XXVI. HIS PROMISE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2732, 18 July 1906, Page 81

XXVI. HIS PROMISE.

Bx Ai/exanderina.

(Specially 'written for Special Subject Week", 1906.) At an early- age I lost 'my father, and a» ' he left us with but little of the world's goods, it soon became necessary that I should find some employment. I was then 13 years' ofage, and, not very stout or stfbng, but yefc with a will to* do anything that could be found for me to do." At length nay mother made an arrangement with a carpenter- v by tha ~ name of Moiris, and I was taken into his shop as an apprentice. With Him 1 remained two "years, but at the end of that time 1 became so worn down by the hart! work* imposed upon- me that my 1 mother resolved I should remain there no longer. My. sister Liucy, who was two years older than myself, had long detected my failing strength, and it was mainly through, her efforts that I was removed from the place, for I shou)"! never have complained. But fortune favoured me. A Mr Johnr Gordon, who kept a dry goods store near by, was in want of a salesman, and through my sister's influence I obtained the place. Mr Gordon had a daughter Julia, just abouft . my age, who was very intimate with Lucy, and it was by her intercession with, her father that Lucy gained her point. I was duly installed into my place, and I was soon . happy and contented, for my employer was kind, and an intimacy sprang up between myself and Julia, which afforded me a purer bliss than I had ever before experienced. Thus matteis passed on for a year,* and afe the end of that time ray health was restored, and I so far gained upon the confidence of Mr Gordon that he now trusted me with most of his particular business. Only oni thing troubled me: I was not receiving sucla wages as I fancied my services entitled m» to. In fact, I was in debt. I had purchase*, a suit of clothes of a tailor in the neighbourhood, and was owing for them. The tailor wanted his money, and I promised him he should have it at a certain time; but tlut time came and passed, and I - could not pay - him. He. threatened, and I promised anew. ' Oh, how many times I wished I bad never bought those clothes, • and I resolved that never again would I buy anything which. I could not pay for upon the spot. But that did not help this case. One evening I ; sat alone in the store. It was a Saturday evening, and the day had been a busy one. ,We,, had sold a great quantity of goods, and the money drawer, was well filled. Slowly a demon arose before me, and began to advise me. He pointed to the money drawer and whispered, "There are the means of paying your debt?" I knew Mr Gordon had no knowledge of the amount of money there. I could take even 50dol and he would neve* miss it, for I had sold a great quantity of stuff which he had no account of. For a. while I sat and looked upon that drawer, and , all the while the tempter was persuading me. Then I thought how could I meet my creditor again without the money? I rose and went to the drawer. I opened it, and saw the bank notes, which had been fairly jammed in there. I counted out 20dol. My hands trembled, and my heart beat quickly. I thrust the notes into my pocket, and then hastened back to my seat, and not long afterwards my employer entered. "Well, Chtirles," , he said, "I think we'll shut up now." I rose and went out and put up the shutters, and when I came back I found Gordon engaged in counting up the money. As 7. approached him he eyed, me with a sharp, searching look, and I trembled like an aspen "What ails you?" he asked. "Nothing sir," I answered, trying to com* pose myself. "I sun only a little tired." "Well, you have worked hard to-day, and you may go; I'll attend to tha rest." I thankei him for his kindness, and getting my hat I left the store. I hurried on to tha tailor's, paid my bill, and for a moment mJS heart was lighter; but it was only f or C

Sing the eong of the five-starred cross. Hung low o'er Southern Soas; Then jtell. about our frightful loss. From coughs and colds and sneeze. Again, again let voices ring Id one great, grand braviire, To praise the magic healing king— Woods' Gbeat Pefperiiint Cues.

Fas a caddie in lus early days, and -when, Is the result of an injury bis leg had to - -fee amputated,, he made the best of » .baa job, and a very good best, too, as result* .

— Sunlight destroys the colour of fine furs, and an expert declares that a choice £100 sable skin kept in a window for a, ironth or two will be reduced in value to ,£SO.

