Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-01-10

"But I'm Miss Sammis, of HOMETOWN,
explained the poor girl, amidst bel
sobs; I'm rich. 1t is impossible to SuS-
pect me-"
"If you could remember where you
got the money" said the policeman, as
he put her into a cab, 'it would be bet
ter for you. We are looking out for
these very gold pieces, and women are
getting rid of them. and that makes it
bad. you see"
And SO hey drove away from the lit
tie crowd that had gathared about the
carriage. and Miss Sammis soon found
herself in the presence of justice of
the peace
The shopkeeper made his charge, out
she had collected her senses. She gave
her address, the name of her pastor. of
her lawyer-inhuentia persons in Hon
eytown.
1T is mortifying to be charged with
| thing" she said, "but you will soon find
that am not connected with band of
coanterfeiteIs. l inherited half a nil
| lion of money short time ago. My
| father was Octavlus Cicero Sammis."
Money commands civil y, as gener
al thing. Every one becomes immensely
polite. The lawyer Was telegraphed for,
and came in tremendous state of ex
element.
He questioned his client as to her pos
session of the money, and her vague an
swers led him to believe that she was
desirous to shield some one from suspi-I
cion.
"The truth must be told, my dear
young lady," he said. I'VE will put you
on oath. Your good heart makes you
desire to protect an unworthy person,
but for your own sake we must put you
on OATH"
And SO the thin lips of Miss Sammis
kissed the Bible, and the questions were
asked.
where did you get this gold piece?"
From a man on the street"
What was the mans Dame?"
81 do not know"
why did he give it te yOu?'
"He asked ME if had lost it"
And you said 2"
AT first | said did not know; then, !
perhaps; and | gave Lin reward for
inding it. He asked for il"
Had you dropped it?"
NO"
How did you knOw?"
Il brought no gold with me-.
''It is very common trick, and gener- |
ally succeeds said the judge to the
LAWYER. 1t is clear that Miss Sammis |
did not know that the money was coun-
Uerfeit.'
The lawyer took the lady home. On
the way home they scarcely spoke; but
alone i'll her own room, Miss Sammis, |
overwhelmed with shame, wept herself |
i'll.
She might have felt only indignation
at a false arrest, hut she knew in tier iH-
most soul that " hen size falsely claimed
that money, she was at heart thief.
She began to think as she had never
thought before, and she understood that
she inherited the misers mania, and
that it was growing aD her, so that she,
rich wOmab, had, as she believed, ia
ken from poor and honest man what
did not belong to her.
1t was true she had been tricked and
cheated. but that did not alter the facts.
Then she prayed for help, and grew
strong. She did not alter her plain way
of living, but she entertained her friends
and gave to the poor. She saw to the
education of her little cousins. and sent
many d hIllu SIIO " hCl ouHes UoN ohS
helped her pastor in his work.
Kindly feeling grew in her heart, and
her face softened, and she grew agreea
bic in appearance and attractive in man
ner.
And, finally, the most sOftening influ-
ence in the world filled her heart.
She loved good man, who loved her
tenderly. Together they live among
their children in old Homegrown, and
are known as the most kindly of its peo-
pie No worthy charity but has been
aided by them. No good object but they
are ready to further.
The miser's daughter has conquered {
her hereditary vice-One so nearly allied
to dishonesty that the miser is always
ready to become thief, and generally
is one-aud the angels smile over her