The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-09-13


herself under arrest on charge of hav-
ing tried to pass counterfeit coin. "But
I'm Miss Sammis, of HOMETOWN"
she explained amidst her sobs. "I'm
rich. 1t is impossible to suspect me-"
eff you could remember where you
got the money!" said the policeman,
as he put her into a cab, cit would be
better 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 they drove
away from the little crowd that had
gathered about the carriage, and Miss
Sammis soon found herself in the pres
ence of justice of the peace. The
shopkeeper made his charge, but she
had collected her senses. She gave
her address, the name of her pastor, of
her lawyer-infuential persons in Hon
eytown. "It is notifying to be charged
with this thing" she said, "But you
will soon find that am not connected
with band of foounterfeirerS. L inner
tied half a million of money short
time ago. My father was Octavius
Cicero Sammis."
Money commands civility, as gener-
al thing. Every one become immense
ly polite. The lawyer was telegraphed
for, and came in a tremendous state Of
excitement. He questioned his client
as to her possession of the money, and
her vague answers led to believe that
she was DESTROYS to shield some one
from suspicion. "The truth must be
told, my dear young lady," he said.
"We will put you on your 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 ques-
ton was asked
"Where did you get this gold piece ?"
"From a man on the street." "What
was the mans name?" "I do not
know" "Why did he give it to
your" "He asked me if 1 had lost
it." sAnd you said ?" cat first 1
did not know; then, perhaps; and 1
gave him reward for finding it. He
asked for it," "Had you dropped it?"
"No." elbow did you know?" ri
brought no gold with me-" "It is
a very common trick, and generally
succeeds" said the judge to the lawyer.
"It is clear that Miss Sammis did not
know the money was counterfeit"
The lawyer took the lady home. On
the way they scarcely spoke but alone,
in her own room, Miss Sammis, over
whelmed with shame, wept herself i'll.
She might have felt only indignation
at false arrest, but she knew in her in
most soul that when she falsely claimed
that money, she was at heart thief.
She began to think as she had never
thought before, and she understood
that she had inherited the miser's mania,
and that it was growing on her, so that
she, rich woman, had, as she believed,
taken from poor and honest man what
did not belong to her. 1t was true she
hnd heen +-;cted and cheated, but that
| did not alter the racts. rncn snc pray
ed for help, and grew strong. She did
HOT dltcI HCI pain way vi HFIHS, Out
she entertained her friends and gave to
the poor. She saw to the education of
her little cousins, and sent many kind
gift to her aunt, and she helped her
pastor in his work. Kindly feeling
grew in her heart, and her face soften
ed, and she grew agreeable in appear
ance and attractive in manner.
And, finally, the most softening in
huence in the world filled her heart.
She loved a good man, who loved her
tenderly. Together they live among
their children in old HOMETOWN, and
are known as the most kindly of its
people. 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, and the angels smiled over her
victory.