moment. When I reached home I said I was sick, and retired at once. My mother came up to my bed, and wanted to mis me some medicine." She gave me a simple preparation, drew up tha clothes snugly about me, and having kissed me, she said : "Be careful, Charlie, for it would be painful indeed to have you sick. God keep and bless you. Good-night." Oh, how those words rang in my ears. What would my mother say ? How would she feel if she knew that her son was a -thief? The night passed away in sleeplessness, and when the morning came I arose and went out, and did Jot return until breakfast was ready. That forenoon I went with my sister to the meeting, ajid as I entered the little church I met the gaze of Mr Gordon. He watched me sharply, and I saw marks of pain upon his face. After service was over I saw him in conversation with the tailor, and noticed how earnestly they spoke ; and once I saw the tailor point his finger towards me. I felt sure then that a.ll waa discovered. "For mercy^s sake, Charlie, what is the matter?" cried Lucy, as she caught my arm."He's fain-ting! He's fainting!" I heard a low, tremulous voice say, and on turning I saw Julia Gordon. She was frightened, and at that moment came the conviction that she loved me. But that other thought came with it, and then I knew she would ere long despise me. Sick and faint I hurried away, and to all +he anxious inquiries of Lucy I only replied that I was not well. Oh, how miserable I felt, for I knew that my employer lia4 detected the theft. His gaze at me in oliurch wafe proof enough, but his conversa~ tion with- ihe tailor made it doubly sure. That aiternoon I dared not go to church, and my mother wcrried over me. If she had only left me alone» I might have been less miserable; but s=he clung clo3D to me, and I had to lie to her— the fir*t falsehood I ever spoke to that noble woman. Anothei night of restless agony, and then came the severest part of all. I must meet my employer. It was late when I descended to the kitchen, and I found my mother as pale and deathly as death itself. For the moment I forgot my own pain, and hastened to hei side. She gazed up into my face with such a look as I hope I may never see again. "Don't ask me any questions, Charlie," she said, "but go at once to the store; Mr Gordon wants you" immediately." I could not ask a question; I could not speak. Without breakfast, without seeing Lucy, I started for the house. People gazed at me sharply, and once I heard the word thief pronounced. "Oh! Mr Gordon has told the story of my crime. How could he?" Then I thought, why should I stay here, where shame, and shame only, could be mine? I turned to flee, but just then my sister came rushing after me with her hair floating in the morning air and her face pale as death. "Oh, Charlie," she uttered, "come with me at once, our mother is dying." My sister seized my hand r and by main force dragged me away. I reached my home, I know not how, for my reason had almost left me. Into the little bedroom Lucy dragged, me, and there lay my mother stark and cold. "Oh, Charlie, you have killed her," sobbed my Fister. "She could not bear your disgrace." One moment I gazed upon that cold, pale form, and then a wild, unearthly cry broke from my lips. I plunged madly forwsrd upon the bed. "Charles! Charles!" I started up. I felt a hea\y hand upon my shoulder, and again my name was called. "What is the- uia-tter? Come, rouse up. J?or mercy's ssike, what ajls you?" It was Mr Gordon who spoke. I was still pitting upon the &tool behind the counter, but my head had fallen forward upon a> pile of goods that lay heaped up before me. A cold, clammy sweat was- upon my brow, a pain in. my limbs, and I trembled like an aspen. "What ails you, Charlie?" Mr Gordon kindly a&ked. "My soul — such a dream!" I involuntaiiiy gasped. "Well, well, if it Is nothing worse than that I am glad; but, conic, I want to have a, few words of conversation with yen before you go." I was fully aroused now. I looked at the money drawer, though, many times befoie I could realise that I was safe. The tempter had come, but an angel had met and beaten him away. The doors and shutters were closed, and then my employer s,at down by my side. "Well. Charles," he commenced. "Julia has been telling mo ihnt you wholly supported ycur mothe r ." "Yes, sir," I answered. "My si&ter thus far has only been able to support herself, and the rest all conies on me." "But bow do you get along? Surely your salary here is not sufficient." "It has been sufficient to find us food and 1 hid. For- for clothing— l have "

"fiun in debt, eh?" 'Yes. =ir , b-il I will r.ever do it again. I nuke this promise, and, with Cod's help, I wU keep it " "Well, Charles, we will fix th.it now For a long tnna I hive been 'kinking of increasing your pay, so I a 111 do so now. Three iloD-irs a week for 13 weeks, that will be 39d01," he said. '"Will that square you i>P?" "Oh, yes, sir. and more. tco. I received the money, paid the tailor, and when I leached home I had become csdm and hapvy- I told my mother and Lucy of my good fortune, and they w«pt for joy. Yet I could not help shuddering whenever 1 thought of that terrible vision which came uprn me while the tempter was •with rrc. Fmt let me say it pgain -it was sm angel's vibit. Years have ra gse d since that lime Mr Gordon is an old man, my children are his grandchildren, and the store that was <;uce his is now half mine. Ho has tetired, and the other half of Ihe expensive business belongs to Lucy's husband. My mother still lives, and, thank God, can yet bless her son that he has never so far added one drop of sorrow to her life cup.