The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-26

! learned that this common expression al-
lowed great latitude. Al liberal reward
meant, perhaps, from one to five dollars
/ and glass Of beer. That would be fine
amends for Enesigning 1fifteeIr hundred
dollars. / laughed in scorn, aand my
/ chagrin was great. Ny heart hardened
/ toward the person who had inserted this
notice. and no longer felt the least de-
sire TO part with my newly-found treas
sure. 4ssss saas.zvg as s - Il szsssa
I went about all day with the sack, of
gold in my pocket. like mailman.
which made me once or twice nearly
4 run over peoples NY nights rest was
disturbed by phantoms, and the morn
ing brought me no relief. I felt miser-
Fable. and, what was worse, even In my
waking hours the phantoms didtnotfade
| from my eyes al ua34gA
To my great surprise, the advertise
ment was not repeated. could not ex-
plain this to myself, but began 20 fear
| that the police were on my track, and
that some fine day must walk into
| prison. ~
"A week passed, ana had become .
mere shadow of the strong, healthy man
| + had previously been.z 4 could reproach
myself only with not having returned
the bag to its proper owner. had not
taken a penny of its contents, but I al
ways carried the bag with me, and with
feverish anxiety and trembling hand I
felt In my pocket from time to time 10
see that It was still there. -
| Strangely enough, had during this
time unusual good luck. My carriage
| was almost always occupied, and learn
ed good dealof money. when re-
fIected on this fact, believed that Prov
idence thereby gave me plain hint. /
had always been little religious, and
not free from superstition, and this idea
came to me. The result was that on
the tenth day I came to the resolution to
return the lost property. The money.
had become curse to me ever since
stretched my hand out toward it. had
no rest by night or day; felt weak and
wretched, and visibly pinned away. Il
had noted the address given Ia the
advertisement, and so drove at noon
on the tenth day to No. IS Grattan Str
1t was the place where had driven the
young lady. The door stood wide open.
L called boy to hold my horse, and
went up the stairs. asked girl met
for Miss Berkeley, and she thought that
such person lived on the attic floor. I
went UP higher. and knocked at the
door presumed to be tho right one. I
could not help feeling that had been
rascal, and only the consciousness that
was at last going TO do right gave any
ease to my conscience. ss.sssssssys.x
At NV knock q weak voice called
t'Come inr' Iopened the door and en-.
tered. ssss, $3.50 ..5.ss.a "a
For moment the darkness prevented
my seeing the interior. The windows
were dim with dust, smoke and dirt, and
some broken panes were pasted over
with paper. A table and two chairs,
with miserable bed made the whole
s Step softly, Death is here, y said . :
trembling voice, in which Z only too well
recognized the yonng lady whom { had
brought there ten days before. But how
she had changed in this short time! Her
cheeks were hollow. her face was pale
as death and her eyes had an unnatural
brightness.
q When had gained the necessary self
command, said, with my face turned
away for Il, was impossible for me TO-
look on myself as other than eosardly
villain: - 1900 s. aiI,gy.Y
then mnttered something about having
only just seen the<notice. $50 - ii
cit is too late," she whispered, sad s,.#
'sHe for whom that money was destined
is no longer living. Here he lies He
died some, hours ago. Yesterday yout
could have saved him saved us both
but now it is too late, too later re
And she wsnt on mHrmuring to her
self, s'Too Later as if she had fallen ia,-ss
to heaft-fenaing -stupor. 49, sd
Suddenly the poor woman rose, slow
" from the chair where she sat BY the
dcath-bed, and, after walking up and
staring at me, gave hollow cry which
thrilled me 10 tie marrow of my. bones.
1T is only right that you should know
what you have 10 answer for she said.
That is your work. You can be proud
of it; it has been complete success" d.
She laughed wildly-it was more q
mingling Of laughing and cryingand
looked at me. II ~
He was my husband she went on,
after while 1--WE lived apart; why
and wherefore is nothing to you. For.
three years heard nothing of him. Dur
ing this time lived out as governess,
and earned that money which you hold
In your hand. May God forgive you for
what you have doner'
Here she had severe fit of coughing,
and when she took the handkerchief
from her mouth it was wet with fresh
blood. The hectic flush on her cheeks
burned deeper than before, and could
plainly see that she had not much long
err to live in this world 81. g
FAT last he found me. - she continued,
weakly, sand wrote, begging me TO come.
to him. came. He lived IN this hole in
sickness and poverty. Had not lost my
gold then, would have taken him away,
and cared well for him. He died of
hunger. We have had no food for the
n