The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-04-12
A BAG OF GOLD.
'.Are YOU engaged, coachmanpr

'Are you engaged, coachmanP'
had stopped at that momcntto water
my horses, and 20 qucnch my own thirst
in saloon near. had scarcely reach
cd my horses heads when heard the
above question, and saw, ms turned
round, young lady standing by the
side Of my cab.
Without delay answered, and OPEN
ing the carriage door, helped thelady
in, Her face had certain hcSitating,
timid expression, which made me Judge
that my fare was not an independent
lady, but houSekccper or g0ycrncsS.
She wore a black silk dress and n 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 10 be
carried. She named locality not of the
best fame, and with trembling voice,
as if ashamed of it. climbed on the
box, and whipped up Although it was
nothing to me where my fare wished TO
90, felt sort of curiosity rs to who
and what the lady might be. | had OBJ
served that she seemed TO have . pretty
face, although the veil that she wore
over it did not let me see her features
plainly. During the trip was driven
by my curiosity to peep through the car
rage 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 Il
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
thankfulncSS and satisfaction. What
the object was | could not tell exactly.
only saw. that il was light colored, and
had no decided shape, | had only two
seconds of time for my observation, |
had 10 see 10 my horses in the crowded
street.
! gave them a lash with the whip, and
nj a quick tFot we soon arrived al the
city indicated. As soon as | found the
number which the lady had given me.
! stopped, cot off the box, and opened
the door 10 help her ont. She appeared
TO he in great agitation. as il an unpleaS-
ant interview was before her. receiv-
al from her, over the price of her fare,
which she evidently knew, little drink
money, thanked her, and she hurried
away, while tNrned my carriage to
nci hboring saloon. to invest the drink
money Immediately in glass of beer
But before went in | proceeded Il
straighten the carriage cushions, anC
see that all was right inside. As Soor
a. | opened the door again | saw som,
object lying on the seat 1t was asmal
linen sack-without doubt what the lady
had held in her lap. | took it in my
hand, and its weight astoniShed me
With not a little curiosity | looked at il
again and again, and at last tried to op.
en- it. 1t was easily done, for the bag
was fastened only by a little piece OF
string.
! One can imagine my surprise when
found that it was filled with gold pieces.
! dared not look at them further in this
place, as a policeman might possibly no.
tice, and ask how | came by the gold
Meanwhile | tied the sack again, and
put it in the widepocket of my coat. In
stead of INDUCING myself in a glass o.
beer, drove TO the nearest hack-stand
and took my place in the rear of the
line of carriages so that ! could be SURF
of not being wanted fer the next hal
hour.
| got into my carriage, rs hackmer
often do when they want little rest
and | examined for the second time IN,
new-found treasure shook the con
tents of the bag on the seat, and So
with dazzIed eyes before quite pile o
gold.
After dclighting my eyes with ii for ;
while. l counted the money, partly TWEEN
~, partly tcn-dolar pieces, singly, again
into the sack, and found that it amount
ed to exactly the sum of fifteen hundrc,
dollars.
could not think otherwise than tina
this money belonged to the pale youn!
lad whom had last carried. How sh
came by it, and what she was going t,
do with it, was another thing. | ha,
found it, and it was q great temptation
TO me to keep it, What could not un
dertakc with such capital? could bu,
myself carriage and horses, and in
stead OF being miserable hired coach
man, would myself own carriages, or cs
tablsh livery stable, which would max,
me independent,
The picture of the future which
painted in this way was almring enough
but along with it was the consideration
that | should be thief if | retained tn,
money. My Seliishness had very severe
struggle with my conscience.
While ! now looked more closely n
the bag, ] found written in ink upon i
the address, Miss Mildred Berkeley
No. 4 Madison Place" This address
which had hitherto escaped me. | rea,
with as much disgust rs establishment
for there now remained TO me, as al
honorable man, but one way. | medi
tated over it time, but could com,
TO no conclusion. "With honesty" sale
one voice in my soul, ''you will earn II,
bread; with honesty you can 90, in you
old age, to the poor house,
AT last selfish interest and conscience
came to compromise, and resolves
TO keep the money till the following da,
Then, thought there viii be n rcwar
offered, and no one can blame me fo
W least proiiting by that.