The Washington times., 1895-06-02

trils, like the shadow that the smoke of
locomotive casts upon field of snow.
felt mean; i wanted to lynch my
self, for it seemed to me that had hunted
that grand creature with the piteous eyes,
to her death. Or course, that wasn't so.
had only done my duty, and she already
had a cold on her chest when she came into
Denim & Crepon's. But tthenervouss shock
Of course ! had a hand in that The
only way that / could let myself off easy
was to keep thinking that had only done
my duty. But ever such case comes into
the days work again / will pull out of my
job, and Denim & Crepon must ook out
for tougher man.
Well, Mrs. WilIett began to speak to
me. / could see that her mind went off
little now and then. But she ekuewwhatshe
was talking about At first her manner
was very polite, as If i were visitor that
she was entertaining. Later, she appeared
to talk because she must, and 1t was heart
breaking to hear her. should have broken
down more than on &C. only there was Sister
Perpetua, calm and almost smiling.
! don't know how they do it, those Sis
ters; they are full of pity and yet they never
seem to get ratified nor shed tear.
"I gave my word that would not evade
you,' Mrs. Willett said to me. This morn
ing, indeed, feared that should be forced
to break my promise. But one could not
blame dead woman for not keeping an
appointment, could one? And now / am
much better. Earlier, / could not speak.
II is very severe cold, the doctors say"
81 am glad that you are feeling better,
madame" said 1, awkwardly enough.
'Thank you. But the truth is, Will not
last. I shall escape the law here on earth.
But shall not escape the law in the next
world shall go straight to hell you knowl
Oh 81 all be so happy Jhere9'
Heaven, you mean, DEAR" Sister Per-
petua corrected her.
mo, no; am aware what l am saying.
Do not let me lose myself, sister, before /
shall have explained all. I want it to be
known that l have stolen, stolen, for eight
years. Ana now IGeed not steal any more.
They took away the lace handkerchief,
but they cannot take away from me my sin
and its everlasting punishment. They can
not touch that. And am glad"
II will tell you all about it. Edwin, that
was my son; my own dear. dear little boy.
All, bye-low, byelow, rock-a-bye baby'
1t was terrible to hear that poor
mother sing in her stifled, broken voice,
laying one arm in the other and rock
ing it as If il were young child. Then
she gave a little scream and came to
herself.
SISTER Perpetua, as you have mercy,
do not let me lose myself again before
l have told everything. What was l
saying? Yes, my son Edwin. He was
not bad. You must not believe that. 1
swear il. He was not bad. And he loved
his mother. He did not love his father. .
His father was hard on him. Mr.. Willett
would blame my boy for reading a novel on
Sunday, as If he had broken all the com
mandments. He that sins breaks the
whole law Edwin's father would say.
My son liked To do as others did. No
worse than the Others When ! could /
gave him money. sold some jewels. But
my husband missed them anu asked lor
them. They were not mine. Only to wear.
They were an investment. You know how
some women live like queens and have
not a dollar TO spend as they please. That
was the way with me. l have all Mr..
Wnlett's money now. But 1t is ten years
that have not my son. Now l am going
to find Edwin. Money win be of no use in
heil-it would melt, would il not?''
She was wandering again, poor soul.
Sister Perpetua gave her a spoonful OF
something from vial ] noticed that the
good sister began to looked scared, and
that made me feel a little lonesome.
Mrs. Wilett went on talking, all in one
note, dun and hollow, like the wood
pecker tapping, as you might say.
Edwin had debts. For horses, wines,
tailors' bills-I do not know what. Poor
boy; he could not pass through certain
streets for fear of the cruel men whom he
owed He was his fathers clerk. His
salary was no more than that OF the other
clerks He took $4,000 from the safe.
II speculation which he made had sue
ceeded he would have replaced the money.
But the market dropped And that money
was only borrowed-an advance on what
would some day be his own, you under
stand. His father found out about the
deficit in the safe and cursed him, and sent
Cor the police Edwin could have escaped,
but he stayed to kiss his mother goodbye.
hurried him out OF the house. The officers
called to him to stand still. He leaped down
the steps to run. They sprsDg at him; he
stumbled and fell. That killed my boy.
carried in nay own arms into the house.
They could not take him, dead, TO prison.
So had him all to myself for awhile His
father would not look at him. He told
ne that my son was in hell.
wished TO have my child buried quietly,
without persons coming to stare at him.
His father would .have all the relatives
oidden. The clergyman said at the funeral
that my son was in hell. Mr.. Willett told
him to say that; told him TO make Edwin
serve as a warning TO the young men OF his
kindred. / never went 10 church after
that day. No matter what the preacher
might say, I should always hear him de-
clare that my son is in hell.
"A year later MT. Willett had paralysis.
took care OF him faithfully. There
never was a word spoken betw us about
Edwin. When Mr.. Willett was dying he
said to me: Susanna, you have been
good wife TO me. i hope TO meet you
above / closed his eyes, and began to
plan how 10 avoid him in eternity. For
want tOlive forever with my boy. Heloved
me- His father did not love me. He could
not love anything but money and respect
ability. / trust that he has them where
he is OF course, he Is in heaven, for he
always did what he thought right. But for
virtue such as his there ought to be heaven
with hard golden pavements and no love.
He would enjoy that. AS for me-, VIII
20 with my son.
Now, listen; l thought that if my
Edwin must go to hell for stealing. that
would be the way for me, too. Other
wise, going by a different path, might
miss him. But it is difficult for wo-