
dictate who was the owner?n
"N0ne at all.n
Have, you it yet, Harry? Well,
should like to see 1t. Will you gt
and get it?p
II have 1t here" he said.
Like many criminals, he had never
parted with the witness Of bis crime
Clara took 1t in her hands. e
"Now, Harry" said she, ~ hav,
a confession to make. ! don't mine
telling you that fell in love will
you at frs. sight; and that when
learned from my lawyer that yol
were on the verge of ruin, and tina
SO small a sum Of money would save
you, l was grieved for your suffering,
but rejoiced to think might hell
YOU"
Here she opened the purse, slipped
the penkife between the two com
partments, dr,w out a folded paper
which she handed to Harry, who reat
it:
"Use this money to take up tina
outstanding debt. A FRIEND
He looked ut her smiling face an,
light broke in upon him.
$50 1t was your purse, after all p
No, Harry, 1t was not my purse
i found the old thing In the garnet
but 1t was money. Tell me, did 4
save you?"
Eyes; oh, yes! And all thes,
years have borne about q needles,
burden, and morning, noon and nigh
called myself u thief, and dared no
tell you of my love because of 1t
All, what have not suffered ?"
"And am the cause of It all,
cried Clara, throwing her arms arount
his neck, with a burst of tears, "Cai
you forgive me?"
"Forgive your" said Harry fond
~, 81 would go through twice a
much to save you a single pang
And, at last, can hold up my hea,
among them with clear conscience
Ofcourse you can. Don't you re
member i told you at the time TO us
it? You might have known 1t wa
all right?"
Yes, ] might, but / did not. I
would have saved me much sorrow |
had. However, do not regret |
now"
SAVE SOMETHING. = Save some
thing: mo matter how little 1t may be-
-