The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-03-16


81 can't to-night-I'm entirely ou
Of change. You can call the day aftel
tomorrow.
But Louise was not to be repulsed
She caught the lady's hand in bott
of her little, frozen palms. One o
the rings that adorned Mrs. Rawdon's
soft fingers would have procured al
the comforts her mother and little
Willie so sorely needed. Some such
thoughts flashed through the child's
mind as she made her appeal.
"Oh, madam" she said, her blue
eyes full of imploring treaty, "you
are rich and happy, and have all you
want; but my poor mother has moth
ing, and my little brother will die
without medicine! Do let me have
the money"
Mrs. Rawdon shook her head i'm
patiently.
81 tell you I've no change. You
must call again. John, show her to
the door,"
The footman obeyed, and Louise
soon found herself upon the marble
steps, with the door closed in her
very face with heartless slam.
The wind howled more dismally
than ever, and the keen, singing
sleet fell like shower of shot. Lou
Use descended the steps and crossed
over to the opposite pavement with
dull, aching pain at her heart, that
almost took away her breath. How
could she 60 back to her desolate
home and tell her poor mother that
she had failed to collect her hard
earned wages; tell her that they were
not able to buy even SO much as a
solitary loaf?
Just then something beneath her
foot, soft and slippery, almost threw
her to to the pavement. Looking
down, she saw a pocket-book. She
caught it up with suppressed cry.
and, thrusting it into her bosom, dart
ed off at the speed of an antelope.
At last, out of breath and half beside
herself with excitement, she paused
beneath lamp-post, and after glanc-
ing steal,hily around her, she drew
the treasure from her bosom. 1t was
large, thick and heavy. Her fingers
fluttered nervously as she unclasped
it; and when she caught sight Of the
green bank-notes it contained, she
uttered wild cry of delight, and
darted off again like something in
sane. Mother and Willie should
have all they needed now.
Just beyond the bakers shop, to-
wards which she bent her steps, a
soldier met her.
"Little girl" he said, arresting her
flying steps, ''did you find pocket
book as you came along?"
Louise paused single instant, her
heart fluttering like frightened bird;
then, as thought of her mother and
Willie flashed through her mind she
answered; "No, SIR
"Well, it is gone, ! suppose and
the soldier passed on, while Louise
hurried away in the opposite direc-
tion.
BY the time she reached the ba-
ker's she was in tremor from head
TO foot, and her cheeks seemed on
fire; but she drew the pocket book
from its hiding place, and standing
outside the door unclasped it and
took out a note. The shop was
crowded with customers, and she had
to wait for her turn before she could
obtain what she wanted. Her eyes
wandered wistfully around the tempt
ing shelves. She would buy ever SO
many loavcs, and even that frosted
cake. They would have Goals and
meat, too. Why not? The pocket
book was hers; she had found it.
Still her hands ttembled, and her
cheeks burned.
She glanced down at the note she
held, and saw, with start of horror,
that it was $50. What had she
done? Robbed that man Of his
money, and he a soldier. Her father
had been soldier. With sharp
cry, clutching the pocket book in one
hand and the $50 bill in the other,
she darted from the shop and down
the snowy street.
Just square or two beyond the
glittering mansion of Mrs, Rawdon
she overlook the soldier. He was
walking slowly, glancing from one
side of the icy pavement to the other
with an anxious, despairing look on
his face. Louise was at his side in
an instant.
''Oh, sir" painting for breath, her
hood thrown back, her blue eyes wild
and startled, and her bright hair
blown all about her flushed face, 81
did find your pocket-book-here it is.
l took this note out, but l couldn't
spend it. Mothers almost starved,
and little Willie will die without
medicine; but l can't steal can't
Take it back''
The soldier took the money from
the half-frozen little hands that held
it up to him; then lifting the child
into his arms, he smoothed back her
tangled locks, and looked down into
bor mole toor.stainaI i;ttla face wit h