The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-06-30
s E L E C T E D
,lFrom Arthur's Home Gazettel
Judging from Appearances.
BY A LADY OF BALTIMORE.

From ArInur s home Udzettel
Judging from Appearances.
BYA LADY OF BALTIMORE.
al heard something, this morning
that surprised me very much," said
Mrs. Melville, one day, to her husband
whilst they were at dinner.
"Indeed! what is it 2"
"Charles Grafton is supposed to have
been stealing"
ooh! no, can't think that"
~ am afraid it is so; circumstances
are very strong against him.
"What has he been stealing 2"
"Why, it seems, about week ago,
Mrs. Rupert asked him to take letter
ITO the post office for her, which he did
very readily. The letter was for her
daughter, and contained a small amount
of money. Yesterday. she received an
answer, stating that the letter bore eyi-
dent marks of having been opened and
resealed, and that the money which
was stated to have been there, was
gone"
Cali that might have been, and he
have had no more to do with it than
you or l." said Mr.. Melville.
every true" replied his wife, "but
it is certain that whoever did it was a
new hand at the business, or else they
would not have sent the letter, stating
as il did that there was money enclos-
ed; they would have destroyed it-at
least, should think so."
Did Charles know it contained mon
eva"
ayes. Mrs. Rupert mentioned 1t to
her husband before him, and asked him
whether il Wonld be safe 10 send a
couple Of geld dollars in that way. She
intended them as presents 10 the chill
dren.
Did she seRd them q
"Oh yes; and then there were
some notes besides"
Its pity they were so imprRdent
as to speak Of it before him.p
$50 it is; but then who would have
thought that he would have been gailty
of such things I'm sure should
not"
"Nor either" responded her hus-
band, who seemed more than half in
cIined to agree with has wife that the
boy was actually guilty of the impnted
theft; and yet" he added, after a
pause. "he may be innocent for all
1hatn
~ should BE very glad if such MI ght
be the case" replied Mrs. Melville,
but Mrs. Rupert says, the morning at
ter she received her daughters letter,
she mentioned TO him. while he was
eating his breakfast, that some one had
opened the letter he took TO the post
Office, few nights ago, and had taken
the money out. He got quite confused,
and merely said, "Who told you, Mrs.
Rnpertw and when she replied that
she had received a letter from her
daughter, he said no more, but hastily
finished his breakfast, and left the
room"
"What a pity n calculated Mr.. Mel
willie; !" if he is addicted to such prac-
dices now, what will he be by the time
he becomes q manp
"Sure enough; and Mrs. Rupert says
that she recollects, now, that often
times when she has sent him for any,
thing, he has brought less change than
she thought he ought to; but still she
never said anything, thinking that, per-
haps, he might have had to pay more
than she expected. But she thinks,
now, it's very likely he kept it himself"
Well, really! Tam very sorry he
as turning out so. What does Rupert
intend doiugw
I don't know. | suppose he has
hardly made up has mind yet. 1t
wonldn't be hardly right to charge him
with the theft, as strong as circum-
stances are against him ; for, as you
say, notwithstanding all this evidence,
he may not be guilty and if net he
would, of course, feel very bad to know
that he was suspected of such thing.n
So he. would: but is there not just
as much harm in telling it among their
friends, and leading them to regard him
with suspicion Z"
/ do not know but what there is;
but yet ] do not suppose they speak of
It everywhere as freely as they do here.
Our two families have always seemed
50 much like one, you know. that speak
;ng OF it here hardly seems more than
speaking Of It at home. do not sup
pose they weuld tell it anywhere elsea
If the Ruperts did NOT, somebody else
did; for it was not long before it was
known, pretty generally, that Charles
Grafton, Mr.. Rupert's orphan appren-
sice boy, had been commissioned to
carry letter, containing money, to the
post office and that when said letter
was opened, afier having reached its