The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-01-28

saying, gently:
''Do you know why came here?"
Poor Rosie's pent-up grief and shame
could hold out no longer, and great
storm of sobs shook her from head to
foot as she managed to whisper, brok-
emily:
Yes; it's the story"
eyes, it's the story" softly, still
holding the girls hand, but making no
efforts to check her violent weeping.
wrote it myself long ago, and, of
course, recognized it at once. And now,
child, tell me how you came to do it.
Remember, no one will ever know what
you say to me-"
Rosie tried to calm herself, but her
usual self-possession was entirely gone.
You see l had tried so hard; we
wanted the money; but it really wasn't
so much that. 1t was that / couldn't
bear to have the girls know I couldn't
do it-and | couldn't-and then / came
across this paper in the closet-it was a
very old one, and. Oh, you don't
know how it was! They all think at
school that am so much brighter than
! am. / can't bear them to know how
hard have to work, and it's the same
here at home. OH what shall l do p
what shall do ?''
Never before in Rose's self-contained
life had she unburdened herself as now,
but Mrs. Stanton's calm, kind eyes
seemed a power compelling honesty,
while they offered sympathy.
what shall you do? Do what you
know is the right and honest thing to
everybody"
ooh, nor' cried the child in terror.
l cannot, | cannot do it," and in de-
spair she threw herself on her knees,
burying her face in Mrs. Stanton's
dress.
Very well, then, am going. Mr..
Wenham and | know the truth. We
will never tell. l am sorry you cannot
do what you know is right. Good
night" She kissed the weeping child
tenderly, and was gone. Rosie did not
move until long after her friend had
left the room and the house Then a
mighty impulse to do the right, and at
once, seized her, and, walking into the
other room, where her mother and the
boys were, she explained, in few
hurried words, her deceit, and an
nounced her determination to see Mr..
Barton that very night.
Mrs. Bender said not word, but
folded the penitent girl to her heart in
love and sympathy. The boys edged
around uneasily, not knowing what to
do or say.
"Say, Rosie" said Tom, finally,
"just wait till morning. You'll feel
different"
81 know / will, said Rosie; " that's
why am going tonight. Come, Tom,
| must see Mrs. Stanton first"
Tom said no more, and in less than
half an hour they were at Mr.. Wen
hams. Mrs. Stanton had gone to her
room, but she sent for Rosie to come
up. She met her at the door with a
kiss, saying, proudly:
i" knew you would do it,"
Mrs. Stanton, must see the Argus
man tonight. Will you go with me?"
Mrs. Stanton thought moment.
"No, dear. 1t will be better for you
to 90 alone, and to say nothing of me. 1t
is not fair to you, for you are not con-
Tossing because you are afraid of eX-
posture. 1 left it to you when
promised to be silent"
" But never would have done it if
you had not come to see me, and"
"Never mind, perhaps no one would
confess if some outside influence had
not come. But one thing more-have
you spent the money!"
Rosie was speechless. She had not
even thought of what was the most i'm
portant thing to everybody but herself.
Mrs Stanton took out her pocket
book. " How much do YOU want?n
Eleven dollars-but / cannot take
it."
Yes, you can; and you shall pay
me back by doing some writing for me.
Take it, my child, and go tonight.
You will feel better"
The morning after Christmas, Rosie
was not present at the opening exer-
cises of the school. Miss Gilbert left
the room for moment, and returned
followed by Rosie.
"Girls," she said, "Rosie Bender
has something to say to you"
Rosie fixed her eyes for a moment
upon Miss Gilbert; then, stepping for.
ward, took her hand, as if for support
She choked little, but, turning to the
school, went on bravely:
"The story wasn't mine. / had nc
right to the prize. i have told Mr.
Barton, and returned the money"
Then she turned away, and left the
room.
1t was tremendous sensation. There
were tears in some tender eyes, sneers
ON some envious lips.
Girls" said Miss Gilbert, "Rose
has just done a very brave and noble
thing. Respect that, and forget hel
} fault. First class in arithmetic"
The Euening Argus contained the
following paragraph:
! "The story for which we gave prize
of fifteen dollars proves to have beer
} not original. 1t is but just to say thai
the young girl who received the none,
brought it back within few hours, anC
that but former confession we should still
be in ignorance of our mistake. Th'
J prize and honor are awarded to Franl
: Easton, and his story will appear in to
morrow's issue"
} Rosie's writing for Mrs. Stanton di'
more than pay the borrowed money
1t brought her, at the most critica
period of her life, under an inbuenc,
J of the noblest kind, and it brough
about change of feeling and motiy
which has developed traits that save.
| The story never was forgotten. |
has followed her; but so many storie