The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-09-27
CHAPTER SECOND.

MARY, como hore want to see you alone
one moment and Mrs. Atley entered her
dressing room, followed by her handsome look
ing little chambermaid.
Mary have lost my emerald bracelet she
said firmly, when she had seated herself. i
want to know ifyou remember seeing Itf
Mary turned pale; she was extremely timid,
aud the thought that she might be even suspcc-
ted, frightened her exceedingly.
When she answered her voice trembled.-
Indeed mann, don't think I've seen it at ali.
But, Mary, and tho tone grew s;erner, Lena
writes that the last time she saw it, it vas i'm
this room, on last Wednesday week That
night Ileftyou here alone. lam positive that
no one but yourself has since been in. i miss
cd it that very night-tel ne if you have ia
ken it-fnd t-returni it 10 mc-snd will for
give you.
'Ohl Mrs. Atley, indeed don't know any
thing about it, exclaimed the girl, beginning
10 wiring her hands with a look of terri 4
never was a thef-inoiher vii; tell YOU tnut.
She brought me up to the Sunday School and
good things. I'd sooner spill my heart blood
than iouchit. O! now indeed 1 remember
II seems al if Miss Lena had it, repeated the
girl, trembling so she could hardly stand up
right. II do think-I believe [ saw it ON her
arm; yes, am sure Miss Lena must have taken
it TO wear TO the party r
That is the coolest impudence have heard
yet" exclaimed Mrs. Alley, her lip qulvering
with passion Il might have forgiven you had
you been candid aud told the truth. But the
charges you make against my daughter-the
soul of candor itself-places you entirely out
Of the reach of my sympathy. am astonish-
ed! confounded at your duplcity, and really
no less than convinced by your manner. No
honest girl would blush and stammer and then
turn pale-or turn her guilt upon another. |
shall disms you If you don't restore the brace
let. heard you speak of it, / saw you look
at it that evening; but tho thought never en-
tered my mind that you would teal. If l do
not get the bracelet soon, very soon, shall
write to William Harmon, and do you think he
will marry you when he hears that you have
been suspected as theft You may take to-
morrow to restore to ne my property-you
know do as say" $40 sr
With a cheek as white as any corpse, and a
wild light in her glazed eyes, Mary tottered
from the room, felt her way along the entry
(for darkness seemed to have fallen upon her)
up the stairs, into her own little chamber
There falling bcadlong on the floor she laid
in silent bitter agony. Her spirit was almost
broken. Where now were all her happy
dreams: Dashod like a temple by some
strong wiHd-:heir ruins choked up her heart.
The long sunny road was darkencd. The lit
tie cottage with its honey suckle, its garden, its
fruit troes, struck by pitlcss lightoing. The
priest and the alter, the manly form of William,
with his honest dark eyes-shut from her guile
less thought by the cloud of doubt, of horrid
accusation Visions of officers, aud jails, and
witnesses, and disgrace. Aoated before her.
For long time she laid there; but at length
slowly rising, her brain beating with dull
heavy throb, she clasped her hands, and broke
into the, widest grief. .ss u la
q, III never 90 home-itll kill mo'her!-The
little children shall never think they had
thief for sister; and as for William--God
help me! We wero going to be married So soon
-and was so happy-bnt can't meet his
eye now--I cant prove anyihng--I was in the
dressing-rpom; did ask Miss Lena what did
the ure,ty tn ng cost, and when she said FIVE
hundred dollars. did say. "Oh how nico j.
would be 10 have oil that money" q, I'm ru-
ined-I'm ruined. Mother, did 1 leave homo
for this!' ~ -r.tI eer
Away, in the dark night, has that poor girl
gone-the burden of suspicion crushing her
life out On, on she hurries, she so fearful OF
the dark---sie who had nursed hundred idle
little superstilions of ghosts and iaires.--
Night with lis cloudy arms, welcome her now,
and covers her innocent shame Of even inani-
mate things by the wayside. f fat