Passaic City record., 1892-12-17


| recovered a sort of tranquility, as
saw that nobody suspected what | had
done. But when, on the approach oi
Christmas, my masters children began
| to dance around me one morning, say
| ing, .Wc know something we shan't
telli'' their voices pierced my heart like
a knife. They knew the surprises their
father was preparing for our pleasure,
and were delighted with their secret.
On Christmas Eve, Counselor Men
ninger's servant came running to our
workshop. was in the doorway. She
said she had come for me, and that l
must 60 at once with my tools to her
masters house.
The counselor's name had terrified
me. Could my offence be already
known9 had decided not to use the
book until spring, and had never shown
it. But was afraid OF everything.
Nevertheless, / went with the young
girl. She had a sweet, fresh face, and
the pure Christmas light burned in her
eyes.
.sMy father was locksmith," said
she. .sSt. Peter IS our patron, aud for
many people the key to Paradise is the
key to their money-box."
We arrived at the counselor's house,
and / was shown into rich.y-furnished
room. The counselor brought me an
elegant case whose KEY was broken, and
babe me open it. He then told Cath
crime, my guide, that he had other
preparations to make, and bade her re-
main with the locksmith.
SIT will be hard for you,' said to
Catherine, ito leave these beautiful
rooms for some poor little home.
II have plenty of time in which to
make up my mind to it," she replied.
"But you do not yet know everything.
Living in a rich dwelling, one soon
learns that it matters little whether he is
served with golden spoon or brass
one. The essential thing is to live in
peace with good conscience.
At these words could no longer find
the keyhole, and Catherine began to
laugh at my lack of skill. At length,
however, opened the casket, and my
eyes were dazzled by its contents. Upon
blue velvet cushion glittered set of
diamonds.
Catherine stepped to the door and
called her master; but no sooner had he
glanced at the casket than he rudely
seized my hand, saying: "The brooch
with the large diamond in the centre is
gone!"
/ shook like poplar leaf, and was
about to throw myself on my knees,
when heard GATHERINGS voice.
"How can you think" said she,
81 was herel"
s.Be still! We will examine you tool"
He called to his wife, and then, turn
ing to me, said that he would search me,
while his wife did the same to Cathar-
inc.
And seeing this honest maiden out
ragged by such odious suspicious, yield
ed myself to his hands. ButI never can
tell what felt at that moment. / felt
no longer like man, or even slave,
but like some vile animal. An act of
cruel injustice had been committed
against me. Compared with this, the
offence of which / was really guilty
seemed but petty and childish thing.
My anger grew still greater when
another servant suggested that Catherine
might have hidden the diamonds in her
hair, and saw the poor girl as pale as
death with her braids all unbound.
OF course the counselor found nothing
on Catherine or me. I remember in that
parting said to the young girl: sBe
patient; l will make up to you all you
have suffered through me"
The affront | had suffered paralyzed
my conscience.
sought often to see Catharine, but
seldom successfully. She was afraid
that, if we were seen together, it would
cause fresh suspicion. One day, how
ever, she met me with joyful express
sion, aud said:
ssGod be thanked! We are rowc COM
pletely justified. My masters sister has
write him that she forgot to put the
brooch into the casket."
ssAnd is not the counselor going to
beg my paruons
.sHe wished me to do so," she replied,
"and asked me to do so for him." AT
the same time she begged ne to harbor
no resentment because of what had hap
pened to me.
.Yor may have committed some Sc
cret fault" said she. "Accept what you
have suffered as an affliction."
never had felt so happy before.
told Catharine that would yet be ricE
aud would give her beautiful carriage
harnessed to four horses, and she prom
ised to be faithful to me, should como
for her on foot. The thing had done
still seemed nothing in comparison with
the humiliation which had suffered.
Palm Sunday having come, ! decided,
at the instance of the Palatin, to draw
my money, in order to try my fortune j
the world and mako Catherine my wife
l wished the Palatin to accompany 70
to the bank, but he refused.
- H<>xrx