The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-06-17
A CONSCIENCE STILL.

the fire. I'VE heard Of it up at the foundry
Fifty pounds from that old aunt oil his
who died last week. Well, it'll help him
to pay off his scores and get fair start. .,
'.Scores, indeed" said Mrs. Hale, who,
with her daughter Maggie, was busted
about the supper. "Why the first thing
Mrs. Barton did was to 60 and buy ba.
by carriage. Probably she'll want one for
herself next" she added with laugh
think OF her setting up with baby-car-
riago."
1.-THE baby sickly, mother, said Maggie
"and too big for little Nellie to carry in
her arms. I've often heard Mrs. Burton
wishing for carriage in which the baby
could DO drawn about comfortably"
They're as delighted as il the fifty
pounds were thousand" continued the
mother. at isn't much to be proud oil
fifty pounds"
"Well, only wish had halt as much, y
said Martin with a sigh. "We're owing two
months rent. now, and what made down
at the furnaces won't 60 far, to say moth
Ing OF the chambers score. think George
is in good luck"
They had always been good neighbors,
the Hales and the Burtons. The two men
worked at the iron mills In the town, and
were known as two steady, honest fellows;
but it often happened that work was slack,
or even at standstill, and then those
who were turned off had to be idle or look
for lob at the furnaces, some thirty
miles up tho railroad.
Both Hale and Burton had returned
from one OF these expeditions-the latter
to claim the good luck that had befallen
him, and the former to repine that no such
luok ever came to himself.
About a week after this, Martin Hale,
on mis- way rome from work, overlook
George Burton, who had paused outside
the window OF one Of those variety shops,
where anything il sold, from box oil
matches to suit OF clothes, or a set oil
cheap iewelry.
He was gazing at girls jacket OF dark
CLOTH neatly trimmed.
thinking OF buying your wife n diamond
ring, George?" said Martin stopping beside
him.
mot yet while. he replied good hu-
moredly. II was looking at that little at
fair nodding toward the jacket-''and
thinking would like to buy it for Kitty,
i
thing warm for winter, and tomorrow g
her birthday"
'Suppose you go in and ask the price?'
The two stepped into the shop. The
women who helped to keep it were eloquent
In setting forth the merits of the garment
and its wonderful cheapness.
When Burton hesitated at sixteen shil-
hngs she brought down the price to'twelve,
and he pulled out a leathern purse and paid
the money.
You're spending your fortune pretty
freely, George, remarked Hale, as his COM
panion closed his purse.
"Well, yes, in this instance; but you see
Kitty's seventeen tomorrow, and girls
like to be nicely dressed. Besides, I've
cleared off my little debts, and this ten
pounds that's left goes into the bank to-
morrow"
The woman, anxious to get as much as
possible out OF her customer, produced
some wooden socks, and Burton, on exam
lining them, laid his purse on the counter,
where it was speedily covered with goods.
Concluding not to purchase the socks, he
took the bundle containing the jacket, and
with never thought OF his money, left the
shop.
Martin Hale took the purse from under
the goods, unseen by the woman who had
turned to replace the things on the shelf.
II will give him little scare, he thought.
'"The lesson won't hurt him."
When Burton reached his own door, and
paused to wish his companion goodnight,
the latter raised his hand to his breast
pocket. But suddenly dark thought
whispered to him. Burton had not missed
the money; Burton would never suspect
him. And while he hesitated, his compan-
ion had gone into the house and closed the
door.
'Tll give it to him to-morrow-yes GER
tainly tomorrow" said Martin to HIM
self, and explain that it was joke, he will
see that none Of the money is missing
But next morning when alone, he opened
the purse. just to see that the money was
all safe.
He counted it out, exactly ten pounds.
With that amount he could clear off his
score, and pay his months rent; and it SO
happened just at this time Martin Hale
was more in need OF money than ever he
had been in his life. He had made but lit
tie the past summer, and winter was COM
ing with it's manifold needs.
That day the workmen were all talking
OF George Burton's loss. He must have
placed his purse containing the money, In
coat-pocket, he said, for upon reaching
home he found it gone, and q hole at the
bottom OF his pocket.
He was so absent minded at times, and
he remembered that he had forgotten to
tell his wife OF that torn pocket. He offer
ed a reward to the finder, but no one came
to claim it.
This seemed a turning point to George
Burtons good luck" Next day his chill
dren were taken with the measles, and a
doctor had to be called in. One little do
mestic trouble after another came upon
nd or Ia or ha Il
from the iron mills, where there were the
proprietor exclaimed, moro workmen en-
ployed than were necessary.
The same fate beiell Martin Hale. and
as he walked gloomily homeward, he
thought OF the ten pounds laying in the Sc
cret place where he had hidden it. Never
once again had he looked at it, and not a
day had passed that he had not shrunk
from the thought OF it and from the sense
OF his own guilt: and yet, by a strange in
consistency, he could not bring himself to
part with the money,
A haunting dread of poverty and want
tempted him to keep it, and people who
noticed that he had changed thai; he had
become nervous and morose, attributed it
to his poverty.
George Burton wondered that his old
neighbor Stunned him, and Martins wife
grew anxious and harrassed in witnessing
her husbands changed temperate who
had hitherto been always kind and con-
siderate to her and the children.
One evening Martin took the purse from
it's hiding place and opened it.
There were q few pieces OF small change,
and these he slipped in his vest pocket and
started down the street.
He was not accustomed to drinking any
thing stronger than beer. but now he
thought to drown his bad feelings he would
take glass OF spirits.
Walking briskly down the street, one OF
the small coins, slipping from his vest pock.
OF, fell upon the pavement. He did not
notice it, but the little boy beyond him did.
The coin rolled into the gutter, and it
was moment or two before the child
could find it. Then he ran after the man
who had dropped it, and after a good chase
came UP with him as he was about entering
a public house.
Fob, Mr.. Hale. is it your" he exclaimed,
breathlossly., I've chased you ever so
long"
Martin looked down, and saw pale lit
tie face, and form thinly clad for such a
cold evening.
A pang shot through him. It was Eddie,
George Buttons little son.
what do you want?" he said, gruff1y.
"The-the money" he gasped.
Martin turned white.
"What money!"
Tho hnv held nm the coin