, 1882-04-28


lowed great latitude. A liberal reward
meant perhaps from 81 to $6 and glass
of beer. That would be fine amends for
resigning $500. l laughed in scorn and
my chagrin was great. My heart hard.
ened toward the person who had inserted
this notice, and / no longer felt the
least desire to part with my newly-found
treasure.
l went about all day with the sack OF
gold in my pocket, like n mailman, which
made me once or twice nearly run over
people. My nights rest was disturbed
by phantoms, and the morning brought
me no relief. l felt miserable, and what
was worse, even in my waking hours
the phantoms did not fade from my eyes,
To my great surprise. the advertise.
ment was not repeated. l could not
explain this to myself, bnt began to
fear that the police were on my track and
that some fine day must walk into
prison.
A week passed, and I had become n
mere shadow of the strong, healthy man
I had previously been. could reproach
myself only with not having returned
the bag its proper owner. L had not
taken penny Of its contents, but 1 al
ways carried the bag with me, and with
feverish anxiety and trembling hand l
felt in my pocket from time to time to
see that it was still there.
Strangely enough, had during this
time unusual good luck. My carriage
was almost always occupied, and earned
q good deal Of money. When reflected
on this fact, believed that Providence
thereby gave me plain hint l had al
ways been little religious, and not free
from superstition, and this idea came to
me. The result was that on the tenth
day came to the resolution to return the
lost property, The money had become
O curse TO me ever since 1 stretched my
hand out toward it. had no rest by
night or day; felt weak and wretched,
and visibly pined away.
1 had noted the address given in the
advertisement, and so drove at noon on
the tenth day to No. rs Grattan street.
1t was the place where had driven the
young lady. l called boy to hold my
horse, and went up the stairs. 1 asked
o girl met for Miss Berkley, and she
thought that such person lived on the
attic floor. went up higher, and
knocked at the door 1 presumed to be
the right one. / 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 con-
science.
At my knock weak voice called
"Come in!' opened the door and en-
tered.
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 o
miserable bed, made the whole furni-
ture.
"Step softly, Death is here" said
trembling voice, i'll which only too we'll
recognized the young lady whom l had
brought there ten days ago. 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.
When had gained the necessary self
away-for it was impossible for me to
look on myself as other than cowardly
villain:
IT bring the bag OF gold which"
and then / muttered something about
having only just seen the notice.
"It is too late!" she whispered, sadly.
"He for whom that money was destined
is no longer living. Here he lies. He
died some hours ago. Yesterday you
could have saved him--saved us both
but now it is too late, too latev'
And she went on murmuring to her
self, "too later as if she had fallen into
heartrending stupor.
Suddenly the poor woman rose slowly
from the chair where she sat by the
deathbed, and after walking up and
staring at me, gave n hollow cry which
thrilled me to the marrow of my bones.
"It is only right that you should know
what you have to answer for, she said.
THAT is your work. You can be proud
of it; it has been complete success"
She laughed wildly-it was more
mingling of laughing and crying-and
looked at me.
"He was my husband" she went on
after awhile. 'We lived apart; why and
wherefore is nothing to you. For three
years heard nothing OF him. During
this time lived out as governess, and
earned that money which you hold in
your hand. May God forgive you for
what you have done!"
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 longer
to live in this world.
"At last he found me, she continued,
uankly Wand wrote herrinn me 10 coma