The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-01-23

light of little lamp that hung from the
ceiling of her bedroom. Suddenly the lock
of her cabinet was turned, the opening OF
the treasure box within it was heard, and
the next minute there dropped on the
floor, with a metallic sound, package
containing gold coin, The old lady raised
herself up in her bed and her countenance
contracted with fear. She cried aloud for
aid
"Thieves Murder Help
She could cry no more. The thief, the
assassin, had bounced upon her, poniard in
hand, and forever stopped her voice. Then
he knelt on the floor and picked up the
money, bank notes and jewelry that had
rolled out of the old lady's treasure-box and
rushed out of the room. 1t was in vain,
however. The cries of his victim had been
heard and several policemen were on the
steps leading to the room wherein the foul
murder had been committed. They caught
the desperate man in his attempted flight
and. manacIing his hands, bore him away
to the prefecture.
In that moment Earnest uttered deep,
uuearthly yell. He leaped from his bed,
and as suddenly again fell senseless to the
floor
When he regained consciousness Mauricia
was sitting at the head of his bed, wiping
the perspiration from his face and bathing
his forehead with soothing, sweet-smell-
ing perfume 1t was midday, and solita-
ry ray of the pallid wintry sun breaking
through the dark clouds had entered the
humble room through the window Ear
nest raised himself in bed, and in amaze
ment looked at his wife, his children, the
windows, the walls and everything in fine
in the room.
"My poor Earnest" said his wife caress-
ingly to him, ''you have no delirium now;
you are better Is it not true? Look,
there is fire in the stove, and We have
lots of food for all of us
"Fire, stove, food p repeated Earnest,
not believing his senses.
eyes, yes" his happy wife exultingly
cried out, carried away with joy at the re-
turn of her dear husbands consciousness.
''There is more yet. For tomorrow you
will have work
"Work, +" he said after her like an echo.
Putting his hands to his head, after draw
ing them across his eyes as if to wipe away
the fam before them, he exclaimed:
ooh, my God, what is this What do
you mean, Maurieia ~
. Nothing is more simple, was her quick
response. "0ur rich neighbor-blessed
lady has taken compassion on US because
of your unhappy situation, and in addition
to having promised to give you work suit
able to you she made me present of SO
with which to satisfy our most pressing
needs and for the care of your shattered
health. Here it is, do you see it p
She had changed the bank note in order
to buy some urgently necessary things
early in the day, and showed her husband
handful of dollars
Gradually Earnest came to himself, and
as he began to realize the situation such
and so many thoughts trooped through and
chased each other in his mind that he was
almost Frustrated
"Was it only dream ?" he murmured
'Then it is not true that | have committed
a robbery, that my hands are stepped in
blood ?"
Several hours later the charitable lady
came to see the poor sick fellow. When
he heard that she was in the anteroom
waiting for admission, he jumped out Of
bed, dressed himself quickly and went out
to meet her. He threw himself at her
feet in the endurance of his joy, and tax
ing the delicate little hand of the lady in
his own that were hardened and caIlous
with toll, he exclaimed with deep graft
tude:
ooh, madame, you cannot understand
how great is my joy at the present moment
to see you, who have saved my beloved wife
and children from starvation, in my hum
bic home. God be blessed that the poor
are resigned to their lot and that the rich
are charitable"