San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-10
SAVED BY A DREAM.

Dora" said Mrs Harper to her errand
girl, "have you seen a red pocketbook around
the counterl This lady has lost hers and she
says you have taken it." Mrs. Harper kept
a millinery shop in Brookville, bustling lit
tie town, and had quite a large patronage.
Her errapd girl, Dora May, was about Is
years old, a neatly dressed, pleasant faced
girl, who had been employed in the millinery
store as general chore girl for over year.
She lived with her parents, honest, hard
working people, in a cottage on the outskirts
. Brookville; and the slender stipend which
she earned every week as eprand girl for Mrs.
Harper was great assistance to them. Dora
May was astounded by her employers words;
she turned red, then white, and her eyes were
fixed upon Mrs. Harper's face as if fasci-
mated.
Says have taken her pocketbookw she
exclaimed, replying to the latter part of her
employers speech. "Why, Mrs Harper, l
did not even see a red pocketbook. The lady
is mistaken"
And Dora May flashed an indignant glance
at her accuser-a richly dressed lady with a
handsome but cold face. Tho lady was Mrs.
Harwich, wife of Judge Harwich, one of the
richest and most prominent men in Brook
vile. Mrs. Harwich was a grand lady in
Brookvi lie. She was beautiful and educated,
and brilliant light in the social circles Of
the town. But Mrs. Harwich was colder and
prouder than any princess of the realm, and
very ungracious to those whom she consid-
cred beneath her. She was moreover, will
full and impulsive by nature, which tenden-
cies she did not think it worth while to
check, and she was greatly disposed to jump
at conclusions. She was also selfish and in
considerable Of the feelings of others, quail
ties which i'll befitted lady in her position.
Mrs Harwich regarded the errand girl with
a cold. naughty stare
81 do not think am mistaken, miss" she
answered, although l have no proof that
you took the pocketbook. l laid it down
for a moment on the counter, near
the spot where you were standing a:
the time, while | was examining some
ribbons, and when | went to get it it
had disappeared. l did not take it, neither
did Mrs. Harper, therefore it must have been
you, as there was nobody else besides us here
to take it."
but did not take it," cried Dora May, as
tears of modification sparkled in her eyes
Il don't remember laying my eyes on your
pocketbook. was busy at that time wrap
ping up some bundles, and had no oppor-
tunity to notice your pocketbook. 1t must
have fallen under the counter out of sight
somewhere"
"A likely story" sneered Mrs. Harwich.
Mrs. Harper glanced from one to the other in
al embarrassed manner. The wealthy Mrs.
Harwich was an excellent customer of hers
and she did not like to offend her; but on the
other hand she had every confidence in her
nj riFps o,,I hnl;n
that she had taken her customers pocketbook
LET US examine under the counter" she
said, land see if we can find the lost pocket
book" So Mrs. Harper and her errand girl
knelt down and searched everywhere under
the counter for the pocketbook which had so
mysteriously disappeared. The space under
the counter of Mrs. Harper's store was &C.
cupied by a miscellaneous collection of bon
net boxes, ETC., packed in every way and
covered with dust. These were pulled here
and there, and vigorous search for Mrs.
Harwich's pocketbook begun. Especial at
tention was paid to the spot where the article
was lastseen, but though Mrs Harper and
Dora searched among the boxes everywhere,
they could not find the missing pocketbook.
''Of course not" shifted Mrs. Harwich,
when the result Of the search was made
huO"u " ueI. never d fuOul6nU 6X-
pected that you would find it there. That
wicked girl has no doubt stolen it, and in
vented that silly story to conceal her theft. l
would advise you to discharge her,"
Mrs. Harper turned to Dora May with
grave expression on her face.
Dora" said she, kindly. eff you have
taken this pocketbook, confess and return it,
and you will be forgiven"
but did not take it, Mrs. Harper" re-
peated the errand girl, Indignantly. 81 have
uever seen it, as told you before, and l do
not know where it is"
But Mrs. Harper was beginning to doubt
her word. Heretofore, during the time her
errand girl had worked for her she had found
her honest and trustworthy, but Mrs. Har-
per was a woman who did not trust anybody
too implicitly. Besides, she knew that Dora
Mays parents were very poor, and she
thought the sight of Mrs. Harwich's pocket
book, which she probably thought contained
o large amount Of money, had excited her
Cupidity and tempted her to steal it She
REGARDED Dora rather stas'll-'