The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-04-24
A Conscience Still.

|
A Conscience Still.
$50 George Burton's had bit of good
luck, said Martin Hale, as he hung his
hat and coat behind the door, and drew
up to the fire. 'We heard of it up at
the foundry. Fifty pounds from that
old aunt of 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
| bbsa-ied about the supper. 'Why, the
first thing Mrs. Burton did was to 60
and buy a baby-carriage. Probably
she'll want one for herself next she
added with a laugh. Think of her
setting up with baby-carriage.'
'The baby's sickly, MOTHER said
Maggie, 'and too big for little Nellie to
carry in her arms. I've often heard
Mrs. Burton wishing for a carriage in
which the baby could be drawn about
comfortably
They're as delighted as if the fifty
pounds were thousand continued
her mother. 1T isn't much to be proud
of-ffty pounds
'Well, l only wish had half as much,
said Martin with sigh. 'We're owing
two months rent now, and what made
down at the furnaces won't 60 far, to
say nothing of the chandler's score. l
think George is in good luck
They had always been good neigh
bors, the Hales and Burtons. The two
men worked at the iron mills in the
feifows; feE'' II but It often happened that work
was slack, or even at a standstill, and
then those who were turned off had to
be idle or look for a 'job' at the fur
naces, some thirty miles up the railroad.
Both Hale and Burton had just re-
turned from one of these expeditions
the latter to claim the good luck that
had befallen him, and the former to
repine that no such luck ever came to
himself.
About a week after this, Martin Hale,
on his way home from work, overlook
George Burton, who had paused outside
the window of one of those variety
Shops where anything is sold, from a
box of matches to suit of clothes, or
set of cheap jewelry.
He was gazing at girls jacket of
dark cloth, neatly trimmed.
Thinking of buying your wife dia,
mond ring, George?' said Martin, stop
| ping beside him.
Not yet while, he replied good
humoredly. Il was looking at that lit
, tie affair '-nodding towards the jacket
-'and thinking would like to buy ii
| for Kitty, if it isn't too dear. | know
she needs something warm for winter,
and to-morrow's her birthday
Suppose you 60 in and ask the priceP ?
The two stepped into the shop. The
women who helped to keep it were elo'
quent in setting forth the merits of the
garment, and its wonderful cheapness.
When Burton hesitated at sixteen
shillings she brought down the price to
twelve, and he pulled out leather purse
and paid the money.
you're spending your fortune pretty
freely, George remarked Hale, as nj:
companion closed his purse.
well, yes, in this instance; but yor
see Kitty's seventeen tomorrow, ano
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
tomorrow.
The woman, anxious to get as much
as possible out of her customer, pro
| duced some woollen socks, and Burton
/ / IN IN examining them, laid his purse or
the counter, where it was speedily GOV
cred by the goods.
Concluding not to purchase the socks
he took up the bundle containing tn
jacket, and with never thought OF hi
money, left the shop.
| Martin Hale took the purse from un
| der the goods, unseen by the woman
who had turned to replace the thing
on the shelf.
Il will give him little scare, h
thought. The lesson won't hurt him.
When Burton reached his own doc
and paused to wish his companion good
night, the latter raised his hand to hi
breast-pocket. But suddenly dar
thought whispered to him. Burton ha
not missed the money; Burton woul
never suspect him. And while he hes
itated, his companion had gone into tn
!, house and closed the door.
I'll give it to him to-morrow-ye:
certainly tomorrow said Martin
himself, 'and explain that it was joke
He will see. that none of the money
missing i,
But next morning, when alone, t
opened the purse, just to see that tt
money was there all safe.
counted it OUT exactly ten pound
With that amount he could clear on n
: score, and pay his months rent; and
so happened that just at this time Ma
tin Hale was more in need of none
than ever he had been in his life. t
had made but little the past summe
and winter was coming with its mar
fold needs.
R That day the workmen were all tai
8 ing about George Burton's loss. 1
must have placed his purse, contalnl
the money, in his coat-pocket, ne sal
for upon reaching home he had foul