The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-02-07

come towards it, how it happened, re
sponded Willetts. And I therefore per
mitted him to proceed, without farthei
serious check or queries, -t
}" There was beautiful girl came in
! to the store some months ago to make
some trifing purchases, and [ chanced
at the moment to be in the front of the
establishment, while one of the clerks
waited upon her / had never neen struck
with any woman's appearance before in
my life, and 1 should scarcely have no.
ticed her but for her peculiarly sweet
tone of voice which, once heard, you nor
could never forget: Barclay"
Z" Very likely" as -e
(" Well, shs went out, and saw moth.
ing more of her for a week; when she
again called at the store. I saw her then
and twice-thrice, Think afterwards
before spoke with her. The young
clerk had learned her name, and took
the liberty one day (at my suggestion)
to introduce me to her. / was greatly
pleased with her fine features and musi
cal voice, and became better acquain-
ted with the lady after time"
see love afLir, !" said 1.
Well, wait. I called on her at her
fathers residence, and at length after
years acquaintance, I proposed to
marry Cornelia Dutonte-that's her
name-and she accepted my offer, with
her fathers approval. She had no
mother, andthey boarded at very con-
venient and respectable house, near my
place of business. I~exchauged my
lodgings, took room at Mrs. Redlon's,
where they dwelt, and soon became in
timate with Mr.. Dutonte, of course,
who, at the proper time, and when 1
was ready, was to become my future
father-in-law."
Yes"
never knew, and never asked what
was Dutonte's occupation. l did not
know but he had an income that suppor-
ted the expences of himself and daugh-
ter. didn't know but he was in some
quiet profession or business that afford
ed him the means; and I am certain
Cornelia never knew anything whatever
about this except what her father volun-
teered to tell her, which was very little.
However, I cared as little as knew
about it. My own position was good
one, and knew that when 1 got ready
to marry his daughter. l should be
ready to support her. l never thought
anything about Datonte's business, un-
til, the day before yesterday, L was call
ed upon to witness scene that has near
ly destroyed my life, assure you SO
sudden and awful in its consequences
has it turned out !'
What is it, pray ?''
Well, went home from the store
as usual on Tuesday evening (it is now
Friday night,) and found Cornelia in
the deepest distress; and you can judge
of my CONSERVATION when she informed
me that forgery had just been discov-
cred in which I was implicated, and GER
tainGewels were missing which was sup
posed to be in possession Of"
"Where had you been?" I enquired.
GO l had been absent about, twenty
miles out of town, during the day, and
did not calculate, when left, to return
until the following morning. 1 finished
the business that called me of, however
at night, and Immediately took the cars
for home again. Search had been made
for me in the meantime, and those who
met Cornelia were injudicious enough
to hint their suspicious to her, in regard
to me, without once looking into my de-
tails The forgery was committed up
on the name of my emplorers, and the
jewels were missing from our store, you
perceive
% Well, what followed |? How were
yoas implicated ?'
A portion of the jewels had been
found. :"
Where ?"
In my room, where I boarded"
Are you the sole occupant of the |
apartment ?''
Yes; and when I went away, lock-
I'd it, and had the key in my pocket ''
And this forgery ? How is it?"
Curious; like the rest The check is
ours, and there are two miss |
ing from the back of the check-book.
Who has charge of this book ?"
{" No soul but,myself alone have
access to it, except when it is looked at
by my employers, in my presence, as I |
,y of the cash account. l therefore nev-
er trust it out of the safe save when in
use." Il
The jewels were found in your locked |
Up room in your absence, you say 2"
Yes"
"And you had the key OfitF"
fYes.'h sez 80 E4a
And when you returned home, and
earned what was transpiring, you run
away; and here you are, eh :"
Yes. No, mol not exactly that,
.hough I now see that this is bad fea-
.ure Of the business. I ought not to
rave left home moment. l see; it is
but really this mistake
never occurred to me until this mo-
nent. I wish I were safely back again.
Ned, very thoughtfully.-
: But then 1 could do nothing there
You see, Barclay, I'll tell you what [
hought," continued poor Willetts, hur-
iedly; and then he suddenly stopped
nd looking me strait in the eyes, said:
/" OF course, Barclay you don't for
noment harbor the thought that I am
.uilty of all this mischief"
swell, Ned, if I judge you by your
ntecedents, and my knowledge of your
xcellent moral character when knew
ou years ago, 1 say ma emphatically.-
sut to be candid with you, if you are
o be judged by the circumstances of
his case by itself L should say without
NV hesitation, that, as you have thus
.r represented yourself, it looks as
lough you were in dreadful tight
lace," I replied.
So 1 am, Barclay; SO am. But as
was about to say thought of you IN