The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-25

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pure light burned in her eyes.
"My father was locksmith," said
she. est. Peter is our patron, and for
many people the key to Paradise is the
key to their money box"
We arrived at the counselor's house,
and l was shown into richly furnished
room. The counselor brought me an
elegant case, whose key was broken,
and babe me open it. lie then told
Catherine, my guide, that he had other
preparations to make, and babe her &c.
main with the locksmith.
1T will be hard for you" said I to
Catherine, Ito leave these beautiful
rooms for some poor little home"
81 have plenty of time in which to
make up my mind to it," she replied.
''But you do not yet know everything.
Living in a right dwelling one soon
learns that it matters little whether he
is served with a golden spoon or brass
one. The essential thing is to live in
peace with a good conscience"
A these words | could no longer find
the keyhole, and Catherine began to
laugh at my lack of skill. At length,
however, I opened the casket, and my
eyes were dazzled by its contents. I'm
der blue velvet cushion glittered a set
CT diamonds.
Catharine stepped to the door and
called her master; but no soon CIR had he
glanced at the ca>ket, than he rudely
seized my hand, saying:
"The brooch with the large diamond
in the center is gone"
! shook like poplar leaf. 1 was about
to throw myself on my knees, when l
heard Catharne's voice.
GLOW can you think" she said II
was here!"
BE still We will examine you,
too"
lie called his wife, and then turning
to me, said that he should search me
while his wife did the same to Catha-
rinc.
And seeing that honest maiden out
ragged by such odious suspicion, I
yielded myself to his hands. But l
never can tell what felt at that moment.
| felt no longer like man, or even
slave, but like some vile animal. An act
of cruel injustice was committed
against me. After this, the fault of
which was guilty myself seemed but a
petty and childish thing.
My anger grew still greater when
another servant suggested that Catha-
rne might have hidden the diam onds in
her hair, and | saw the poor girl as pale
as death, with her braids all unbound
Naturally, the counselor found nothing
on Catharine or on me. remember that,
in parting, l said to the young girl:
"Be patient; will make up to you al
you have suffered through me- "
The ai1ront | had suffered paralyzed
my conscience. | sought often to see
Cathar,ne, but seldom SUCCESSFULLY. She
said she was afraid that if we were seer
together it would cause fresh suspicion
One day, however, she met me with
joyful expression.
"God be thanked We are now com
pletely justified. My masters sister ha
written him that she forgot to put TIT
brooch in the casket.'
"And is not the counselor going to be!
my pardon"
Gle wished me to do so, she replied
land asked me to do so for him." A
the same time she begged me to hold NJ
resentment because of what had hap
pcncd to me.
"You may have committed some secret
fault" said she. "Accept what you have
suffered as an allljction.n
never had felt so happy before. I
told Catherine that | would vet be rich,
and would give her beautiful carriage,
harnessed to four horses, and she prom
ised to be faithful to me, should I come
for her on foot. The thing had done
seemed nothing in comparison with the
humiliation | had suffered
Palm sunday having come, decided,
on the instance of the Palatin. to draw
my money, in order to try my fortune in
the world and make Catharine my wife.
wished the Palatn to accompany me to
the bank, but he refused.
| entered the counting room. Coun-
selor Menninger was there At first ]
was frightened, and then the sight OF
him gave me new ardor. He was the
man who had insulted me. While
waited the sweat trickled down my
limbs, and my book stuck to my fingers
as if it never could be shaken off
At last my turn came. The counselor
put on his spectacles and looked at my
/ book. I could hear no sound but the
monotonous tickings of the clock. My
heart knocked hard against my side.
"Gou have been very economical"
said the counselor. "Will you have coin
or paper"
| said I would have paper, and he
gave me little roll of notes, on each
of which was written: 800 crowns. ~
/ ! trembled so that | could hard V hold
these notes in my hands, and when he
asked if the right sum was there, could
only nod my affirmative. Suddenly he
looked attentively at me.
"Are you not the locksmithl" he
asked, "whom | summoned on Christmas
eveln
eyes" said |.
81 am delighted to see you again.
beg you to forgive my unjust suspicion
of you, which must have caused you
pain. If can render you a service il
will give me great pleasure. But what
is the matter? Are you ill2"
fell on my knees, crying, "No, no;
am scoundrel. Take back YOU
money"
And told lin all
The counselor was n good man. He
saw my despair and spoke to me kindly