The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-06-07

| lie duuFcSScS given. L always IOuuu
myself one of crowd, and an unlucky
one. At last terrible day arrived.
when We found ourselves penniless and
without credit My wife had sold her
jewelry bit by bit; my watch was gone.
and we had not cent
Then l resolved to beard the lion in
his den-to ask Mr.. - to replace me
in his Office. strove to get an audi
ence all day. and at last stood on the
steps before which his carriage was
drawn up. heard his step in the pas
sage. He appeared; l stepped forward.
Mr.. - said ].
81 haven't time to talk to you now,
said he.
"'It is a matter of life and death. sir,
for me- l pleaded.
".How?' said he.
81 am your discharged clerk 1 be-
gan.
I'm aware of that he replied, cold
| ly. For good reason, doubtless
81 was ill., said l. No fault was
found with me. l returned to my
place, and
"'Of course it was filled. he inter-
rupted. If young men would lead sober
lives, they would not be ill. / never
am
".I caught cold from a broken pane
of glass in your Office. sir. said l. My
wife and child literally have nothing to
eat l.
".It will teach you to be more eco
nomical,' said he.
He took out his pocket-book and
opened it. 1t was stuffed full of bills
of large denominations.
sis he going to offer me charity"
thought l. My blood boiled. yet said
to myself: He means it kindly, and for
Laura's sake l will not refuse
But all he did was to take out a
small key. which he slipped into an
outer pocket of his overcoat.
".If you could give me employment,
SIR l said, i should be very grateful
81 can't create clerkships,' he said.
There are ten clerks in the Office, and
they must do my work
He entered the carriage. As he did
so l saw a pocket-book lying on the
sidewalk plethoric thing, round with
its contents.
".He has dropped it, l said to my
self
1.-The instincts Of a gentleman
prompted me to pick it up and restore
it, but the hungry man, who knew his
wife was starving. covered it with his
foot. The carriage drove off. was
alone in that quiet side street. No one
saw me. picked up the pocket-book.
thrust it into my bosom and took to my
heels like pickpocket.
Il reached my poor little home as
one might in bad dream. opened
the door. To my astonishment. a table
was spread with a dainty repast My
wife. fearful. and yet smiling. handled
the baby, and near the fire in the little
CRATE. which had been cold when l left
home, stood two men-my father and
Laura's.
"'Oh. Harry" cried my wife, i wrote
without telling you, and they have for
given us. We are waiting supper for
you. am SO happy! so happy"
Il kissed her. / shook hands with
her father; my own actually wept on
my shoulder. knew that my troubles
were over, but my heart remained as
heavy as lead within my bosom. The
hideous sense of shame that had fallen
upon me from the moment picked up
that pocket-book was with me still l
,oas a taicf. a thief!
To be sure. could return the money.
could send it back to Mr. B; but
had found my home foodless and fire.
less l should have used the stolen
money. like any other thief.
Il sat at the little banquet, silent
and moody.
HE has suffered so much sand my
wife.
My father pressed my hand.
".It is all over now, Hail. said he.
But felt the pressure of that pleth-
oric pocket-book against my chest,
and the weight of theft upon my soul.
I'm the midst of the meal there was
a knock at the door. opened it The
private Waterman from Mr.. IS
stood there. / said to myself:
My theft in known; am to be ar
rested
don't speak before Them / whis-
pered, stepping into the hall and shut
ting the door behind me.
".Mr. - asked me to CALL said he.
i live down here a bit further He
says that young Perkins is going to
leave. and if you are on hand at seven
Monday. he'll put you in. He didn't
know about Perkins when you were
there
THANK you.' said L; but I am
fixed, / think
That's good said he.
81 rejoiced. but still I felt like a
thief
"'Oh! If the pocket-book was only
on its way home!
IL determined to take il at once to
the cypress office. / had a piece of
brown paper in my pocket, and some
cord; they would seal it at the Office.
could direct it there.