Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-30

the doorbelI OF Miss Deane's home
and sent up his card She came down
to receive him becomingiy dressed. and
as she entered the room he held out
the missing sample. She received 1t
with some surprise.
so the man who stole my portemon-
maize" she said, was he who sat be-
side me in the statiou:"
HE was"
And he was quite willing, l suppose.
to give up the sample ON condition that
he might keep the other things"
"YeS"
THAT was very nice of him."
Was there anything else in the
portemonnaie that you especially de-
sire?"
no; there were only the money. o
few addresses and the samples. The
addresses l know. and the other sam
pies don't care for"
The fellow seems quite willing TO
return everything except the money.
He seems to have admired yon'
And yet he stole my portemonnaie"'
You are wrong in permitting him to
go free; you are encouraging vice"
do You really think so:'
81 do indeed. | consider II my duty.
! being cognizant OF his criminal act. to
inform the police of it"
And would he have 10 go to iail?'
She raised her eyes to Meriweather's
pityingly. He would have liked to
take her in his arms and confess that
he was chatting her, hut that time had
not yet come.
Yes; he would hare to go TO jail.
and that would surely make criminal
of him for life"
Don't do it,
How would it do for him to come to
you, confess his crime. restore the
other articles and throw himself on
your mercy? You could tell him how
wicked he had been and picture to him
his end if he continued in crime. Then
you could forgive him. and he might
hereafter live blameless life."
81 think that would do very nicely.
1t would be infinitely preferable to
sending him to jail"
| Mr.. Meriweather left after a two
hours visit, promising to propose the
| plan he had suggested to the thief and
! ask IL he would consent to make resti-
/ tuition and ask forgiveness. Miss
Deane would be advised of the result.
| A few days later Mr.. Merlweather
| called and handed Miss Deane the
money that had been lost with her
portemonnaie. saying that the heart OF
the thief was slowly softening and he
| thought that IL he could be taken I'M
der her influence he might yet make
man of himself. There was another
two hours chat. after which Mr.. Meri-
weather departed. .intimating that he
expected the next time he came TO
bring the penitent with him.
Nevertheless 1t required several
more calls. each lasting from two to
three hours. before the gentleman as
sured the lady that the criminal was
ready to confess his fault and ask for
giveness.
Meanwhile, as may be supposed. 9th
err matters than this proposed reforIna-
ton engaged Mr.. Meriweather and
Miss Deane In fact, one evening aft
err visit that was prolonged till mid
night Miss Deane consented that Mr..
Meriweather should go to her father to
ask for her hand The sutton. being
an estimable gentleman and good
catch, received the required consent.
and the couple became duly engaged.
A short time after the betrothal Mr..
Meriweather announced to his fiancee
that the next evening the penitent thief
would call upon her TO restore the re-
mainder of the stolen property. listen
to lecture on his dishonesty and re-
celve her forgiveness. When the APP
pointed time came round there was a
ring at the doorbell, and a man In an
ulster, wearing a heavy beard and
glasses, was admitted TO the Deane res
idence Miss Deane came down. and
the stranger in broken voice said:
Pardon me for miserable sinner"
He bowed his head and waited.
81 have been told that this is your
first criminal act" said the girl, land
| sincerely hope that It will prove
your last. You may have sweet
heart, and think how glad you will
make her by your reformation. You
are forgiven"
The man threw OFF his ulster. tore
| away MS Dearu ana DIS glHsses, anu
her lover stood before her.
The confession" he said, comes
after your forgiveness. You left yout
portemonnaie on the seat In the station.
and picked 1t up. did so for an ex-
cuse to make your acquaintance and
prolonged the deception to win you"
Miss Deane stood thunderstruck for
a few moments. then turned and was
stridIng Indignantly out OF the room
when the penitent caught her around
the waist and held her despite her
struggles to be free till she recovered
something Of her calmness.
you have forgiven me" cried bar
lover. "You can't go back on IT,"
But she did go back on Il. and n was
two long days before she repeated the
forgiveness spoken to the supposed
thief. She does not even now. ten
years after the episode, refer to II
. | pleasantly.
I'll Oct. 80 in American