Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1880-11-06

girl demonstrated. "You're in leapue
with him, l know! Oh. dear; won't
somebody help me?"
And poor Jennie burst into paroxysm
of tears.
The conductor looked doubtfully ut
the accused gentleman, who immediate
ly said
If the lady thinks | have her pock
et-book, L am willing that you should
search me, conductor"
The search followed. The gentleman
regarded the conductor with a uuizzical
expression on his face, us he emptied
first one pocket, then another. The
passengers regarded the proceeding with
amused faces. Jennie anxiouslv
watched every movement. The pocket
book WAS not found.
80 dear, dear r Jennie cried. "What
shall do?'
Madam" the conductor said, ait
was, no doubt, thu young man who oc-
cupied part Of tins seat that deprived
you of your pocket book =
"What y Jennie exclaimed, looking
up through her tears What you do
not think he stole il? No, sir that was
Mr. Alexander Lawrence, from New
York"
"Indeed y the conductor returned.
"And who is ha?"
/ Jennie was Lettled.
"He is one of the incest Of men," she
answered.
"Did YOU ever see him before?"
"What if / didn't?"
Madam, you will find him to be the
thief BY the way, do you know who
this gentleman is that you have accused
of theft ?"
"NO."
1T is no other than Rev. DR.. S.,
Of New York"
Jennie turned deadly pale. What had
she done? The name of Rev. DIR. S
had often met her eye, and she had
thought of him rs one of the great men
of the United States Confusion pos
sessed her soul. but her natural frank
ness came to her rescue. The conduc-
tor had gone on down the aisle, and,
acting on an impulse of her better
nature, she leaned forward.
"Dr. S." she said, quietly, 81
beg your pardon for what did"
The reverend gentleman smiled
blandly.
II am glad that you are satisfied of
my innocence" he mischievously said,
and added: "Did you lose large
sum?"
"One hundred dollars, sir"
"That is, indeed, q great loss," DR..
s. remarked, cOurteously, "but /
think If you act on the conductors ad-
vice YOU may recover it.
"Do you think Mr.. Lawrence took
A nameless fear seized Jennie's mind.
Il think it probable, madam" DR..
s. answered. "Just think it all
over and make your conclusions"
His manner was SO kindly that Jennie
felt herself ashamed. Gradually there
dawned on her mind the idea that Alex
ander Lawrence was not only fraud
but fllrt and hypOcrite. 1t is easy
for New England girl to arrive at q
conclusion. The fire flashed to her eyes,
and with the rushing Of the blood came
a sense Of hatred for the man in whom
she had so foolishly confded, and whom
she now regarded as an impostOr. A
feeling Of faintness came over her.
80 dear, what shall I dO?" was all
she could say.
The kind heart of DIR. s. was
touched, and he interested himself in the
young lady, inquiring into all of the par
ticulars. When Jennie spoke of her par
ents and her home tender chord was
touched in the clergyman's heart. He
advised her to leave the cars at the next
station, return to Worcester, and there
put the case in the hands of the police
Jennie consented to the plan, and, great
ly to her surprise and pleasure, DIR. s.
volunteered to accompany and assist
her.
Fortunately the up-train was met at
the next station, and Jennie, with DR..
S., left the one train to take the
other. The excited girl felt ashamed of
her position, and divided her anger be-
tween Alexander Lawrence and the au-
thor who had dared picture pick
pocket as q man with q black beard,
wearing q suit of conventional black.
No longer did she distrust DR.. s..
When they reached Worcester DR..
s. sought the chief of police. and the
result of the matter was that Mr.. Alex
ander Lawrence was soon in the hands
of the law. The missing pocket-book
was not found on his person, but an in
dictment was procured against him, and
after an examination he was admitted to
bail. In the strongest terms he depre-
Gated the accusation, alleging that he
was "Only flirting"
DIR. s. felt confident that the thief
had been secured, and was equally sure
that, with the conductors evidence, he
would be convicted. He took Jennie to
hotel, and, with assurances of hope,
bade her goodnight.
The poor affrighted girl threw herself
into chair, and gave vent to her grief
in an Outburst of tears. She felt that
her money was lost, Boston an impossi-
biity, and disgraceful return to Perry
vile certainty. In the agony of her
sorrow she franrically pulled off her hat
and threw it from her-when out rolled
the lost pocket-book
Jennie now remembered indistinctly
that she had slipped it from her bosom
into her hat that morning when Mr..
Lawrence had stepped out for q glass Of
water, thinking that it would be safer
there. She had been 80 fascinated by
&bo Aotfaror that Tho ocf hod hoon for