The Osceola times., 1881-08-20
Poor Flora looked at him in amaze.

Poor Flora looked at him in amaze
ment not unmingled with terror.
Leave this Office" said he. "And
never dare to show your face here
again"
She shrank away like a chidden dog,
while Mr.. Penfield went grimly on with
his writing.
II suppose I'm a fool for not giving
her UP TO the police" thought he. "Bui
she is very young and somehow hadn't
the heart to do it,
He went home that highland his
wife, CHEEKY, apple-cheeked htue wom'
an, looked up with asmile as ne enter
ed the sitting-room where she was at
work.
"Well, Bob said she. I've mended
that coat you left here this morning. j
sewed on new bdttons, bound the sleeves
with fresh binding, and"
That's night, Kitty; that's right" said
Mr.. Penield, drawing of his gloves.
"But that isn't ALL" persisted Mrs
Penfield. II found a rip in the bottom
of the upper left-hand pocket, and when
| was sponging off the skirts | came
across something hard, SO | ripped ii
open and found-what do you think?'
"Tm sure 1 don't know" said Pen.
field
"Well, a pocket-knife, a business
card. three cough lozengers, and hye-
dollar bill," said Mrs. Penfeld laugh
ing.
"A-whatp almost shouted Pen
field.
"a tive-dollar BILL" triumphantly re-
peated mis- wife. holding it up. Ard he
instantly recognized it for the same bill,
slightly dscolored with some sort Of
acid, which he had laid aside yesterday
for the payment of Mrs. Reilly
Il must have put it in my pocket in a
fit of abstraction said he 10 himself
and il slipped down through that un-
lucky hole, Of which never dreamed
And that poor little girl with the biz
ewes and the loose name OF black hair -
I've condemned her without Judge OF
jury"
Robert Penfeld, however, though an
mpulsive man, was not unjust. lie put
ON bis hat and went straight TO the cot
tage in Holiness Lane, where Flora Raw.
son lived.
1t was a dreary place, uncarpeted,
dow panes stuffed with RACES, where
Flora was tending flock of untidy chill
dreu, while the shrill tones OF her step
mothers voice sounded from the back
yard, where she was hanging no clothes
to dry. She started and looked fright
ened when she saw him standing IN the
| doorway.
any good girl" said he, 81 have
misjudged you. | am sorry | sent you
away so hsrshly this morning. Wen
try 10 make place for you you'll come
again Tomorrow
And then he explained to Flora and
her step-mother, who had by this time
hurried IN, with a pocket-handkerchief
ted around her head, and steaming.
soapy arms, the peculiar combination Of
circumstances by which Flora had been
adjudged to be guilty of thcltl
Mrs. Rawson tossed her head and bri-
died as she listened.
"Cur Flora has her faults" said sha
"and plenty of 'em-but, thank the
Lord. she amt thief; no, nor never
wasl"
And Flora herself burst into tears.
II am SO thankful that you !ound the
money" said she. "Because-because
you hsd spoken kindly to me, and
couldn't hear that you should think me
such one as hdG'
So Flora Rawson got an excellent
place in the gold.beatirg establishment
and Mr.. Penfield was always it'll,
kinder to her than he would have beer
if it had not been for that one act Of in
justice toward her in the very begin
ming.
at only shows" said he, chow easy il
is 10 be mistakenp