The free press., 1895-01-31

thanked God, when L heard the news
that it was not [ who wept over his
grave the day they buried him.
"But [ am running away from my
point. Mr.. Richards preached to me
Sundays and called on me Thursdays,
and took tea with us over and over
again, and my heart never went pita-
pat once on his account I began to
respect him greatly, and to think he
spoke well in the pulpit, and to feel
sorry for him somehow, though ]
couldn't say why, but nothing more.
And Jack Falconer took me out to
ride, and Will Hunter rowed me
across the river, and young Jefferson
sent me bouquets; and all that was
enough to put q pale young fellow
with low voice and no idea of gal
lantry, and not bit of impudence in
him, out of any woman's head entire
ly.
"And to crown it all, there came
upon my birthday present of
watch and chain from my uncle in
New York, and an invitation to spend
the winter with his wife and himself.
A gay winter it would be, L knew.
81 had my new watch in the parlor,
showing it to Fanny Peel, that Thurs
day, when he rang the bell, and as 1
had my hair in papers 1 ran away.
Fanny took them out for me, and L
went down. She would not go in with
me. And l found Mr.. Richards, paler
and more fidgety than usual, waiting
for me. I could not help knowing
that he thought great deal of me by
this time, and of course. you know,
girl must like man little for that;
but thought 1 did not like him we'll
enough to let him say what L was
afraid he had come to say. Then, too,
the congregation was expecting him
to marry, and thought it was rather
that he liked me best than that he
loved desperately, as L wanted to be
loved. Cool affection may do for
some women; it never would do for
me-never.
$50 L misunderstood and changed
the subject, and all that. And off he
went at last, SO pale that L felt sorrier
than ever for him. And + went to my
room and had a cry, I don't know
why. And it was only that night that
L remembered my watch. had left
it on the table in the parlor, but it
was there no longer; in fact, it was
not in the house. We did not suspect
Hepsiba, who had lived with us twenty
years. There was no one in the house
to suspect. But the watch and chain
were valuable. The police force of
old men, and father sent for New York
detective to ferret ont the theft. He
came down at once, and felt sure of
success. l cried about my watch
good deal, and cried little more
about poor Mr. Richards, who had re-
ceived news that his mother was dan
gerously i'll, and had gone, probably,
to her death bed. But tears hurt no
one at nineteen, and L was enjoying
my tea very thoroughly when came
tap at the door, and MAY l come in?'
announced MIR. Sharp, the detective.
Success, he said, rubbing his
hands. "Your watch is found, miss.
The thief was off for -, with it
loose in his pocket. Number 1856, 694
Geneva, full jeweled; enameled in
blue, with diamonds; massive chain,
plate marked emma from her uncle.
All correct?'
81 was SO glad. 'Oh, thank you,' l
said. who is the man, sir?'
Z" "A regular one,. said the detec-
tive. Slim and genteel, disguised as
a clergyman. Says he's going to his
mothers death bed. Calls himself
Rev. Calvin Richards. Says he took
it in fit of abstraction. say, ma'am,
what's the matter?' for mother had
screamed, and 1 turned faint and
chung to papa.
"It's our pastor, said mamma. 1T
is mistake. He's picked it up. lie
does such things often. Went of
with a napkin once, from our table.
He has way of picking up things.
Where is hep
:" Its bad way said the detec-
tive, 'and he's in Jail, ma'am. If your
IL Il @ ~