The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-14
A TEMPTATION.

t"'' " oEc NV liiS lctcltlOl Vi
things found can be called theft" said
Mrs. Andrews ina passionate though
firm voice. "lf the object found is the
property OF Il poor man who would be
ruined by its loss, We ought to return it
five know the owner. Ii we do not
know him, why should we deliver the
treasure to the police merely to increase
the dead capital OF the city or the state
Butii the object found is owned by a
rich man VINO does not feel, nor even
perceive the loss greatly, why should |
not keep 4 treasure which will relieve
me OF the cares and anxiety OF the NOR
row? ltwould be'a godsend to me and
hardly a loss to the former owner.
You are wrong, damnably wrong"
replied Mr.. Andrews in trembling
voice, unable to ropress the discomfort
which the Objectionable ideas OF his
wife caused him. by all the princi-
pies OF common law, and by u pure code
OF ethics, property found is hardly bet
ter than property stolen. lie who re-
tains what he finds is liable to be prose.
cuted as 4 thief. But il that was other
wise, your conscience ought TO tell YOU
that appropriating what is not your
own is only one degree less culpable
than burglary or highway robbery"
That is the very poiat where | differ
with YOU" replied Mrs. Andrews III the
same tone OF voice as before. at is not
4 moral principle that my neighbor
should be enormously rich and that |
should see him wallow in luxury and
feel myself the pangs OF hunger day by
day
you never ielt the pangs OF hunger
yet, )" rctorted her husband.
True, not OF actual hunger" she con-
tinucd, "but how many an anxious dis
cussion have we not had all these years
OF our married life looking out for
means to keep the wolf from our door.
No, my dear; do not talk OF morals in
such a case, or rather true morality
teaches as fundamental principle the
laws OF sell preservation, which SAYS to
man and animal that it is essential to
take the means OF life wherever they
are found, so long as We do not rob an
other being OF the means OF support.
To keep what You find, ii the object
docs not deprive another OF the means
OF livelihood, is morally right. All that
is requisite is to be circumspect, to es-
cape the meshcs OF the law, and to have
the moral strength to face the looks and
gossip OF other people without bctray-
ing your secret"
Mr.. Andrews grew more and more en-
cited. During the lest speech OF his
wife he had risen and taken his hat.
His daughter Ann, a kindly, fresh look
ing girl OF about twenty-one years. had
also got up and tried to paciiy her
father.
"Do not so, papa" she said implor-
ingly; "do not 20. You know mamma
and how strong-headcd she is when COIL
tradicled. You know she does not
mean what she says"
edo not see Why you should be so
excited" said Arthur Drinks, II clerk in
the First National bank OF Cincinnati,
Tor it Was in that city that the CONVEX
sation took place III a so-called summer
garden where Mr.. and Mrs. Andrews
and her daughter were spending the
balmy summer evening. Arthur Brink
was bctrothcd 20 Ann. They had been
ior three years now and had no chance
yc: Of getting married, the salary OF
Arthur being too small 10 provide 4
good home without going heavily into
debt, which neither he nor his bride
were disposed 10 do. Neither were the
immediate prospects OF Arthur very
promising, and he had been dcspond-
ing many day in contemplating the
advancing ayes OF both his bride and
himself.
Il Think" he continued. "there is 4
good deal OF common sense i'll what Mrs.
Andrews has said, and II | should hap
pen 10 find -"
"Now, Mr.. Brink" interrupted Mr..
Andrews, stop that talk, or l shall
have TO look out Tor 4 man OF soundcr
principles to associate within daughter.
Ideas as you were just about to utter
vii surely bring you to grief in the po-
sltion you hold"
Mrs. Andrews uttered few syllablcs
in rctort, when her husband interrupted
her sharply. stop your talk" he cried,
we have already had too much OF it in
public garden. Do you not SEQ how
everybody is staring us? Come, Ann,
you 20 home with me-" lie led his
daughter away and Mrs. Andrews fol-
lowed leaning on the arm OF Arthur
Brink. They continued their CONVERSE
ton in Oil animated way until they
reached their home.
a short time after Arthur Drinks was
sitting ut his desl, with big ledger
before him. 1t was shortly after dinner
when the director OF tho bank entered
the room where Arthur, with number
OF colleagues, was at work. He had a
heap OF papers and letters in his hand
when he came to Arthur's desk.
II want to see the account OF -"
said tho director, putting his papers on
the desk. He examined the account
and took some notes. Then he took up
his papers again and proceeded on his
round.
A few minutes later, on moving his
ledger, Arthur, saw u paper parcel stick
ing in his drawer, Which was not prop.
s..,.. Il N VI. . 4