Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-07-02

with his ideal view OF respectable pow
erty.
"There's no use in going TO Holnes's
Lane,n thought he. "The girl don't
live there land never did"
But the next morning, as he sat over
his books, just as the clock was striking
nine, in its slow deliberate fashion, there
came a knock at the panels of the door,
and Flora Rawson presented herself,
with her raven curls brushed tidily back
under net, her face shining with re-
cent soap and water, and some attempts
made at mending up the more hopeless
of the rents in her dress.
Mr.. Penheld's face grew hard as.ada-
mant, as he beheld her.
Z" / am surprised at your audacity in
coming here, grip" said he, sternly.
"SirP"
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 chidden dog,
while Mr.. Penfield went grimly on with
his writing.
81 suppose I'm fool for not giving
her up to the police, =" thought he. "But
she is very young, and somehow L
hadn't the heart to do it,"
He went home that highland his
wife, CHEEKY, apple-cheeked little
woman, looked up with smile as he
entered the sitting-room where she was
at work.
"Well, Bob, ;" said she, "I've mended
that coat you left here this morning. |
sewed on new buttons, bound the sleeves
with fresh binding, and,
r n1Cs rrguU, NICGy; mats right,
said Mr.. Penfeld, drawing off his gloves.
"But that isn't ALL" persisted Mrs.
Penfeld. 81 found rip in the bottom
of the upper left-hand pocket; and
when l was sponging off the skirts l
came across something hard, so rip
ped it open and found-what do you
thinkP"
I'm sure I don't know" said Pen
field.
"Well, a pocket-knife, a business.
card, three cough lozenges, and five,
dollar BILL" said Mrs. Penfeld, laugh
ing.
"A-what!" almost shouted Penfeld
GA FIVE dollar bill, )" triumphantly re-
peated his wife, holding itup. And he
instantly recognized it for the same bill
slightly discolored with some sort O.
acid, which he had laid aside yesterday
for the payment of old Mrs. Reillyl
81 must have put it in my pocket in {
fit of abstraction" said he to himself
"and it slipped down through that un
lucky hole, of which never dreamed
And that poor little girl with the biz
eyes and the loose name of black hair
I've condemned her without Judge o.
jury!"
Robert Penfield, however, though al
, impulsive man, was not unjust. He pu
on his hat, and went straight to the cot
/, tage in Holiness Lane, where Flori
Rawson lived.
1t was a dreary place, uncarpeted
, without much fire, and the broken win
dow panes stuffed with rags, wher
, Flora was tending flock of untid
> children, while the shrill tones of he
. step-mother's voice sounded from tn
back yard, where she was hanging u
clothes to dry. She started and locke,
> frightened when she saw him standin,
y in the doorway.
"My good girl" said he, 81 have mis-
o Judged you. l am sorry [ sent yo
away so harshly this morning. WEI
|, try and make a place for you if YOU
come again tomorrow"
And then he explained to Flora an
harr hevAee ag tfeitsr ttiiffe
q tied around her head, and steamine
q soapy arms, the peculiar combination G
h circumstances by which Flora had bee
y adudged to be guilty of theft!
Mrs. Rawson tossed her head and br
c died as she listened.
4 "Our Flora has her faults" said she
= "and plenty of 'em-but, thank tn
Lord, she amt thief; no, nor neve
was !n
And Flora herself burst into tears.
o 81 am so thankful that you found tn
money!" said she. Because-becaus
+ you had spoken kindly to me, and
couldn't bear that you should think m
such a one as that
o So Flora Rawson got an exceller
. place in the gold-beating establishment
q and FIR. Penfield was always a littl
q kinder to her than he would have bee
. if it had not been for that one act of il
justice toward her in the very begin
+ ming.
at only shows" said he, how cas-
> it is to be mistaken!"-FIreSide Con
DanlOn.