Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-12-12


there was IN the pockefbOok be was
welcome 10 tho rest Of the contents.
The noHt day Mr.. Merfweather rang
the doOrbeil Of Miss Deane's home
ard sent up his card. She eamo down
to receive him becomingly dressed. and
as she entered the room he held out
the missing sample She received Il
with some surprise.
80 the man who stole my portamon-
male" she said. "uns be who q b.
side me In tho stntionr'
"Hs WA"
"And he was quite willing. I suppose.
to give up the sample on condition that
no might keep-ths other things"
Yea"
That was very nice Of him."
was therO anything else In the
pOrtomonnaio that you especially do
sirsf'
mo: there were only the money, a
few addresses ana the samples. The
addresses I know. ana the other sam
pies I don't care for"
The fellow seems quito willing b
return everything except the uaooay.
he seems 20 have admired you"
"And Jet he stole my poFtemonnaisf'
You are wrong In permitting him 30
- free; you are encouraging Vtce."
do you really think sol"
II do. indeed. / consider II my duty.
being eOgnizant of his criminal act %
Inform the police Of H."
"And would he have 10 80 to jaNF'
She raised her oy0a 20 MsEiWoathsRs
p~ftyingly. He would have med 20
take her In his arms and confess that
be was ehafing her. but that dune had
not Jet coma.
Eyes; be would have % 80 10 JAN,
ana that would surely mako . criminal
Of him for hfo."
Don't do T."
"HOw would n DO for him 70 cons to
you, confess bis crime, restore the
other articles and throw himself on
your nercy1 You could tell him how
wicked he had been and picture to him
his end II be continued In crime. Then
you could forgive him, and be might
hereafter live q blameless life"
II think that would do very nicely.
Il would be infinitely preferable to
sending him to jail"
Mr.. MenwOathOr left after q two
hours visit, promising to propose the
plan he had suggested 70 the thief and
ask II be would consent to make resh-
tuition and ask forgiveness. Aisa
Deane would be advised Of the result
A few days later Mr.. MSriweathsr
called and handed Mas DeanO the
money that had been lost with her
portemonnaie. saying that the heart Of
the thief was slowly sOftening and he
thought that n he could be taken IN
der her influence he might Jet make q
man Of himself. There was another
two hours chat. after which MI. MoK1-
weather departed. intimating that he
expected the next time he zane 10
bring the pepitant with him.
Nevertheless It required several
more calls. each lasting from two 70
three hours. before the gentleman a.
sured the lady that the criminal wAs
ready 70 confess his fault and AJAX fer
dvene1s.
Meanwhile. ~ may b supposed. 9th
e mSttSEs than thiH proposed refOEms-
ton engaged Nh. MeEtweathor and
Miss Dean0. In fact, evening aft
eF q visit that was prolonged TIL mid
night Mise Dsans consented that MT.
AsriwOathsr should go to her father 20
ask for her hand. The sutton, being
an estimabls gentleman and 4 good
catch, received the required consent.
and The couple became duly engaged
A short time after tho bstrothal Nj.
Meriweather announced to his aAneae
that the next evening the penitsnk thief
would call upon her 10 restore the ~
mAindar Of the stolen property listen
10 . lecture on his dishonesty and ~
eolvO her forgiveness. When the ap-
pointed time came round there wa .
ring At the dOOrbell, and a man n ~
ulster. wearing a heavy beard and
glasses, was admitted % the Dsans res
hsnco. Miss Daans came down. and
thB stranger IN aabrOken woke SID
Pardon me for q miserable sinner"
He bowed bis head and waited.
Il have been told that TINS h yOGr
Arse criminal act" said the girl. "and
1 Alncetey nOpe maN " VIZ pdONs
your last. You may have q sweet
heart. aud think how giad you Will
mOke her b. yOur FofoF1nation. You
are forgiven"
The man thsgw on hin uistsg. tore
away his beard and his giaasoa. and
her lover stood before her.
The confession" be saId, "eomes
after your forgiveness. You teft yOay
portemonnaio on the seat IN ths station
and ] picked Il Up. I did % for an en-
eus 10 make your acquaintance and
prolonged the deception 20 win yOu."
Mis- Dsans Stood thundsrstEuek aOs
q few momonta thea turned ana was
striking Indignantly out % the room
when the Deuitsnt caught her around
TIE waist ana hold hT dsgDits her
StluGsies 10 b. fsoo tni shO recovered
somsthing q her ealmnoaa
"Fou have forgiven msFs cEloa hA
bvsr. ~Kou can't % baek on it."
rut aha an - hack an n anA A va