The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-12-27

OF disappointment ana feprOacn LnaS
did me more damage than a bullet
would "a done. Then she said:
"On mothers account prefer to tell
you that all the money there is In the
house is in box on the mantel in the
room at the head of the stairs. We
have no jewelry of any value, and all
the silver we own Is In the sideboard.
I've prepared a meal for you, for
confess ! was moved by your pitiful
story and appearance. The meal Is
IN the table for you. and you might
ss well eat it. III go mp and get the
money for yon."
The only reply made was to put my
hand in my pocket. take out the bills
and hand 'em TO her.
1--WE done this kind of job a great
many times" ! said, but this is the
first time I've wished hadn't"
Whether it was what ! said or the
way looked don't know. but that soft
heart O. bern thawed again, and she
actually seemed to want to make me
feel better about 1t.
"By sayln' that you're sorry" she
said, you have done all you can to
atone for your fault. That Is all any
of us can do when we sin against our
Heavenly Father. and forgive you as
/ hope to be forgiven myself. Now.
come into the dining room and eat
good dinner I've killed chicken for
you, and | have some cream potatoes
and hive made you cup Of coffee. l
can give you bread and butter and
honey for dessert"
l didn't realize it at the time. but 1t
was this treatment that In the end
lodged me In Jail. The best way to
thaw out a cold hearted person Is to
thaw yourself There's lots O GRIM
inals that are born wrong, and nobody
can't do nothin' with 'em. and they
can't do nothln' with themselves. But
those of us who have got spark o.
decency In us can't stand kindness any
more than other people. and unless
we've got some criminal blood In our
veins we've got TO be switched Off by
It on to the main track.
'If you'll sit down with me-" l said
to the gal, IN do 1t. Not that It's 1T
that should sit with you at table, but
i couldn't eat unless you did"
She sat down opposite the coffeepot
and poured me cup of coffee. Then
with her own hands she helped me to
the chicken, askin' me II liked white
or dark meat Then she landed some
of the cream potatoes on my plate,
and when ! gave her wistful look.
that meant I wished she'd try to eat
sometbin' herself, she took a bit o. the
chicken and some bread and butter and
eat 1t for my sake.
She didn't give me lecture when
left her; il was no more necessary
than giyin' me another dinner and
would have gone against me just as
much She just said: "Some day when
you are along this way again drop In.
The latchstring Is always out, and
there are more chickens In the roost"
didn't think could say anything at
fust. jest looked down at the floor.
but before | got out o hearin' turned
and said:
II don't know what my next line o.
workll be. but 1t won't be this one.
and it's all OWN to you
/ left her standin' In the front yard
| lookin after me, and ! kind o. thort
| her eyes were bit moist but the only
thing she said was God help you,''
and, turnin'. went into the house.
reckoned she went up TO her mother,
| bind .,f yttint NIL N w htIa
! hunted TIL ! got Job and after
I'd been to work awhile concluded to
make n visit to the gul who had con
verified me aud report progress. She
seemed glad to see me. but she said
that her mother had been so frightened
at my last appearance that II had made
her H. She said, too, that If I'd al
low her to git me up another dinner
I'd make her really happy saw that
she meant II. and. although | wasn't
hungry. let her do II. Id have eaten
sharks teeth to please her.
went to see her every now and then
after that On one of my visits
found her loolsin' unusually happy, and
she told me she was engaged to be
married tried TO look pleased and
sympathetic aud all that. hut 1t was
mighty hard
"Yon'll come TO my weddin'. won't
youY she asked. and, seem she meant
1t. promised TO go
would ruther have been burned at
the stake than TO so and see her mar
ried. couldn't help shown that I'D
be glad TO stay away. hut | didn't give
her the awful secret ! was carryin
about as to why didn't want to be
there, When the day came around
was on hand. sure enough. though II
Was no use tryin' TO look cheerful.
My goin brought on crisis that had
TO come, | suppose, sooner or later
The police were lookln' for me, and al
one OF my visits to the gal who'd got
the upper hand o. me some one I'd
previously robbed saw me comm out
o. the house and set the cops on TO me-
and they watched the place for me
Durin' the weddln' ceremony felt q
hand rest on my shoulder, and knew
what had happened. Without turnin
| y hoh ihACttApA Wv NCN
Sin and let me slide out quiet
He had the decency TO do ms asked
and | stood there lookln' at the bride
and groom bein tied together. II wa:
mighty hard, and II could "a got out
without bein' noticed I'd "A gone Mt once
with the cop. But the minute the par
son said man and wife" | took the
cop's arm-luckily he was In plaI
clothes-and walked out with him as
though he was a particular friend o
mine, didn't look back neither. fear
In to catch the brides eye.
I'm payin the penalty OF II all, ant
suppose IL II hadn't been for one nc
OF Kindness when | get out I'd so int,
the old business But the gal who die
1t. though She doesn't belong to me
stands In the way. For her sake. what
ever | do. hi have to he honest
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