for she had always held herself up as the very
pink and pattern of female propriety, and besides, she often lectured me
severely upon the enormity of some of my juvenile offences, which came
to her knowledge.

Mr. Romaine continued to address me, thus:

"If you will solemnly promise to say nothing about having seen me in
this room, I will reward you handsomely."

I readily gave the required promise, whereupon my pious employer
presented me with a five-dollar bill, which I received with all the
nonchalance in the world. I then withdrew, and reached my own room
without encountering any more adventures. Sleep did not visit me that
night, for my thoughts were too busily engaged with the discoveries
which I had made; and besides, the blissful consciousness of being the
possessor of the princely sum of fifteen dollars, would have kept me
awake, independent of anything else.

A day or two after these occurrences, while looking over one of the
morning newspapers, I saw an advertisement signed by my uncle, in which
that worthy man offered a reward for my apprehension. The notice
contained a minute description of my personal appearance and the clothes
which I had on when I "ran away." Although my garments had been
entirely changed, I was fearful that some one might recognize my person,
and carry me back to my uncle's house, where I had every reason to
expect far worse treatment than I had ever received before. But Mr.
Romaine, to whom I showed the advertisement, told me not to be at all
alarmed, as he would protect me at any risk. This assurance made me feel
much easier. I was never molested in consequence of that advertisement.

After the night on which I had detected the intrigue of my employer and
his wife, I began to live emphatically "in clover," and accumulated
money tolerably fast. All the parties concerned treated me with the
utmost consideration and respect. Mr. Romaine suffered me to do pretty
much as I pleased in the printing office, and so I enjoyed a very
agreeable and leisurely time of it, doing as much Sunday printing on my
own account as I desired, and going to the theatre as often as I wished.
Mr. Anderson would occasionally slip a five dollar note into my hand, at
the same time enjoining me to "keep mum;" Mrs. Romaine, with her own
fair hands, made me a dozen superb shirts, supplied me with
handkerchiefs, stockings and fancy cravats innumerable, and so arranged
it that when I returned from the theatre at n