Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-01


Der, if l can not produce these papers, l am
n ruined mani II would be worse than the
loss of money; that might replace--these
can not Tell me at once where they are"
tIndeed, Mark, l know no more about
them than you do yourself. They must be
here; perhaps they have slipped behind the
drawer"
Although next to impossible, the chance
is not overlooked hammer and chisel are
fetched and the back Of the eScritoire is
knocked out, leaving no nook or Granny
where the smallest paper could remain un-
perceived.
Almost beside himself Mark leads his
wife down stairs and commences question
ing her. Where is her key? On the ring;
it has not been out of her possession. Has
she been out2 No. Is she quite sure Of
that2 Quite besides, as she ventures to
remind him, the locks have not been forced,
nor is aught else missing, as would have
been the case if thieves had entered the
house. In uncomfortable agitation, the be-
wildered young man PAGES the room, while
she, unable to proffer advice, or assist him
with any reasonable conjecture, watches
him in trembling silence.
Suspicious are crowding upon his mind;
hints given before his marriage about Fanny
Roberts brother, and regrets uttered, even
in his hearing, that respectable young
man like Mr.. Edwards should lower him
self by such q connection, are suddenly re-
membered and dwelled upon. He pauses
before his wife, and sternly demands what
errand had brought that brother of hers to
his house. That brother of hers What
speech! All Fanny's sisterly feelings are
| in arms, and yet her voice falters, for she
| is forced to own that it was the want of
money.
"And you told him had those papers in
the house." Mark cries, accusingly.
With o crimson face, she angrily denies
! it. She did not mention Marks affairs dur
ing their short interview. Is it likely she
would do so2 Or if she did, would George,
poor foolish fellow that he is, steal up stairs
| and rob his sister homer Ridiculous i'm
possible
"Impossible," Mark retorts, "without he
possessed the key"
at has not been out of my pocket" sobs
Fanny.
"Then where asks Mark, "are the miss
ing papersT
| Their little servant-maid away for holi-
| day-no one in the house, according to Fam
| ny's own confession, but this young man.
Where are the papers?
Receiving for reply torrent of tears and
! protestations, he filings himself on the sofa,
and tries to steady his nerves to the conse-
ouences of this extraordinary loss. Mean
while, Fanny goes and institutes On una
vailiDg search in every box, cupboard and
drawer, where it could be possible TO find
such parcel, although it would puzzle her
to explain how it could have withdrawn it
self from the secret drawer, to take refuge
elsewhere. At last, she returns to the par
lor in despair. The package must have
been stolen. But how? When2 By whom
Getting frightened at Marks gloomy looks
she is delighted when tap at the door an.
nouncea a visitor, and that visitor proves
tn be her father.
To him the mysterious affair is circum-
stantially detailed, and Mark points out
the inevitable loss of his situation and good
name, if he should be unable to produce the
papers, or give any clue which might lead
to their recovery To Fanny's dismay, he
particularly dwells upon her brothers visit
and her half made endeavor to conceal it
concluding, by an entreaty, that she will,
if retaining any affection for her husband
tell all she knows.
But now the father interposes To tamelJ
hear both his children accused of such Q
crime is more than his rather irascible tenn
per will endure, and he entertains coun
ter-accusation that Mark has, for some un
worthy end, removed the parcel himself
Words now become so hot and bitter, tina
Fanny's distress is increased, not lessened
by this championship, and she weeps 81
bitterly, and pleads so earnestly with both
that Mark, more touched than he would like
to confess, abruptly leaves them to shut him
self in his chamber After some hours, TIN
sound of his footsteps eeasing, the anxious
wife creeps softly up the stairs, and is re
lieved to find him lying on the bed in al
uneasy slumber. Her father persuGdes he
to rest, too, but poor Fanny shakes her head
and still sits by his side, leaning her heat
on his shoulder, and feeling more forlorr
and miserable than it had ever been her 10
to feel before. What will Mark do? An(
what will become of her i'll persists in be
lieying her guilty?
Equally bewildered, and almost as un.
happy as his daughter, Mr.. Roberts tries tc
soothe her with promises, not only to seek
George, and bring him to exculpate himself
but to forgive Marks hasty speeches. and
assist him in investigating this mysteriou;
affair. So at last, Fanny begins to fee
more comforted and to wish her father t
leave her; but, tired as he confessess him
self, he can not quit her in such trouble
and they continue to occupy the same po
, sition by the fire till night has long givel
place to morning, and Mr.. Roberts eye
have closed involuntarily.
A footstep overhead startles them.
"lt is only Mark" says Fanny, after
moments listening "PoOr fellow, l wisl
he had silent longer"
In the modern six-roomed house, ever
sound is distinctly audible and they hea
him enter the chamber where stands tn
, now shattered escritoHe. After shor
pause, he is heard slowly decending tn
stairs, and his wife raises herself from he
reclining position and smooths her dis
> ordered hair.
! As he enters the room, Mr.. Roberts lay
his hand on his daughters arm.
"LoOk, child, lookW he whispers; an
= | Fanny sees with astonishmentthat her hui
band is fast asleep, and holds in one har
/, the bundle of old letters.
o Setting down his candle, Mark unloc1
l. the front of his large and well-filled boo
y case, and begins deliberately taking dow
a one by one, the handsomely bound volum
= of the History Of England, which grace t
1t highest shelf then he draws out a numb
S of loose magazines, hidden there becau
s of their untidy appearance; lays the old lo
d letters quite at the back of all, replaces