Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-01-04
BREAKING A COMMANDMENT.

1t was Rev. Alfred PennyWiSe. and he
had just futtered from the chrysalis state
of theological student into the condition
of clergyman. He was a very good young
man, but perhaps he thought himself even
better than he was. In his secret heart
he was quite certain that there was no
temptation to which Rev. Alfred Penny
wise could succumb.
l candidly confess that you have an
other name than the one | choose to call
you by. If I said it is Rev. Alfred Pen
nywise / should describe quite another
man, but it was Rev. Alfred PennyWise
and it was q long time az And he was
slim young man, with I ore gold IN his
hair than in his pocket. and he was on
his way to spend the summer vacation at
the country place hallowed by the pres
ence of the object of his affection-MIss
Annie Snow.
By close economy he could spend four
weeks at Hopes Corners at the cheapest
little hotel there. and he might even in
dulge in the awful extravaganza OF mr.
ing boat wherein to row his lady love
I'D and down the river and into hooks and
crannies where the water lilies grew, and
might perhaps go with her to u church pic
mic and regale her with strawberries.
He loved his little Annie Snow very
much. and he thought her very good and
very beautiful indeed, but he could not
help indulging in a pleasant little bit of
vanity as ne thought about himself. He
certainly was a very good young man
very good indeed He was about as good
as young men are made-iust about.
He had plenty of room for himself and
his travelling bag The seat was on the
shady side Of the car. 1t was very pleas
ant But this is a world Of change. At
the very first station all this comfort van
ished. A crowd of people hurried in.
The seats We're crammed.
Mr.. PennyWise found it necessary to
hoist his bag into the receptacle over
his head. and to make room. per order
OF the conductor, for 4 large-boned, mid
dle-aged woman, with a fiat hand-basket
redOlent with onions (AIr. Pennywise hat
ed oni0ns) and 4 small child with a piece
of molasses taffy in its blessed little fin
gers.
Yes, and no sooner was this female
seated than she turned TO him and re-
marked in an injured tone:
I'D like that window closed. if you
please, for Jane Maria hasn't been we'll
OF the measles quite q week. and | should
think anybody would have more consider
alton
Mr.. Pennywise shut the window of
course. He had never had the measles
himself, and he looked about him for an
other seat, but there was none. The car
was damned.
The invalid Jane Maria jerked and
hdgeted and wiped her sticky fingers on
the new and precious coat of poor Mr.
PennyWlse, and the train turned a corner
and the glare Of the sun swept across his
face and into his eyes
lie began to think what wicked world
this was, and what a sorroWful one, too,
and how long it would be before he could
marry his little Annie Snow, and how he
might never marry her at all. He looked
at the candy-eating child and felt sure it
would grow up very wicked. There was
great deal of original sin in its face-a
great deal.
At last ''OgrehilP' is shouted.
Come along, Jane MaIia" screams the
woman who shares the seat with Mr.
Pennywise. Come along, do. Con-
ductor, | git out here
And away she hurries. dragging Jane
Maria with her. Mr.. Pennywise heaves
a luxurious sigh, throws up the window
and puts up his legs. They touch some
thing. He looks down. It is pocket
bool-a black leather pocketbook which
LES upon the cushion. In an instant,
without rejecting about the act. Mr.. Pen
nyWise has it in his hand
Whose is it," he asked himself.
Conscience answered:
1T belongs to the UNPLEASANT woman"
Sophistry interpOsed at once
1t may have been there when you sat
down"
so it may" said Mr. Pennywise.
And the woman might say it was
hers
''Such is the depravity of the human
heart, replied Mr.. Pennywise. ''Be-
sides"
Where was the woman? Gone. Of
course he must run after her and in
qulre. lie arose slowly.
ms amt your station" said the con-
ductor, and the cars flew on. The chance
was gone
M. Pennywise still held the pocket
DOCK: lie had not opened it. The fresh
ar blew across his face. baImy and sweet
ana pure. 1t swept away the demoraliz-
ing influence of bad ventilation. Con-
science awOke from her temporary suffo-
and said: -i-i1i'
You are a thief You might as we'll
nave stolen 4 pOcketbOok. You've hrol-
en- a commandment Can you ever show
your face in the pulpit again? I'm
ashamed of YOU
fure; he hid his face in his handkerchiaf
ana fairly groaned. Men have suffered
less remorse for murder than did Mr.
tehnyWIse during that dreadful period of
Iilne which lay between him and HOPES
Corners f'
At last there they were. Poor Mr.
PennyWise hurried out of the car, totally
forgetting his travelling bag and silk mn
breiia., He inquired of the nearest official
when he could get back to OgrehilI. and
was informed that no train but the g
O'Clock train ever stopped there. SO there
was nothing for it but to walk back: for
OF course, he must leave the pocketbook
at the station, where the poor woman
would come to look for it, and down the
track Mr.. Pennywise started, knowing
that the sun would sink below the horizon
long before he could regain Hopes Corn
ers, and knowing that his Annie's mann
ma expected him to tea at $50 O'Clock.
Mr.. PennyWise reached the station of
Ogrehill at last. His nose was scorched.
his boots were white with dust. He was
ready 70 drop with fatigue and his heart
ached with remorse. 1t was as much as
he could do to address the station mas
ter calmly and not grovel in the dust at
his feet and cry, Here is a thief"
However. he did command himself, and
explained that he had found the pocket
book III the cars and that he thought a
woman with a green shawl had dropped
It,
He walked a few yards away from the
station and then sat down under a tree.
And now he remembered that he had left
his travelling bag and umbrella in the
car. BY this time they Were-heayen