The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-06-07

Expensive though it might be, / could not
forego the pleasure Of sleigh-ride with
Selma Maydew. Oh blissi to have her
Nnesaed beside me, the same robe over our
knees, to have people whom we passed
(for at nineteen who is not the observed Of
all observers p see me with the hand
somest and best-dressed girl In New York
at my side. 1t was worth going barefoot
for if need be.
Consequently, defying consequences, /
mentally inverted my quarter aftOwancc
t6the lsst cent. and asked Miss MsJdev,
cafelesSly, IS thoilgh sleigh.ridss 3eFs
everyday affairs with me, for the honor Of
her company: She accepted the invita-
H64 promptly, adding that .shs adored
brides; and 1 went to the seventh
heaven OF adoring swains at once. a
I was too happy to rest all night: be.
side, q remembrance of the strict account
demanded by my grandfather Of my *
penditures set me to thinking. fear !
was divided between the merits of woe
.ful tale Of robbery and an account of my.
self as having been 70 carried away BY
the discourse Of the latest returned mis-
sionary, that in Q moment of zeal had
placed my five-and- twenty dollars at the
disposal of the heathcn. Nevsr having
told the smallest f1b before, i presume all
my force had been held In reserve to make
this one whoppet." ,
Alas the next day daWned upon the be;
ginning Of my troubles for the first time
my gtandfather's bulky, red.sealed mis-:
sive did not arrive pnnctually at ten
O'Clock ON the first Of the month 3 s.
Indeed the three. regular visits of the
postman were paid without bringing a
letter for MY nsmes Tgrewz restless aftel
the first, anxious after the second, des-
pairing after the third, Ihad not cent in
the world; knew no one who would loan
me money. s... .. 4
If b untowad chance my grand!
Efather's remittance did not reach me ]
was disgraced forever; for had not the liv:
cry stable man informed me that Voting
sgeRts now -a-daysi are such cheats, y thai
lis terms were " Cash down at starting "
I had bitter disappointment at noon,
when small boy brought me a letter
which turned out. to be a circular inviting
my attention to the best assortment o1
boots in the city" and at night only the
hope that my letter had been sent to my
h6arding-house kept me from losing my
senses j xnshed home pell.mell. Alas
Biddy assured me mo letther hadn't
come"
As conversed upon the subject viii
that hand maiden. Thompson, the practi:
cal Joker Of our establishment. came in,
and called to me-" Eetter; ;,blessme, Pit
cairn, q letter came by express for you
i've minutes after you LETT. Run back
and get it before, the old woman shuts
upp' 1,iiaa II ..i.,a SO ~ 49,
At any other time should have known
/ was being victimized to Thompson s
sense of humor; but was too much ex.
cited to understand that at the moment
Away Invent again to find that l had beer
sold fiaa
S Only the, janitress was in the sanctum Of
the heads Of the firm, whirling clouds Of
dust about with q broom; and when after
a fruitless search, turned to depart again,
the woman called to mel
ss MIR. Pitcairn, come back-do. Here's
some one lefta watch. Whose is it," )
8. Mr.. Wlnder's," Isaid, as she put it in
my hand, land valuable one, too"
81 thought so," said the janitress.
Bless ye, it's well that old gentleman's
head is glued on. IT 'twarn't, he'd leave
that behind him some day. oich care.
lessness! Now, how luck you was here
/ might ha' been suspected"
"Oh no." saiu l. -
g You knows it, oh yes, sir" said the
.o' d woman; /" should ha' been all OF q
tremble. Do'ee now take ii along with
you, and leave it at Mr.. Winder's; you pass
his door.nE ssssi5e- F58sa8a 81
/ could hardly refuse; and in fact il
seemed. my duty to comply. i left the
office with Mr.. Winder's watch in my
pecket.
1t was dark. when I reached his resi-
dence, and found in the area . disconso
late Irish girl, looking over the rails with
the air of Gagged monkey.
" Mr.. Winder at home" !" said 1.
He. isn,t.n st;e sfss +. aae
"Mrs. Winder?''
"No.n SsFFss u s7 s s
"Then I'd like to see the housekeeper.,' >
"She's away-gone with missus
There's been an accident on the railroad
AM they've had tallygraph that Master
Paul is hurt. 5, The three have gone on t
wherever tits, an hour ago." +
"I'm shocked to hear it. Mr.. Winder'.
son is not badly hurt, hope ?" y
:" don't know" ItF .w.gYks s.s :
There was plainly no one to leave tn
watch with. The girl had by no mean
an honest countenance.
+ L walked away with Mr.. Winder'
watch still in my pocket, and paced tn
streets until the bangs Of hunger super
seded all others, when went home. "a
The ministering household spirit has
kept dinner warm for me, but could M
sVfyv, III Y II, xS,1d +, ~, &ba ", ~
row was question could not answer
Shame, disgrace and contempt were be
fore me, and when, Selma, with her sweel
est smile, whispered, 'sWe shall have
lovely day for our ridep ! felt as thoug
my senses were leaving me. Oh, crue
grandfatheri to delay the. allowance q
this day of all others-to what pass ha'
he brought incl l. could not rest.
pleaded an engagement and went into tn
streets. The weather was intensely cold
but ] did not feel it. l paced the flags
4 meditatipg on my position, until. in !.
narrow streef, 4 trod on the dangling ski
of one of.&wS wretched womenJdst befor
me. She was ragged creature an
smelled of rum, and over her arm sh
held pair of trousers and little frcck
After abusing me- Tor my mishap, sh
turned into'a shm, hard hyand left me,
1t was 4 pay 1hbtoker'G She was g0in
\ there, no doubt, to pawn those garments
| think the arch-fend must have led m
down the street. Perhaps had seen hir
disguised in the thape OF that tips
woman. ~.A@lespelete- thought took POI
session of me-a thought battled with j
vain zyfgf ag 1s.a
Ny quarterly allowance would surel
come to. morrow. should'have the none
4 to redeem it,7wlgyinot pawn Mr.. Ninder
watch? Who would know itf shOul
have it safe again in twenty four hours.
.Neyeri i said to myself In reply
.never. . end looked up at the golden bal
again. Then / pictured myself in m
4 great modification on the morrow, an
covered my face with both hands; Endul
this for mere whim; what folly! Th
watch would be safer At tAes pawnbroker
than in my poof SpveEenight. Lwoel
do it. UleN wa4Qo harm NO one w9ql
ever guess what ] had done; and theI
was nothing dishonest in either thougl
or act. III took . step toward the shol
paused, took another. pushed against II
door, and fc1ptl myself iHthe presenfe
II aenticm4n With = hooked nose. VIII
psSsed between US need not Fecor(
enough thst ten minutes after emerge
into The c5ld outer cir. trembling an
burning sith agitation, With a,pA6nssick'
and five-and Fe4m d6ilAfin ~ Rfcke
while tk-Wlnd rs wal6x rehaiH& b
hind 0ply dntil the m6I4ows, the hapQ
morrow. when l si66l6 glide over q
enow with Selma Maydew It my side. an
recllve that letter, the delay Of which hs