The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-09

have got my pay i had no neeu 10 no
what I did, and I never should have
done it, either. I'm not such a scamp
as You think me, ma'am."
"Perhaps not" she said, coldiy.
"But what L think of You is of no con-
sequence, Mr.. Stebbins. You come, l
believe, to return the money which you
misappropriated. am here to give you
a receipt for it..
She sat down as she said this III an
arm chair that was drawn up before a
library table, and motioned me to take
seat opposite her. There was paper on
the table and an inkstand, and she took
up pen and held it, looking at me in a
waiting sort of way. / pulled out my
forty dollars aud tossed it down before
her. not as civilly as / might have done
it, / must confess. But was reckless,
for her hard way took the last spark of
hope from me.
"That's all I've got" said, doggedly.
cts only forty dollars, and the check
was seventy-fve. I've done my best to
get the whole of it, and if / was to be
hanged for it tomorrow, l couldn't raise
another dollar"
She looked at me with those clear,
steady eyes of hers for half a minute,
and l looked straight back at her, for
/ was telling her nothing but the truth
now.
"Of course, you know" she said pres
emily, " that Mr.. Blackjack has paid the
money out of his own pocket9"
"Yes, know it, answered.
"And you can't expect that he will
bear the loss quietly. He has given you
an opportunity to save yourself, and
shown you more forbearance than some
others might in his place."
"Much more than you would. I've no
doubt, ma'am. 1t takes woman to be
hard on a fellow-creature, l said, saw
agely.
Her face flushed as if had struck her,
and she gave me a look that made me
feel like dirt under her feet.
"Does offering gratuitous insult help
to redeem your self-respect9" she asked,
gently. of it does, can excuse you
more readily, perhaps, than you would
excuse yourself, by and by"
The look, and the words, and the tone,
were so different from what I'd ex-
pected for an answer that was upset
completely. The stubborn, reckless
spirit in me broke down somehow, and
kind of light seemed to shine in. !
can't put it into story-book words, you
know, but seemed to feel ali at once
that she understood me, and that she
would help me if l had the sense to let
her. Somehow or other, / contIived to
stammer out an apology, and to beg her
to listen to me.
eff you'd only let me tell you how I
happened to get that check, and to use
it," entreated her. "Mr. Blackjack
wouldn't hear word-but you'll under
stand, know you will, if you'll only
listen to me"
Well, she said she would, and she
did. began at the beginning, and it
was such relief to speak out plain,
after all the shutting and concealing I'd
been through with, that let my tongue
run on as if it would never stop. She
stood it like an angel and might as
well say here that she looked like an
angel, too-one of the sort that rejoice
in heaven, you know, when a sinner re-
penis. Her eyes shone soft and sweet
when told her about Molly, and some
how or other 1 found myself taking out
Molly's picture presently, and showing
it to her. She looked at it and smiled
the sunshiny kind of smile that makes
ones heart warm-and she said
T" It's sweet little face-honest, and
sensible, and brave. If were the man
that loved her 1 would have no secrets
from face like that"
"Wouldn't you, 1 said, "Not even il
it was such thing as this I'm telling
you9"
"Not even such thing as this. She
doesn't look like a girl that would quar-
rel with her lover for fault confessed
She would love you more for trusting
her, and have stronger motive fol
bringing all her good influence to beal
on YOU"
ell tell her this very night before
sleep" 1 cried out. "Mr. Blackjack
can't have me arrested till Monday
morning, anyhow, and I'll make clear
breast of it to Molly before then"
&c 1t is the best thing you can do, >
she said. "As for Mr.. Blackjack, ]
may as well tell you frankly that he di
rected me to accept no compromise i'll
Ihlo hatttA IL yOu WClO uOo Icutiy "
pay the money, he said he should GER
tainly have you arrested, as you say"
81 expected that" / answered for.
lornly.
"But / shall take it upon myself fol
once" she went on, "to 60 contrary to
his directions, or rather to act independ-
emily of them. You have but forty dol
lars, you say; well, l will lend you
thirty-tive. AMI she took out hel
purse and counted seven five dollar
bills, then pushed them toward the forty
| that she hadn't touched.
"Now you have the amount required
for Mr.. Blackjack. I will give you a
receipt for it, and trust to your honor to
repay what l lend you as soon as you
are able"
She began to write the receipt direct
ly, and put it into my hands before ]
could even blunder out word of thanks.
She didn't..do things in halves, you see,
God bless her! / didn't either. was
really to cry before, and you can say
what you please about it, but i amt
ashamed to own that l blubbered out
then and she, though she was such a
fine lady-and was only poor devil OF
clerk that she had Just saved from
State prison, she came round to where
sat SHAKING all ovar opd ,,aftad nv, T.; n