St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-01-13

tiHS y anu Will LcdIS sic DcSOUSll
Helen to go for her once or twice S,
as to avert suspicion, and after a me
ment's hesitation, Helen promised t,
go. But she begged her sister to con
fcss all to her uncle and implorc Iii
forgiveness and assistance.
" When they know it, | will take m,
own life,' said Alice solcmnly, stand
ing up pale and firm before her sister
81 could not bear to live so humble,
and dishonored."
There was no sleep for Helen tha
night. The tale she had heard tn,
misery and danger 50 completely con
ccaled, but above all her own involy
mcnt in the affair, and the deception
1T must necessarily lead her into
troubled her more than she had antici
pated in the first hour of surprise. |
she had only not taken the oath she
did, and bound herself to such invio
liable secrecy, it would not have been
50 bad but now she was completely
involved in the affair. The next day
she went to the town under some pre-
tense of shopping, and found the house
and the woman without difficulty But
there was some mysterious reason
why the package could not go then
and by a previous request of Alice'S
she opened the letter and burnt it.
and changed the large bill it contained
for small ones. 1t seemed to hci
coming home that there was some
thing incomprchcnsible in all this
| crooked management, but she never
doubted Alcc's word, and was so full
of sympathy for her that the unplcas
ant Office she had accepted lost mucl
of its terror.
A fortnight after she went again
but there was the same objection as
before to sending the package of
The fact, as the woman said that she
also was watched by some one, and
dared not go to the next district post
Office where the letters were mailed
Again the letter was burnt as Il pre-
caution against detection, and the
money changed and brought back
This time Alice had provided a coarse
suit for Helen to wear, saying that il
a young lady of her appearance should
be seen going often to such house il
would excite suspicion. The clothes
had been changed at a little temple
down in the wood, and Helen's own
sccrctcd beneath the boxed up table
1t was to this place that she was has
tening when she saw Mr.. Wethercl
coming toward her, and dartcd in al
side door. The clothing she had sc
rratod :" hoe ""rd-oho. and bidder
the money with two more bills tina,
Alice handed her in the secret slide o1
her desk, ut Alice's request. So fright
encd and ashamed was she of the
cquivocal position in which her guar
dian had nearly found her, that she
declared to Alice that night, that
whatever else she did, she would not
again disguise herself or creep about
in the dark.
1t was not necessary, Alice said
She must find some prcteXt for driving
to town some twelve miles distant,
where she could put in the letter, and
all Helen need do for her in future
was to keep the most profound secrc-
cy. That she made Helen promise
again, and relieved to know that she
had now no more degrading Offices to
perform, Helen felt happier than she
had done for the last three weeks.
They had gone ut Alicc's suggestion
to the little temple for the clothes
which Helen had left there, which
they wore home beneath their own,
and came in just half an hour after
Mr.. Wethcrell had gone to his room.
One glance round her room told
Alice that her plan had been success
fully carried out, and springing into
Ilelen's chamber with face full of
CONSERVATION, she asked her if the
money was safe. Helen went to the
slide and found it open and empty,
and other evidences of thorough
search
"Oh my God! am discovered !"
cried Alice, family, falling on her
knees by her companion and wringing
her hands as if in silent despair. Hell.
en- stood pale and still, unable to un-
dcrstand the whole. If Alice had
been betrayed why search their rooms,
why search her desk ? A painful sus-
picon of where the money had come
from, though no doubt of Alice's sin,
cerity mingled with it, flashed across
her mind.
"Alice, whose money was it ?" she
asked in whisper.
+" 1t was not mine +! o, was dread
fully tempted" sobbcd Alice. 40,
Helen, if you have any love for me be
silent only for q little while. You
have sworn not to bctray me, they
will only think that there is some un
explained mystery if you refuse t.
speak
A rap at the door disturbed them
and as if 10y miracle, Alice was
quiet and sclf-possessed. She opened
the door.
Mr.. Wethercll wished to sec Miss
Helen in his room when she returned,
the maid said.
40, Alice, what an intrigue you
have drawn me into !" exclaimed
Helen, when the door was closed
"What shall do ?"
ado refuse to answer anything
That is all you can do,' said Alice
passionately. Haven't You prom
ised and sworn not to bctray me
How can you dare to speak after that
If you say one word, am discovered
and will not live one day after that
"Don't, Alice that is too horrible
You would not dare to do such thing.
See what have dared already =
exclaimed Alice. "Do you think
should stop now? Forgive me, Helen
l believe | am half crazy. There
child, never think of me. Go and dl
the best you cam
Helen went slowly out, and as sool
as she was out of sight Alice darteC
out of the room and across the hall t.
back staircase that led to a small
room back of the kitchens. This was
an inner Office, used in tempestuou