The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1882-01-21

most and opened The waters had been s
far dissolved by the heat and moisture as t
split in two, leaving one halt of each (ther
were three) on the dap, and the other hal
of each on the body of the envelope. Mean
while, there was no sign or sound of an in
road into my room, of which had seen i
was impossible to fasten the door, save b,
moving some of the furniture against it.
became convinced that as yet everything
was safe, and yielding to feeling Of curios
ity, drew the money from the inclosur'
and counted it over. There were ten on'
thousand dollar bills | was astounded, anC
for the time forgot the fear that so recently
harassed me. l looked at the memorandum
on the back of the envelope.
1t was "S5. 600" The letter was open be-
fore me. / read it over. 1t named $4,000
as the sum inclosed. There was evidently
an error. / counted it over again. Ten
thousand dollars was the sum before me-
Again and again / counted it. i had been
used TO handling large sums, and counting
large sums of money daily; but | actually
found more difficulty in arriving ut the ac-
tual count of the bank bills before me than
L ever before or since encountered in count
ing any sum, however large, or however
numerous the notes. Finally, putting a
chair against the door, spead the notes out
singly on the little table, in a row, and
counted them with my finger. Then
made two rows of five notes each, and
again counted them. finally, though
slowly, became satisfied that l had in my
possession double the amount of money
was expected to deliver to my employers
agent. Temptation entered my soul.
Five thousand dollars would relieve me
of all my debts Here it was within my
grasp. had but to seal up the envelope
by rewetting the waters, inclosing but half
the money, and deliver it sealed to the
agent, and my trust would ne, to all appear
ance, faithfully discharged. Once the
thought occurred that possibly it was a trap
set for me by my employers. But their
COZ fidence in me was unDounded, and the
suspicion was formed only to be dismissed.
| do not attempt to glaze over the dishon-
esty of what 1 contemplated. But / had
been so increasingly worried by domestic
troubles arising from limited resources, and
so prosecuted by creditors, that l almost
argued myself into the conviction that ap-
the money was simply author
lied self-defence. | would pay all my
debts, get clear with the world once more.
insist upon my wife's adopting my views of
living, save money, get into business for
myself, and finally pay back the sum.
/ concluded to leave the envelope unfast-
ened until the morning so as to give my
self that much more time before finally de-
Gliding upon an act which all my arguments
with myself had not made entirely reconcil-
able. Arrived at this conclusion, my atten-
ton again turned to my host and his wife.
could hear his voice alone now. 1t had
been sounding alone in an elevated tone for
some moments. crept quietly to the par
tition dividing their apartment from the
passage. The bright autumn moon, which
was on their side cfthe house, shone through
their window, ard through the spaces be-
Tween the shrunken planks of the partition,
and out into the passage, and upon its floor
IN brilliant bars CT light. 1t was easy for
me to see what was passiL g within the 70 m.
Man and wife were kneeling at their bedside
in prayer. The man with uplifted head and
closed eyes, uttering an earnest supplication,
his wife beside him, and one arm passed af
tectionately through one of bis, and her
head resting against his breast. They were
xneeling at the side of their bed opposite
ne. and his face was plainly visible. Its
,alm and pious expression at the moment
vas sufficient rebuke to my unjust sus-
,icions. i began TO listen in time to hear
linn say: Pardon, . merciful Father, not
,nly the sins of Thy humble servant and his
but turn the hearts of those who
rave done evil unto him, who have wished
him injury, and who have harbored unjust
suspicious OF him. Bless such, o Lord, and
preserve them in order that they may turn
rom their ways and seek the path of
righteousness"
His serious, earnest and manly voice
truck chord in my heart, not only in SYM
,athy with the honest and tender supplca-
ion that was passing from his lips, but of
for the wrong l had done him by
my suspicious. / involuntarily compared
him, whatever were his good or bad deeds,
It least an humble penitent before his God.
With the wretch that had decided but few
moments ago to make of myself, by the
incorporation of my employers money,
md still, however. tempted by the relief it
Gould obtain for me, would not quite give
way to the feeling of repentance which was
for admission at my breast.
had half decided to turn away and drive
hese better thoughts from my mind, when
observed something moving in small
rib that was placed at the side and toward
he foot of their bed. Its occupant, grand
,hild, whose parents they had Informed me
we're dead, awakened probably by the grand
athers voice, rose up, looked around, and
ettled down upon its knees, and clasping its
title hands as its grandfather's were clasped,
md looking upward, out through the win
low at the moon, whose bright light fell full
lpon its darling face, began moving its lips
Is if trying to repeat the words.
Nothing so like an angel ever met my
light. The grandfather began the Lords
prayer. The little fellow seemed to have
his by heart. He repeated it word for word,
MS tiny, silvery voice sounding in sweet ac-
,ord. could not turn away, nor any longer
resist the better emotions which l had hith-
,rto kept down. A rush of repentant feel
ng passed through me with an effect that
shook every fiber. / fell upon my knees
and with tears streaming from my eyes,
oined in the concluding words of the
prayer.
1 need not say changed my mind with
regard to the money. l passed quiet
night and rose early, fastening away toward
my journeys end 30 as to give myself the
east possible time or opportunity for chang
ng my new formed resolution. In hand
ng the package to the agent said to him
hat as there was money in it it might as
we'll be opened in my presence to see that
It was all correct, etc. de, of course, dis
covered the error and handed me back the
amount that was over, with which 1 re-
turned home and delivered it up to its
proper owners in due time.
1t was fortunate for me in every way that
l pursued the course l had adopted. 1t ap-
neared that the money had been obtained
from the bank after bank hours, in the alb
sence of the teller, from one of the officers.
There were no loose notes on hand of the