The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-05-04

'St''A vi IAhuuo0S tI6I Oe W08 OoJ0I
ed, grasrng ayasisious, and capable Of dit
anything that nigh: answer his own ends--bl
ne knew not thrmall the eyds the trader bad
vew-ends which Will be easily understood b
slight conversation i'm tile store
"Lyman," said Mr. RanGh.l, after be had n
turned frhm Mr.. Willey's, .r've got yonn
Cunningham bard and Fast. The evidence
fclear, and it Bullard gets home tonight, +
have him bound over 10 trinl''
"But you don't really mean To- try wilton 70
theft do YOU" asked Lyman.
I Oi course do. Do you suppose q man shall
rob me with imPunity 70
"Bnt you might susn him of. father and keel
back his last quarters salary"
"fou d'n't know all, Lyman The young
ft!ow Inigk have been likely hadn't this thinl
turned up, to have proved dangerous rival te
W.
GLOW So fnfney J"
by setting up aas opposition store"
but he hasn't the capital"
''lle can raise it, though. That old Jones
that was here this morning has offered to lend
hun two thousand dollars, and others have offer
ed to advance him money ifhe will open ne W
STORE
THAT would be rather dangerous business
for you," remarked Lyman, in a thoughtful
mood.
sBnt he WON'T do it now," the old re-
turned with considerable satisfaction .-"1'hs
thing will shut him up
When Wilton reached his home be found his
mother sitting in the front room, and he at
once told her all that had passed She was hor.
ror struck, but not single Instant did she en-.
terrain question that she had it in her possess
sion for several weexs before it was thus paid
out.
The ccnversation between the mother and
child was long aud earnest, but they could find
no clue to the solving Of the difficulty. All
| looked dark and gloomy.
| Alter dinner, Wilton put on his hat and took
a few turns in the garden. He seemed TO
be struggling with strong desire, and more than
once be laid his hand upon the latch Of the gate i,
and then turned and went back again. At
length be placed his hand upon his brow, and
muttered few ineoherent sentences to him
self. When he looked up again he was pale
and sad, but appeared no longer undecided.
He opened the gate andpassed out into TIL stree,
| and turning to the left he walked away from
the village. AT distance of about half a mile,
he came TO small white farm house, where
lived Mr.. Drake, one Of the thrif,iest farmers Of
the town, and as he turned up the pink.bord-
cred walk that led to the door, he was met by q
happy, laughing beautiful girl who came run
ming out to meet him.
"Why, what is the matter, dear Wilton ,'
she exclaimed, as she noticed the palor that
overspreadhis features.
"Cume into the house and will tell you.
he exclaimed.
Alice Drake took the young man by the hand
and walked with him through the garden
When they reached the sitting room, Wilton
Cunningham closed the door, and told her all
that had transpired. His voice was irm Cor ke
had schooled himself TO the task.
''And now, lie continued as he finished his
story, 81 have thought that il would be better
for you to tell you this, than to have it come to
you from other lips. know not how it will
turn out, but fear that shall be unable to
prove Mr.. RandaIl's charge. In all probability
shall be called before 'Sgu re Bullard for ex-
animation, and The event cannot but cast foul
stain upon my reputation. 1t is a painful thing
to be situated thus, for others must suffer be-
sides myself; but you, dear Alice, would free
Wilton hesitated and wiped tear from his
eye, but he soon gained his self possession,
though his voice falered and he continued:
''You knew our relations, dear Alice, but if
this stain falls upon me, | must release you
from your vows. One SO pure as you should
not mite with man upon " hose name even a
suspicion of crime can fastenf itsef. II is like
taking my life itself thus to"
"Hold Wilton," uttered the fair girl, who
mad managed thus far to keep back her tears.
"Are you guilty of this t1ng?'
"lt is cruel to ask me that Alice"
81 ask it nevertheless"
GAS there is a God who hears me, not the
thought, even, Of such crime never entered
my mind. The person does not live who can
say with truth that ever wronged him or
her"
81 believe you," returned Alice, laying her
hand upon Wilton's shoulder and gazing affec-
tionately into his face. 81 know you, and
knowing you as do, l shall never forsake you.
When promi ed TO be yours tor life, did it
upon maturedelberation, nor did | mean that the
first time the cold breath of slander or suspicion
rests upon you, should throw you off.
''Noble, generous girl - murmured Wilton,
as he wound his arm about her, "this takes
away half the sting; but you must remember
well what you do"
81 know what would do, Wilton. All! if
| could forsake you in your trouble, how un-
worthy should be OF the sacred Office Of wife !.
But tell me, have yon no suspicions9 You say
for some time various small sums Of money
have been taken from. MIR Randalrs drawer.''
s'Yes, dearest! For over year there have
been frequently discrepancies betwe en- our cash
record and the amount in the drawer; but in
many cases. il has been the result Of Mr.. Ran
dalls own carelessnes in taking money during
the day for small purchases, without giving a
minute of it; but in some cases, know that The
money has been stolen
"And have you no suspicion Of who took it ?"
asked Alice, with much earnestness.
81 do not know who took it, and It would be
ungenerous to tell Of mere suspicious.
"Well, have my suspicious" said Alice.
81 was in the store after you went to supper
last "Wednesday evening, and waited some
time for you, but got tired, so came away
without seeing you"
"Well," uttered the young man, in almost
breathess anxiety, "did you see anything out
of the way: -
saw Mr.. Randall go away from the desk
where you write, and put some heavy pieces Of
silver into the money drawer, and when he
went out of the store, l went too, for cid not
like to remain after he had gone"
"That was probably the money he mark
ed, and it was after he had gone that the
money was taken, for when the drawer was
taken out of the safe, the next morning, he says
it was gone; and It was after that, too, that 1
padMr. Wiley.
For some time Alice Drake sat in deep
thought Her fingers ends were placed upon
her brow, and weighty ideas seemed resolving
in her mind. At length she raised her head,
and in a hopeful tone, she said:
"You may have many friends, Wilton, and
some who may help you in this emergency. l
will myself seek them. Ah there goes Squire
Bullard now. You had better return to your
own cottage. And, trust me, woman's wit
may be match for them all"
''But cannot consent to this, Alice that you
should"
"Let me have my own way this time" inter-
rupted Alice. "and assure you, you shall not
often find me so stubborn. The merest acci-
dent in the world may turn the current Of at
fairs"
"Well, be it as you like" returned Wilton,
rs he arose from his seat; thought will be
lucky accident that settles this in my favor, al
though God knows it would be most Just
one
Shortly afterwards young Cunningham kiss
ed Alice, and then turned his steps towards his
home He had been in the house but short
time before he saw Alice riding by in her faith
er's wagon. He had not yet dared 70 tell his
mother that he expected to be taken to law
yers office, and rather than be should be sent
! for, and with this view he told his mother mere
| ly that he was going to the store, and left the
house. Before he reached the store, however,
he met the deputy sheriff, who already held an
order for his arrest MIR. Randall having enter