The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

rendered in payment, and as he passe,
it over he remarked:
II suppose that is the lowest 20,
will take?" -
ut is the lowest ought to take,
said Arthur, toying TO hide his tremu
lousness, for he had done somethin,
he knew to be wrong.
"Very we'll" said the stranger; I"
always wish to pay fair living pric,
to every one with whom deal, AWAY
trusting" he added, with smile, "tha
shall be treated honestly in return.
! He took his change ana left the store
Arthur took down his blotter ant
thought to enter the sale he had jus
made; but he hesitated. Those page
were all fair and honest. He dared no
] place there the first record Of the frs
dishonest act he had ever done Oh
how he wished that mis- customer hat
not come! How he wished he coult
recall the thing he had done But j
was too late. He had tried the expert
ment. @5 3" gf
"Why, what's the matter, Arthur p
asked Mrs. Leeman, as her HUSBAND
drew back from the supper table tina
evening; "you look unhappy" "
"And / am unhappy, Sarah," family
replied Arthur; for he had determined
to tell his wife his bitter experience.
/ What is 1t r anxicusiy uttered tht
half-frightened wife, moving to he1
husbands side, and placing her arm
around his neck. s;,-s--
"Sit down, sit down, Sarah, and viii
tell YOU" I'd \
! The woman sat down, but still KEEP
her arm around her husbands neck.
Sarah" he said, with a painful effort
II have done that to-day which l never
did before in my life. I have beer
dishonest! have lied and cheated
"Lied You my husband-cheated
Oh, no, no, Arthur !"
"Yes-a man came into my store
he was stranger--a new conner il
town. He trusted to my honesty, and
lied to him, and cheated him, Oh
Sarah, wish I had not done it," %
"But you did not do it-you could
not"
Listen to me, my wife. l thought
would try to make money as fast as
William Sharping does. Last evening
| was in his store, and I discovered his
secret. If | disclose it to you, you will
not tell Of it ?" ...'
Sarah promised, and then Arthur re-
lated to her all that had passed. He
told her of Sharping's mode of dealing,
and described his own experience that
afternoon. a
'I've been dishonest, and l am I'M
happy" he said in conclusion. 81 do
not feel the same man that did be-
fore, for there is one man in the world
toward whom I have done wrong, and
l should not dare to look him in the
face" For some time Sarah was silent
AT length she raised her lips to her hus-
bands face and kissed him."
Forgive me-" she whispered, "for it
was l who did this wrong. Oh, forgive
me, Arthur, was blind-foolish. l
was envious. Oh, l would rather live
in the meanest rags of perjury and
want than to live on the wages of my
husbands dishonesty I shall never
again think of bartering sweet content
for my neighbours plenty. 1t was
who wronged you. Forgive me-"
1t was a scene of mutual forgiveness
that followed, and that night both hus-
band and wife prayed that they might
not heed the voice Of the tempter again.
On the next morning the first person
who came into the store after Arthur
arrived, was the man to whom the cloth
had been sold the day before. The
young merchant felt a sudden trembling
coming to his limbs and the worst fears
sprang to his mind. He feared that
his wickedness had been detected, and
that he should not have it in his power
to make free restitution. But he was
mistaken. The gentleman had only
come for some stuff for Innings and fac
ings to the pants he was going to have
made. Arthurs heart leaped again, for
he should have the opportunity he had
hoped for.
"Ah, sir" he said, after the article
just called for had been rolled up. II
fear there was a small mistake made
Yesterday, and | am glad you called,
for wish it rectifed."
II was not aware Of any," returned
the stranger, wonderingly.
''Step this way SIR" Arthur led the
way to the counter where the sale of
the day before had been made, and lay
ing his hand upon the piece Of cloth
from which he had cat three yards he
continued: "A s
"You took a pattern from this piece?"
eyes, sir"
"And paid me 81 per yard,9"
Eyes, SIR" m
"Well, sir,-I was very nervous
very uncomfortable at the time, and l
made sad mistake. l should have
asked YOU but AZ cents per yard for it.
1t is part cotton. You may return it
and take another piece, or will pay
you back the difference, Just as you
please"
He chose to keep the cloth, and Ar
thur paid him back $1.74 cents. He
was very thankful for the restitution
thus made, and he remained long
time and chatted with the merchant,
often making q remark upon the charm
which he always experienced when
doing business with one in whom he
could confide. He proved afterwards
to be not only a good customer, but
valuable friend to the young mer-
chant.
That night Arthur Leeman was hap
py; and his sweet wife was never hap
pier in her life, for she had learned the
real value of the blessing she possessed,
and she had gained once more the
treasure she had we'll nigh thrown from
her-the sweetest treasure of life
content. ~
Time sped on. Arthur Leeman re-
manned strict in his integrity. One by
one, customers of William Sharping
dropped into his store. They had
learned the real character Of the dis
honest merchant, and they fed from
his counter. In course of time Sharp
ing was deeply in debt-his great house
was put up for sale. Arthur Leeman
| h0nQht IL and when ha maid for IL he