The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-01

the thing that does the real mischief.
It's all the time saying to the girl that
wears it: You're only slave. What
difference does it make how you behave?
You can't go to Heaven in such clothes,
anyhow l got to thinking that l
wasn't as good as the other women be-
cause l couldn't dress as we'll; and so
when I saw the chance to steal your
dresses said to myself that it would
make good girl of me-"
Rev. Mr.. Knowles held up his hands
in horror.
"Young woman" said he, ''the OBJ
iiquity Of your moral vision is really
shocking. Did you think that stolen
clothes could make you good?"
"Yes, sir, did," replied Nellie, firm
ly, ''and what's more, 1 was right; they
have. Since I've worn them haven't
had an envious or wicked thought in
my mind, except when this man dis
covered me and saw the prospect of
big cuffs and cap again. tell you
that if I'd had another week in Mrs.
Harland's dresses not even that tempta-
tion would have been strong enough to
make me do wrong"
"You have discovered great moral
principle" said johnson. 81 too, stole
D chance to begin better life, and,
trust, if Mr. Drane doesn't take this suit
away from me, that may yet reform
entirely before it wears out. feel oct
ter now. Already have discarded the
language of tramp, and the mendacity
of politician. A few days more and l
shall be as good man as Drane himself;
and Larry, old boy, let me tell you that
if you don't get rid of that Bowery suit
before it falls to pieces altogether you'll
be moral wreck. Every time button
falls off the finger of Satan is stuck
through the empty button-hole.
. "And as to this marriage" he contin-
ued, 81 am proud to say that was the
bridegroom. confess with shame that
l married Nellie believing her to be
rich, but now--now-Nellie, l have
nothing in the world that can call my
own. Even my clothes, as you know,
do not belong to me. But if you can love
2e, if you truly wish to be my wife,
will do tho best can to make home
somewhere for you-for us--in which
whatever dress you wear will be the
robe OF a queen, and a humble, but a
faithful subject always"
"Dear Richard" said Nellie, laying
her head upon the breast of Lawrence's
late coat beneath which the heart of
Mr.. johnson was beating very hard in
deed if one might judge by the express
sion of his face.
'But you forget, Richard" she said,
at length, 1--WE must both go to prison
first. We can not expect to be reformed
without paying the penalty"
"Well, am ready" said Johnson.
"My dear fellow" cried Lawrence,
"you need have no fears of me. I have
too much to thank you for. But for you
and your amiable wife I might have
gone through the wide world from one
end to the other, and yet have missed
the one woman for whom my heart was
waiting. Bessie (taking her hand in
his), shall we forgive them?"
Indeed, indeed, we WILL" cried Bes-
sic, heartily. "Nellie, owe you debt
such as only woman can understand,
and-and-I can't tell you how much 1
thank you; but if whole Saratoga
trunk-full of dresses can serve as SYM
Dol of my gratitude I-ah, you dear
gir!' ~,' -, .,,;.;,'=s..-,.-- ;,,'=s..-,.--.
Bessie closed the sentence somewhat
Historically and fell on Nellie's neck
Lawrence, too, was overpowered with
joy ~
"Dick, cid boy" said he, "cheer up.
I'll give you carte blanche with my
tailor, and you shall wear as many suits
a day as society belle on a weeks
visit to watering place. And that isn't
all. I'll give you"
"Only chance to work, Larry; it's all
I ask" said johnson.
"Work?" cried Lawrence; mot if 1
know it. A man who can't find any
thing better to do in this world than
work is defective in imagination. I'll
give you pension of two hundred dol
lars month for as long as you need it
I-I-old man, my feelings overcome
mel"
And he fell on Johnson's neck just as
Bessie had done on Mrs. Johnson's.
There was crash over in the corner
of the room, and the voice of Jimmy,
the reporter, was heard, saying:
"Ididn't quite catch that last remark.
What was the amount of that pension?"
They looked up and saw tho enter
prising young mans head sticking
through the face of the tall, old-fash-
ioned clock. His right hand, with
note book, presently appeared, also. He
had evidently Deen improving his time.
"Pve got every thing down straight
up to that point" he said. It'll be the
greatest work of my life"
''But, my young friend" said Rev.
Mr.. Knowles, in some trepidation,
"what have you done with the works of
my clock?"
They're down at the bottom" Jimmy
explained; "Im standing on 'em. See?"
He kicked the machinery, and the
clock struck twenty-seven.
81 fear that you have seriously de-
ranged the delicate and costly mechan-
ism," said Mr.. Knowles. 81 must re-
gard your conduct as reprehensible."
"Forgive him, SIR" pleaded Bessie,
"and will have the clock repaired as
good as new. l do not like to think that
any body should be reproved upon so
happy day"
~ have not looked upon it hitherto
as an occasion of rejoicing" said Mr..
Knowles; nevertheless L will grant
your request"
81 suppose I've got to go now," said
Jimmy, climbing out of the clock.
Bucklen's. Arnica SalVe
j F. A.