The Washington critic., 1885-10-21

w y WillNtu uL llc tOlllSpllOI mousse
and was shown into richly fur.
nished room. The counsellor brought
me an elegant case whose key was
broken, and badc me open It. lie then
told Catherine, my guide, that he had
other preparations to make, aud babe
her remain with the locksmith.
at will be hard for you" said to
Catharinc, "to leave these beautiful
rooms for some poor little home"
II have plenty of time in which TO
make up my mind to It, >" she replied.
but you do not yet know everything.
Living in right dwelling one soon
learns that It matters little whether he
is served with golden spoon or u
brass one. The essential thing is to
live in peace with good conscience. -
At these words ] could no longer
find the keyhole and Catharinc began
to laugh at my lack of skill. At length,
however, ] opened the casket, and my
eyes were dazzlcd by its contents.
Under blue velvet cushion glittcrcd a
set of diamonds.
Catharine stepped to the door and
called her master; but no sooner had he
glanced at the casket, than he rudcly
seized my hand, saying, "Thc brooch
with the large diamond in the centre is
gone"
shook like II apoplar leaf. ! was
about to throw myself on my knees,
when / heard Catharincs voice.
How can you think" she said, 4
was hcrcl"
"Be still We will examine you
toor'
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, | yield
ed myself to his hands. But | never
can tell what felt at that moment. /
felt no longer like a man, or even II
slave, but like son.e c vile animal. An
act Of cruel injustice was committed
against me. After this, the fault of
which ] was guilty myself seemed but
petty and childish thing.
My anger grew still greater when an
other servant suggested that Cathariue
might have hidden the diamonds in her
hair, and saw the poor girl as pale as
death with her braids all unbound.
Naturally the counsellor found moth
ing on Catharinc or on me. | remem-
Der that in parting | said to the young
girl: "Be patient; will make up to
you all you have suffered through me.
The affront had suffered paralyzed
my conscience. | sought often to see
| Catharine, but seldom successfully.
She said she was afraid that if he were
seen together ii would cause fresh sus-
picions. One day, however, she met
me with joyful expression.
"God be thanked We are now com
pletely justified. My masters sister
has written him that she forgot to put
the brooch into the casket.
"And is not the counsellor going to
beg my pardon ?"
"1Ie wished me to do So" she re.
piled, "and asked me to do so for him. -
At the same time she begged me to hold
no resentment because of what had
happened to me.
"You may have committed some
secret fault" said She Accept what
you have suffered as an aflliction."
never had felt so happy before.
told Catharine that | would yet be rich
and would give her beautiful carriage
harnessed to four horses, and she
promised to be faithful to me, should
come for her on foot. The thing had
done still seemed nothing in compari
son 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 Palatin to accom-
pany me TO the bank, but he refused.
i entered the counting-room. Coun
sellor Menninger was there. AT frs
was frightened, and then the sight o
him gave me new ardor He was thu
man who had insulted me. While
waited the sweat trickled down my
limbs, and my book stuck t
my fingers as if it never could b,
shaken off.
At last my turn came. The coun
sellor put on his spectacles and looked
at my book. ] could hear no sount
but the monotonous tickings of th,
clock. My heart knocked hard agains
my side.
"You have been very economical,
said the counsellor. "Will you have
coin or paperl"
said would have paper, and he
gave me little role of notes on eacl
Of which was written: cone hundred
crowns" l tremblcd so that l coulC
hardly hold these notes in my hands
and when he asked if the right sun
was there, could only nod my affirm
ative. Suddenly he looked attentiyely
at me.
care you not the locksmith," ," Ii
asked, "whom summoned on Christ
mas eve"
"Yes," said l.
81 am delighted to see you again.
beg you to forgive my unjust suspicion
of you, which must have caused yol
pain. If | render you service it will
give me great pleasure But what i
the mattel? Are you i'll ?"
fell on my knees crying, "No
no; am a scoundrel. Take back you
money"
And ! told him all.
The counsellor was good man. IL
saw my despair and spoke to me kindly
My dangerous companion was obliged
to leave the city. | was atllanced Il
Catharine in the counsellor's house
and he aided me to establish myself il
the city. ought to add that before
left the savings bank | burned my lit
tie book,
We stake Our Reputation
On it that we sell boys and children's cloth
ing lower than any other house In the city
| HOO