The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-02-15

son
Not at all sir. / saw that beau
tiful Young lady take the articles
said /.
"Why, Mr.. CARRIER, those ladies
were the wealthy Mrs. Grisworld
and her daughter Miriam"
1T dosen't matter who the par
ties are. l saw the younger one
take those things" l insisted.
"Do YOU suppose the two were in
collusion ?" asked he.
"No, l rather think the daughter
alone is guilty, for, as far as l OBJ
served she purloined them in every
instance while the other was not OBJ.
serving her."
''And you will swear to this p
asked the still donbting merchant,
II will, most decidedly" said /.
Next morning he took me to
their residence, and when. in the
presence of the elder lady, / made
the accusation, her surprised ex-
preston confirmed my belief that
she was not aware of her daughters
criminal acts, while the bold, def
ant look and scornful laugh like
wise told me that the beautiful crea-
ture not only tacitly acknowledged
her guilt, but was quite indifferent
about the exposure of the same.
miriam :" cried the anguished
mother, in an imploring voice and
fearful eyes, ''tell these gentlemen
they have made deplorahle mis-
take p
"Why should l." responded she,
with hardened laugh, when this
gentleman says positively that he
saw me do it ?"
But did you do it Z" asked the
elder lady, in trembling accents.
"Of course l did," responded the
daughter.
''0h, how could you ?"'wailed the
stricken mother, burying her face
in her hands.
"How could / ?" was the mock
ing reply. sam / not my fathers
daughter ? and blood, you know,
miH tell"
"Hush, child :" cried Mrs. Girls
void, as she sprang to her feet with
a frightened expression on her livid
face.
The daughter smiled bitterly but
said no more, and ! was wondering
what she meant by those words.
That they possessed a terrible sig
ni6cance to the elder of the ladies l
felt assured, else why that stern
command and those blanched feat
ures !?
''The girl sat herself at the win
dow and began to drum idly on the
pane with the fingers of her right
hand, while her beautiful black eyes
had a far-off expression in their
depths. There was evidently an un-
pleasant secret between the two,
and Mrs. Griswold had been appre-
hensive that the daughter, in sheer
recklessness, was about to disclose
it.
"Mr. Gillon," saidsthe lady, after
long silence, during which she was
thinking deeply, Judging by her Sc
rious countenance, II am construct
ed to believe that my daughter dur
ing fit of temporary arrangement,
has committed what she would not
even dream of during her sane mo-
ments."
"a low, sarcastic Laugh came from
the window where sat the girl.
''And under these circumstances
hold myself responsible for all she
has done while laboring under the
infrmity. Give me the aggregate
amount in bill, and shall prompt
ly pay it with interest.
"Mr. Gillon bowed and said he
would do as suggested, and Mrs.
continued I:
another favor ! would ask of
both OF you. gentlemen. | would
not have this unfortunate affair ap-
pear in the public prints. Will you
see that it remains secret between
Us FOUR"
"We pledged ourselves to secrecy,
when the girl left her seat and stood
before Us with flashing eyes, and
exclaimed with bitter scom :
"Wbat an ado about the most
natural occurrence What can be
expected from the daughter of "a"
miriam y cried her mother,
,lutching her by the wrist and gag
ng in her eyes, as if she would stay
Ter tongue by sheer force Of will"
"The impetuous girl snatched
away her hand, and, stepping back
/ few PAGES, said (:
Il will speak, mother; | must
lnburthen the dreadful thoughts
hat have ranked in my bosom for
since j began to realize
ny social position J"
"Oh, my daughter, spare me this"
,ried the woman. sinking en- her
knees and looking up at her daugh-
er with imploring eyes.
''The girl looked at her pleading
mother and replied:
Mother, the Scripture saith 4
The sins of the parents shall be
7isited upon their children, even un-
o the third and fourth generation,
md here we have an illustration Of
he truth Of Scripture with ven-
Gentlemen" continued she,
urning toward Us, my mother
would deiude you into the belief
hat / committed those thefts while
insane. She is utterly
mistaken. / am sane enough, but
nv thiefing propensities are firmly
ooted. was born with that desire !
inherit it from my father"
.Oh, Miriam. have you no pity
N your wretched mother ?" once |
aore pleaded the kneeling woman,
rhile her burning eyes were ladened
rith unshed tears.
.'The same that you vouchsafed to |
our wretched children retorted the
irl. hotly. "When a man and wo-
nan contemplated matrimony, it
'ehooves them to manifest, at least,
ONE consid, ration for their future |
ifspring, so that those innocent
hes will not have to take q share of