The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-01-19

him an elderly man, who had tho necklace
in his hand.
"May ask you where you got this" he
said.
"I-I-bought it," she replied, in a hesi-
tating, confused way.
"Of whom did you buy"
20, of-of-can get ten dollars for itP'
She had confused idea that there was
something wrong, and a bewildering sense
of not knowing just what she was saying.
She wanted to get her ten dollars and go
away rs quickly as possible.
"You will have to tell all you know about
this" said the man little severely "This
necklace is worth several times ten dollars,
and it was sold by this clerk a few weeks
ago to lady living in this city. Since that
time it has been stolen, with other jewclry,
some of which has been found in different
pawn shops; but the thief is still &c large.
Now may be it will be easier for you to tell
me all about it than it would be to tell it in
court"
"In court - stolen - thiefp the words
seemed burning into poor Polly's brain,
So" she gasped, "I didn't steal It'll don't
know-I-you can have 1t, sirp'
The clerk ran quickly around the counter,
and caught her by the arm as she turned to
walk away. She glanced up at him with a
look of bcwilderment in her innocent face
and then tainted away.
When she recovered consciousness, she
found herself lying on a sofa in the little
rear Office Several men were standing
around her, and she noticed, with little
shiver, that policeman stood near the door.
"Now, my child" said gray-haired man,
after few moments, tive don'treally think
you stole the necklace, but we want to find
4 Ao11 al ahA,,t ln,,,
the necklace came into your possession"
The kindly tone of the man reassured
Polly and she told her story simply, in
manner that convinced most Of her hearers
of its truth. One member of the firm, how
ever, seemed little incredulous.
"With whom are you staying in the city"
he asked.
"With Mr.. James Martins family on
b street."
"very WE'LL shall 60 with you to Mr..
Martins house, and see how much of your
story is true"
Polly's tears and confusion only strength
ened the man in his resolve, and she was
forced to walk home with him, feeling more
than ever like criminal.
Mr. Martin happened to be at home, and
easily convinced Polly's escort that she had
told him the truth; but she could not shake
of her feelings of intense chagrin and
The next day she gladly turned her face
homcward, resolved to tell the whole story
to her parents at once. 1t was harder than
ever to do this after she had bought morn
ing paper from newsboy, and found in it
her own name, in big, black letters, at the
head of a column! She read no more, but
lowered her vail, and sat in fearful silence,
her head leaning against the car window all
the way home.
She spared herself nothing when she was
alone with her parents but told them sthe
whole story, and then showed them the
paper in which her name appeared, and in
which an iuconsidcrate reporter had
,martly referred to her as "a vain and ver-
liant young miss from the rural districts"
who had ''shone for brief season in
fashionable society, in Mrs. ks pearls"
snow, YOU see, my dear, what has come
rom your first attempt to keep something
rom mother" said Mrs. Pringle, in a
sindly tone, as she sat by Polly's bedside, !
,athing her burning temples in cool water, |
Ind soothing her as best she could. |
~ tell you, Polly, dear, it's never safe for !
girls to do any thing mother can't be told |
bout Children could so often save them |
elves lots of misery, if they never did any
hing they wouldn't be willing for ma and
"a to know all about Now you go to sleep
oon as you can. and we'll never speak of
he matter again after this"
The peddler never came that way again,
md thoy never knew how the necklace
,ame into his possession. 1t seemed un-
likely that he was aware of its real value
when he sold it TO Polly He might, how
,ver, have been afraid to keep it longer in
lis possession, and suddenly determined to
ell it for what he could, and rid himself OF
t.
For long time Polly had horror of be-
ng summoned to the city to testify against
he criminals, but if they were caught she
lever knew it. She does know that it is
dangerous to cultivate ones vanity, and
hat girl is never too old to make conf
lante OF her mother.-J. Il. Harbour, in
Youths Companion.