New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06

she dreamed that night that MIS-. NeUp CdiiIV |"
her got on her knees and sought her to accept
the money and that Mr. Webb stood near BY ana
laughed The dream made strange impression
her; she couldn't ria herSe.i OF Il. ~, ~
wondered if she should have trouble In making
Mrs. Webb take the money back again Shc
PREPARED herself, half unconsciously, Tor a rug
gle with the invalid. She could lmaH-ne now
that nervous woman would argue and argue ana
make spasmOdic appeals for confirmation ana
support to Oswald, Oswald
But when she faced the situation she round II
was quite different from what she had antici,
pated Mrs Webb met her in the library ana
gave her greeting thar was quite as c'rulH' II
less ELUSIVE. than her previous greetlng mao pee'l
She seemed less nervous than she hnd appeared
before . 49,,
Mr. Webb is in the greenhouse" she said
Hell come in presently. I'm glad he isn't mere
because we can have a little talk together
There are lots Of things I want to say to you
She waited until Evelyn had adjusted herself
comfortably in one Of the big leather chairs ana
then she began:
II wasn't well when you came before; but
did want TO see you so much that had to come
down I'm awfuly obstinate, and when ! want
to do a thing, must do it, that's all. 80 ap-
peared at my very worst. On. you needn't deny
it, know did; was horrid. must nave said
a lot of horrid things but I'm only going 10
apologize for one, and that is what | said about
Mrs COhn Oswald was awfully shocked Wheh
| told him. I tell him everything. He thougnt
| ought 10 send You note, Dut knew II WOMB
be better TO wait and tell you yourself Bui' as
said | was just as sick as could be that Day
and | suppose | had to vent my spleen on some
one; so | vented IT on her I'm sure shes nice
good woman. but good people often nave very
bad effect on me- Now. there are my relatives
nearly all Of them have turned against me. JUST
because when I've been sick my tongues run
on and I've said things they won't forgive NY
two nieces are about the only ones That come
to see me. I'm poor lonely. broken-down Wo-
at thrty-iVe.
Evelyn and paused for moment Evelyn
prayed silently that Mr. Webb might come In
soon She dreaded hearing the invalds com
plants, and she relied on his ;act To- saw ner
from hearing them. In the midst OF her PRAYER
she heard a heavy step in the hail. and WeDb
his arms covered with flowers entered the room.
h Miss J@hnso Soa has bo ha pc c dc Won
do? l can't shake hands with you. you see
But when he had deposited the flowers In an
his hand and took hers In his firm grip You
are very kind to come and see two such solitary
people as we are" he Sid with smile
Oswald ] wish you had stayed away longer
exclaimed the invalid petuanty. Eve great
deal more to say to Miss Johnson.
But can't you say It before me? No secrets
so soon, I hope" he cried gayly.
We'll long as you're here you may stay
she conceded.
"A man is always in the way" he laughed
Some men are. dear But you're only in
the way sometimes"
That's one Of Mrs. webbs greatest COM
pliments." .
81 hadn't even mentioned the money order"
said Mrs. Webb.
"Ohr her husband exclaimed. coloring.
Il know Miss johnson thinks We're going 70
urge her TO keep 1t. Now you do think so. don't
YOU" III,
"Weil. I've thought about it great deal and
I've come to the conclusion that you're quite
right OF course, we're sorry; we think were
10 blame But we've tried to look at 1t from your
point OF view as we'll as our own. Besides. were
under obligations TO you that no money can ever
"Oh. no. no." cried Evelyn I'm sure you
"weiI we won't argue that point" said Mrs.
Webb decisively But we know. Don't We
Oswald? Don't we know
1--WE think We do"
Think we do, We know we do
Mrs Webb is very positive" said her husband
apollo getically. -.
cried unconscious Of the platitude.
Evelyn took the money order from her pocKe.
and gave It to Mrs. Webb The invalid looked
at 1t closely for moment. 1890
why" she cried in mystihed tone. TINS IS
sent from Boston. Did you send yours from
Boston, Oswad"'
Let me see it." he said taking it from his
vsfe's hand Eyes, this is from Boston. Mine
was sent from the Cohasset office"
Evelyn was utterly confused: Then 1--we
made mistake" she stammered the color com ON
, ing and going in her checks. i've Drought the
wrong received two
Two cried the invalid sinking back in her
chair, and looking at her in surprise
isn't that extraordinary. oswald; isn't that
the most extraordinary thing you ever heard OF
I'm your life?
q concession you hadn't received the other
when l saw you suppose" he said to Evelyn.
yes | had" she confessed. But didht
like 70 speak OF IT, felt ashamed.
"No wonder" said Mrs. Webb, sympatheicaNy
az is humatlng But"-her eyes frightened at
the thought-"why Of course, The person that
tool, the money must have sent this one. It's
a case Of conscience oh, it's wonderful how
manv cases there are. Think of all the people
that give up conscience money. Now. isn't that
curious? Isn't that curious. Oswald!
yes" he replied quietly.
'rm sure I'm sure. it's the person who stole
the money that sent this. OF course, your caro- ara
must have been in your pochetbOok, and he had
heard of you-if 1t was he But m con
WINGED now It must have been a woman That's
lust the way woman would act. Women are
always Welding to sudden temptations. and then
they suffer from their consciences Tor years after
ward oh. [ wish women didn't have any con,
sciences. ! should be ever so much h"Ppc' d"
didn't have one" ,u
said Webb, '1f we were all without consciehceS'
Then we'd never be sure OF our purses.
oh 1t would be ever so much nicer! she
cried, inconsequently. ,,,.
"A conscience" he added "is a very delicate
instrument 1t gets out of gear as easily as
finely constructed watch. 1t grows too sensitive,
too sluggish with the least provocation. wlsh
that could have conscience doctors me-
wouldn't be half so much Illness and misery III
the world then A., ,,,,o.
ONLY he thinks about conscience in general ana
think about one conscience in particular"
Sometimes ! think about my own, DEAR
he protested with a laugh:
But more often you think about otner peo-
pies believe everybody has right to look
out for his own AMI do as he pleases with IL
GO dn 7 dear But We ought 10 be taught
lust how 20 deal win our conscences. Some of
us don't know how
MIR Webb wastes a great deal OF time over
those suhtleties Miss Johnson. You mustn't let
him ensnare you. l think the best we can 90 IS
10 fight our own battles and let others nght
theirs"
"Ah. my dear that's selfish doctrine"
..I}ut we must BE- selfish in this world. we
were put here to develop ourselves
and l believe that the best way to develop
ourselves IS TO help others to develop them
selves" ,,.a
,orad doctrine mt into fine words"