The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-07-06
From the Sunday Afternoonl
Maud Pennyfeather's AM
bitiOn.
BY ELIOT MCCORMICK.

street. Inc man was Mr.. John Denlke; the
boy, Terry Mcclure. OF the righteousness
of the scene Mr.. Denike was not unconscious.
His face was red, and wore an expression of
mingled vindictiveness and shame. To add
to his discomfort, young lady, coming in an
opposite direction, checked her steps as she
observed his plight, and then stopped short
in his way.
The boy promptly began to howl.
"Oh, Miss Pen'fealherp' he piteously
cried, she's takin' me to the Jug"
"Why, TerryP' she exclaimed in tone of
reproach, "what is the matter?
Denike had stopped, but still held the boy.
who was crying with all his might and main.
The lady looked inquiringy from Terry to
the gentleman.
"This boy has been trying to pick my
pocket" he said; "and l am going to make
an example of him. Then he added "Are
you particularly interested in him?"
"He is one of my Sunday school scholars"
she said, quietly.
John Denike shrugged his shoulders, and
the girl saw and resented the motion.
"You mean he doesn't do credit to my
teaching" she said hctly; 81 don't suppose
he does. have him just one hour IN the
week. You expect that / should offset that
against the one hundred and sixty-seven,
when he is under other Influences"
John felt uncomfortable. This emphatic
young person was certainly not afraid to
speak her mind. He looked down at the boy.
Twill you ever steal anything again ~ he
asked. The child could hardly speak through
his tears.
go.'
John loosed his hold, and the boy did not
wait for permission. In breath he was
around the corner and out of sight. The
lqdU bnWnd hau1
very much," she said. John stepped aside,
raised his hat, and in a moment she too was
gone.
He smiled to himself, as he went on his
way. Indeed, he was rather relieved. 1t
had been an episode, and the girl was GER
tainly bright and pretty. He put his hand
in his pocket and drew it out with an air of
satisfaction. The handkerchief was there.
1t occurred to him that he might also con-
firm the safety of bis pocket-book. he felt
in the opposite pocket-felt in vain. The
pocket-book was gone. He stopped short in
the street and ground his teeth. l am afraid
his thoughts were not strictly evangelical.
1.-THE little beastW he exclaimed with angry
emphasis. "There was at least thirty dollars
in it-and Nellie's picture besider and then
reviliDg his folly in letting the boy 90, and
wondering if it would be of any use to seek
the police, he turned slowly towards his
home.
Miss Pennyfeather, as she went on her
way, was scarcely less disguised than Denike
himself, without knowing as yet the depth of
Terry's turpitude. She could not deny that
his conduct was the saddest kind of COM
mentary on her teaching. Fancy her added
annoyance, when on going to Sunday school
the next day, she detected Teddy Mcclure
exhibiting to the other boys pocket book
which she knew could not be his, and which
under compulson he tearfully confessed to
have stolen from the gentleman the day be-
FORE, Miss Pennyfeather appropriated the
pocket-book. There were papers in it, pho
tograph OF wonderfully pretty girl, but not
cent of money.
"Where is the money, Terry?' she asked
imperatively.
The boy blubbered. He knew Miss Pen.
nyfeather too well to attempt any denial.
81 took it out" he cried.
"How much was it ?"
rtDo'no," sullenly.
eyes you do, Terry" emphatically.
There was minutes silence.
"Come, Terry, you might as well tell me-
Another pause.
''Terry McGuirep'
The boy fairly jumped.
"There was five dollars" he stammered
"Any more?"
"There was ten dollars in another place."
"How much more, Terry?"
The boy looked at Miss Penayfeather and
learned from her expression the uselessness
of deceit.
There was a place inside,'e he growled,
In barely audible tone, 'as had seventeen
dollars and half in it,
Miss Pennyfeather went over the items in
her mind.
"That makes thirty-two dollars and half"
she said. SNOW, Terry Mcclure, give that
money to me.'
And Terry, with another side look at bis
determined teacher, extracted it from his
pocket and did as he was told. The sum was
correct. Miss Pennyfeather restored it to
the pocket-book, and looked Terry severely
in the eye. 'For next Sundays lesson"
she sl,e,s said, you viii learn the eighth COM
Know it already. growled Terry; "yer
taught it to US last Sunday"
So she has. And Miss Pennyfeather felt
all the more discouraged.
For two days John Denike carried resent
ment in his heart. He went so far indeed,
as to hold the girl altogether responsible for
his misfortune. ssIf she had taught the boy
not to steaP'-this was the way he argued
Il shouldn't have lost Nellie's. picture" So
on Monday afternoon when he met her again
at almost the same spot, he looked across the
street and would have passed on, but that
she put herself again directly in his way.
"Excuse me-" she began, her face all
aglow with sense of her disagreeable posi-
ton: shut came this way on purpose to
meet YOU"
John bowed. "Frank", be thought"
Perhaps the girl interpreted his reflection,
for the color deepened on her face as she
continued:
81 was very much grieved yesterday, to
find that you had lost your pocket book. /
am glad to be able to restore it to you," and
with these words she placed the article in
his hand. "Will you please see if the con.
tents are right?s' she added.
He opened it mechanically, glanced at the
picture and seemed to draw satisfied breath.
81 dare say it's all right, he said.
"Will you please count the moneyp'
Here was certainly very positive young
lady. John did as he was requested.
"Is it right?" she asked.
eOh yes'' he hurridly said, quite right"
and then after seconds pause-"qui!e right.
I'm sure Pm very much obliged to you. It
money, but should have hated to loose the
picture''-
What did Miss Pennyfeather care about
the picture? "Oh, certainly" she said in an
Indifferent way, and moved little apart as
though on the point of leaving him.
"Are you walking up Maine street" he
asked.
Miss Pennyfeather bowed.
"And may accompany you?"
''If you want to-"
Perhaps | ought to introduce myself.
My name is Denike-John Denike."
Miss Pennyfeather bowed again. She had
heard of Mr.. Denike and knew him to be
member of the State Legislature, but of
course she did not say so. Probably Mr..
Denike was now on his way from the State
House at the head of Main street.
II am Miss Pennyfeather'' she remarked
in quiet way.
John Denike was now entirely reconciled.
You will pardon me-" he said, after
moment, while they walked along together,
.'for any implied reflection in my manner Of
Saturday."
"Ofcourse wilP', she said calmly. SIT was
the most natural thing in the world There
isn't man in Chepachet who wouldn't have
expressed the same thought, and if the boy,
Mr.. Denike, grows up to be hung, some one
will write his obituary and say; SIN early
life he went to Sunday Schoal and enjoyed
the religious instructions of Miss Maud PEN
nyfeather. II Miss Pennyfeather had done
her duty by her scholar, would Teddy Nc
Guire now be in felon's grave?"
'sThe girls cheeks were flushed and her
voice had a severe tone.