The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-04-06
A BAG OF GOLD.
The Story of a Hack Driver.

''Are you engaged, coachman?''
l had stopped at that mOmentto water
my horses, and to quench my own thirst
in a saloon near. I had scarcely reach
ed my horses heads when heard the
above question, and saw, as l turned
round, young lady standing by the
side OF my cab.
Without delay / answered, and open
ing the carriage door, helped the lady
in. Her face had certain hesitating,
timid expression, which made me Judge
that my fare was not an independent
lady, but a housekeeper or governess.
She wore black silk dress and wool
len shawl. Her hands and feet were
small, but it did not escape me that her
gloves were very much worn.
| asked her where she wished to be
carried. She named a locality not of the
best fame, and with a trembling voice,
as if ashamed OF it. l climbed on the
box, and whipped up. Although it was
nothing to me where my fare wished to
90, l felt sort of curiosity as to who
and what the lady might be. I had OBJ
served that she seemed to have pretty
face, although the veil that she wore
over it did not let me sec her features
plainly. During the trip | was driven
by mycuriosity to peep through the car
riage window behind me, and saw that
she had put up her veil. She looked
frightfully pale and thin. Her skin was
like wax, and one did not need to be a
doctor to know that she was consump-
tive.
She held in her hands something on
which her eyes were fixed, and there
came over her face an expression of
thankfulness and satisfaction. What
the object was | could not tell exactly.
l only saw that it was light colored, and
had no decided shape [ had only two
seconds of time for my observation.
had to see to my horses in the crowded
street.
gave them lash with the whip. and
at a quick trot we soon arrived at the
city indicated. AS soon as | found the
number which the lady had given me-,
l stopped, got off the box, and opened
the door to help her out. She appeared
to be in great agitation, as if an unpleas-
ant interview was before her. | receiv-
ed from her, over the price of her fare,
which she evidently knew, little drink
money, thanked her, and she hurried
away, while / turned my carriage to q
neighboring saloon, to invest the drink
money Immediately in glass of beer.
But before l went in l proceeded to
straighten the carriage cushions, and
see that all was right inside. AS soon
as l opened the door again I saw some
object lying on the seat. 1t was asmall
linen sack-without doubt what the lady
had held in her lap. | took it in my
hand, and its weight astonished me.
With not little curiosity looked at it
again and again, and at last tried to op-
en- it. 1t was easily done, for the bag
was fastened only by little piece of
string.
One can imagine my surprise when I
found that it was filled with gold pieces.
l dared not look at them further in this
place, as policeman might possibly no
tice, and ask how I came by the gold
Meanwhile tied the sack again, and
put it in the wide pocket of my coat. In
stead of indulging myself in a glass of
beer, drove to the nearest hack-stand,
and took my place in the rear of the
line of carriages, SO that could be sure
of not being wanted for the next half
hour.
got into my carriage, as hackmen
often do when they want a little rest,
and examined for the second time my
new-found treasure. / shook the con-
tents of the bag on the seat, and sat
with dazzled eyes before quite pile of
gold.
After delighting my eyes with it for a
while, l counted the money, partly twen-
ty, partly ten-dollar pieces, singly, again
into the sack, and found that it amount
ed to exactly the sum of fifteen hundred
dollars.
could not think otherwise than that
this money belonged to the pale young
lady whom had last carried. How she
came by it, and what she was going to
do with it, was another thing. l had
found it, and it was q great temptation
to me to keep it. What could not un-
dertake with such capital? l could buy
myself carriage and horses, and in
stead of being miserable hired coach
man, would myself own carriages, or es-
tablish alivery stable, which would make
me independent.
The picture of the future which
painted in this way was alluring enough,
but along with it was the consideration
OlltU L SIlOtltk Uc d Cllcl IL L ICGttlIlcl luC
money. My seltishness had very severe
struggle with my conscience.
While l now looked more closely al
the bag, found written in ink upon il
the address, 'Miss Mildred Berkeley
No. 4 Madison Place" This address
which had hitherto escaped me, reaC
with as much disgust as astonishment
for there now remained to me, as al
honorable man, but one way. l medi
tated over it a time, but could come
to no conclusion. ''With honesty" sale
one voice in my soul, 'you will earn ne
bread; with honesty you can go, in YOU
old age, to the poor house"
At last selfish interest and conscience
came to a compromise, and I resolved
to keep the moneytill the following day
Then, thought there will be reward
offered, and no one can blame me fo
at least profting by that.
l remained all day in a fever of ex