Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-09-19
AsEARP TEMPTATION.
by ,4UDdE CLARK.

but lts not mine" he reflected, "And the own
or may DO discovered" II
"DJn't be a fool !" he answered In himself With
the p'tomary rudchess OF due getting the wOrst
of the argument. fF -
''lts not your business to look after the owner
others have not dealt so justly by you. that you
heeu put yourself out much on account OF some
Others" |
Bad reasoning surely, but If James Watson
yielded to 1t, 1t was not without pallatiou.. The
laIutc OIL MS employer had lost him his situation,
besides considerable arTearage OF wages The
bank III which lac had deposited his savings had
broken and at last tho wolf was at the door +
llc had been out all day seeking employment !
without finding it. AT home he had lett an inva-
lid wife aud "A child crying Tor bread 10 carry
them nothing back but disappointment he eould
not bear to think off He had continued his search
until hope had become hopeless, and was moodiIv
bending his steps homeward, when his eye fell on
a pocketbook at his feet, which Ii eagerly picked |
up and which he found, on inspection, to contain
sum much larger than hc hau ever before pos |
sossed.
Having snubbed his conscience into silence. |
James watson fastened to seek the humble home |
lie had a moment before shTunk from enteTinO
"Dot any supper for Charley, papa r" were the |
first words thnS greeted him. "'''
"Charey shall have a nice supper tonight" he
answered., taking up the child and kissing him.
"looh here, Nary" he exclaimed dispiaylng
his treasure before ths astonshea eyes OF lIs
| wife. '' 's... ..- '' q ' l -
"Where did you get it p she asked, her pale
iace crossing ? der, aud her Voice trembling.
| Found it."
"rhen it Is not yours, James" ....1
| "on the pretty money!" cried the child clap
ping his hands-"b but, papa, is SO hungry"
Inc tather caught up one of the bank notes,
ana was Fastening out when his wIfe's thin hand
was laid upon his arm. ...,., .-4r
De our wants what they may" she said,
gently but firmly, "we must not touch Il cent OF
that money. Ii is not ours, and you sec there
papers winch may lead to the discovery of the
"A paghe on the papers - he answered : ..wc
are not bound to read them aud il is very easy
putting II out OF their power to tell tales"
lie was IN the act of tinsing them into the lie
when hrs wife caught his arm
Listen to me, james" shs sail looking APP
peaiuy into his face. !'TEial aud pTIvati0R I.am
ready to bear with you to the end; to lose faith
in your honor could not bear! Il would kill
me more cruelty than want"
Conscience had found an aher advocate this
time than'in the discussion which James Watson
had lately carried on siugle-handed with him
self.
Bat 1t by, Mary" he said, closing the pocket
book and handing It to his wife. "YOu are right.
God help us f"
, BE assured he will, James feel it now more
than ever"
, "Dut dat nice supper papa" little Charlie re
: minded, "when will it tomey"
The poor father sank into chair and. covered
his face. f -
e "Charlie shall have supper presently, said his
mother. Here, James" she added, take this
1t Will supply our present wants aud let us COM
INIT tomorrow TO Gods mercy"
"What, Mary | your wedding ring = No, no "
"For his sake" she sad, pointing to the child
who was climbing his fathers knee to renew his
appeal.
Without answering, James took the ring and
went out. In u short time he returned and Char
, ley soon sat down TO \ supper in which the good
ness of his appetite made amends for the plain
ness of the fare.
Next morning james Watson took the pocket
book To place it in trHsly hands iii the proptietOS
could he found. The papers 1t contained were
a sealed packet and some loose memoranda
q which gave no clue to the owner. The gentle
+ man in whose hands danes placed ii commended
Q his honesty, and promised To advertise cautousl,
: for the loser OF the property.
O While James was absent on his crrlnl an ell
y derly gentleman called. = .a
: " Does James Watson live heref" he manfred
+ "That j. my husbands name" Mary answered
1" IL he at home r. ask ed the gentleman
a " lie has gone out on some business" said May
d little hositatlngly, for she! had misgiving tina
II the gentlman's visit might relate to the lost poc
(. etb1nk; aud tlhI il It still remained in her hus
% bands possession, he might, III some way, be
f. promised.
u Sorry said the old gentleman l wished h
n see him particularly. I'm lawyer, you see, i" hi
It added abruptly. -
Mary was all IN tremble. She was sure nov
it was the pOcket-book he had come about.
"But stay" said the old gentlmen, jumping up
lis that your family BibleP'- And before Mar,
|, could answer he had Il o book open, and wa
- closely comparing the family register with mem
- orandum he had taken from his pocket.
: "Qute right p he muttcred to himself.
Now then" he resumed, "I've a most un
!. pleasant piece OF news to tell, and may as vel
out with it.p te9
Mary trcnlblod still more violently PossibI,
James had been found with the pOcket-book il
Il his possession, and charged with stealing it.
> "Your husband had IA Uncle Edward" eth
n stranger eontnued-"a wild dog Ned was lin fael
I We were pair of wild dogs together, hs and
l. We'll, he ran away, ana was never heard OF Ill
after he had died millionaire in q strange land
BY his will, duty forwarded to me, and in which
am named as executor, the bulk OF his fortune
it Left TO his nephew, your husband, Of whnm,
Is seems, he had somehow gained intelligence"
&c Mary was too much aRitated fully to compTe
D. hend the old gentleman's statement She waite
ID for him TO continue. li
t. "Now for the storm" said he, aBy George,
Y wish your husband was here ia rather fac
Is twenty men than Que woman in sueA case"
"Pm at loss TO understand you, siri' was al
that Mary could answer.
n "You will sOon" be returned. "Ihe Wills los
IS Now you may think it makts but lit diiIsTenc,
seeing tho contents are known, which only Provr
10 how little women know Of Law. A will has n
lg effect ill IDS proved which it can't very well
u without being produced. How came II lost
10 yoa were going to ask. quite proper questic
on eFoR-exah iaation, and take no exception
it. Well, it was through my own stupid carr
VI lessness. | dropped my poeketbOok somewheI
Ls yesterday"
d "And / found one, % said Jpolcs Watson, VII
~ ~ had entered at this point. flil4 So ls'a
~ hFound onel' cried the laWyeE-"Wlnt was
like2" -
James described ii, stating accurately Ih