The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-23

their store few rods away, but she
hesitated to call upon them. To
brand Sam Lee as a thief would be
to lose him. Was she, who had
wished to go as missionary to for
eign lands, unable to reclaim one
heather? 81 will go alone, and beg
him to return the quilt" she resolved.
II will show him his wickedness,
and tell him of Gods forgiveness"
But Miss Cyrilla fingered, fortify-
ing herself; this strange Oriental be-
ing was SO incomprehensible, and it
was difficult to make him understand
the simplest forms of speech; how
should any lofty sentiment appeal to
hims Perhaps an officer of the law
would be more effectual.
Yet. after all, Miss Cyrilla's heart
prevailed. She was an old fashioned
woman of simple faith, and she be-
lieved it to be providential that the
Chinaman was her neighbor.
The three church bells of North Jer-
icho we're ringing nine o'clock when
she protected herself with waterproof
and rubbers against the tempestuous
weather and hurried to the China
mans front door.
Sam Lee opened it to her with I'M
wonted hesitation. He stood before
her firmly when she would have adj
vanced into the narrow entryway.
"Oh, won't you let me have it? 1
can't think you meant to be so wicked
as to steal!' cried Miss Cyrilla, i'm
petuously, forgetting all the little set
speeches that she had prepared.
mo stealee. You no thinkee?
Chinaman no thinkee stealeer' he
said, earnestly.
Perhaps you only took it for a
pattern" suggested Miss Cyrilla,
hopefully.
Sam Lee shook his head, and stood
stolid and immovable before her.
81 shall have to send an officer here
if you don't give it to me-" said Miss
Cyrilla, sternly. "People are not al
lowed to steal in this country"
"Boy- smallee, sickee, lonee. Send
officer, no lettee in. Chinaman
fightee," said Sam Lee, serenely.
What did the man mean?
eff you are sick and alone" falt-
cred Miss Cyrilla. And then she re-
covered herself with stern resolution.
These were the tricks of the "heathen
Chinee." of which she had read.
81 am going in search of an officer"
she said. as she turned towards the
door.
A boys voice, broken by sob,
came from the inner room.
"Oh, you wouldn't do that yourself,
Aunt Cyrilla" A boy rushed to her
arms; tall boy he seemed to her
little JEFF had been away more than
a year. II didn't even know that
they suspected me of being with those
boys who broke into the store, until
Joe Bingler told me at the station.
Then I wouldn't go home to dis
grace you. But l wanted just to
look in at the window and see you.
And then | had cough, and 1
was cold and wet, and old Mr..
Lemuel Treat was always kind.
thought l would ask him to let me
stay all night. He"-the boy nodded
towards the stolid Chinese figure
twas even kinder. He knew that I
didn't steal as soon as | told him
Aunt Cyrilla, you wouldn't get an
officer for me?"
Miss Cyrilla Rugged him close
the boy who had run away to sea
because she was too particular
and she took the Chinaman's yellow,
skinny hand in hers. There is some
strange mistake; cannot under.
stand" she murmured; "but I shall
never forget that you were good to
him."
She wrapped the boy in her own
waterproof and half carried him
home; she stopped his penitent lips
with kisses-he showed that he had
suffered 80 much.
She quite forgot Sam Lee, and yet
in the background of her mind there
lurked the consciousness of painful
duty to be done. People must not
be allowed to steal.
Sunday morning dawned clear and
bright. 1t had not been the equinoc.
tial storm, after all. Uncle Jerry
Bemis and his wife, who lived five
miles out on the back road" stopped
on their way to church; Uncle Jerry
lifted large covered basket from
the carriage, and from the basket
there came to Miss Cyrilla's ears
sweetly familiar "meow."
81 expect you've been some anx-
ious about your cat" called Aunt
| Ramis 81 told Joa Madhuru 70 oopoa