The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-09
LOST!

I'M r0V YtPIN ION.
fnlIv faces the rough wind and drilling rain,
which numerically pplt and buffet him, rs
he vainiy halls omnibus after omnibus, to re-
CctYa the same answer. "Full." But Mark
makes no trouble OF these out, door inconveni-
enccs for hts minds eye is fixed on the we'll
covered tea table, bright fire. and, best of all,
the pretty young wife awaiting ms retnrn-
The picture Is so pleasant, that he cheeriiy
breaks forth into n line OF Home. street. home,
as ha turns the corner of the street., where
stands his own trim little domicile.
Mrs. Edwards is peering into the darkness
through the folds OF the muslin curtains, and
has The door open before Marks hand touches
the kuocker.
what a night for you, love - says the it,
tie matrou. brushing the rain drops from his
bushv whisSers. AID sing him compassion.
stely land how late yon are ~
Edwards looks up n the clock AZ. he strup.
giles out OF his dripping coat II am late In
deed,' he ans wers "but Mr.. Peadwell has
started on his trip to the Lakes this afternoon
and there were great many things 10 attend
II before he went. Aud look here. Fanny
this packet contains some valuable deeds and
securities. which Will be called for by the
owner In few days; in the mean lille, have
10 copy one OF them, but don I feel Inclined to
begin 10 night. Where can place them with
safety 2"
Fanny suggests his desk but that is the first
article "A burglar would be likely to NEEDLE
with. The wile's cheek plies at the idea OF
such visitor, and she considers. That old
do -
Mark sun hesitates 81 had so MANY in
functions 10 be careful, and not let them 20
ont OF my own possession, that am afraid
Of even that"
Fanny reminds him that there Is a secret
drawer in IL. Don't you remember" she
ask, what trouble We had 10 lind it?''
ia the very place. SO his wife carries
the candle for him, and the valuable packet is
deposited In this hidden receptacle. Its only
contents are Il few highly scented letters, tied
together with Il piece of ribbon, the which
Fanny, laughing and blushing, coniessps are
Id eff
marriage, carefully preserved to bear witness
against him when he becomes cold and eros,
perhaps 1t was restless night and unplea.
SAINT dreams which made the clerk SO uneasy-
even in tue next days work-knowing that he
hai hot visited the cscrtoire before leaving
home in the morning To ascertain with his
own eyes the safety OF the papers In his
Charge. He pooh pools the idea as it. presents
ltSei, remembering that one key is in his Wn
session, aud the other on his wife's house
keeping bunch hut IL returns so often that IL
is NItn l. feeling Of relief that he hears the
sigma! tor closing, and feels he is at iiborty to
return home.
iio" is it his welcome is not such a smiling
one as IT usually Isl Fanny's spirits seem
depressed, and her eyes look as If they had
been cl0aded with teaya
'HAve You had any visitors today her
tea.
The hesitating "No" is go family pro.
honhesd that the young man, hitherto pre-oc-
cnped with business, looks up
"Ihat NO sounded like .Yesp Who
has been here % "'
only my brother George" Fanny answers
Ia Il low voice and Marx frowning tnrna
away aud takes up II book.
"Hy brother George" is his 0rersfon and |
me torment and trouble of his wife's family; !
always IN difficulties, no sooner rescued from
one kcfhpe than rushing headlong into an |
other, sometimes invisible for months and |
suddenly reappearing to levy contributions on |
eny relatives able or willing 10 assist him - |
VI trk has seriously Contemplated forhidding
Ia dow. h,o,
ed, aud cherisbes such n kindly belief In the |
prodi2aIs ultimate reformation that her |
huso thd mas hot yet mustered sufficient firm |
ness 70 enforce his wishes, although he knows |
where his wIte's brooch went and whv she
wears tlat old velvet bonnet. Fanny seems |
10 guess "hat Is passing in his mind by her
coming so softly 10 his side and stroking his
hIr, and pressing her lips To his forehead.
tut neither OF them say anything, and Mark
ir.snreiy prepares for his task of copying-
w hlia M has gone mp stairs to fetch his ma
p"fs, ehe lights IN extra candle, and ensroncas |
herself IN corner with her work table regret
ing as she does so that her ''poor boy" must
ID" bored with this edlous writing when he
ought 10 oe resting. However, Mark soon |
comes down the sts3fs. three at a time To |
ASK, rather angrily, why she has moved his |
packet without mentioning il. With aston |
ishment in her looks, his wife denies having
done 50, aud hurries with him to the suare |
bedroom. asserting her belief that he has over |
looked the parcel Not "A thing il out of lite |
place. Inc old escritore stands exactly AS
they lett At, the lock had not been tam percd
with, nor was tha secret dra war oman and |
there. undisturbed lie the love letters bnt
thH mai brown paper parcel, tied with pink
tape, and scaled with the Office seal is gone
no husband, suspect ting he knows not
what looks almost sternly ut his WIFE, whose
ans "eTing glance is confused and full of ter
ror
Tell me the truth. Fanny. my dear Fanny
Ar" you playing a trick 10 tease me RemeIn-
Der, II / cannot produce these papers | am a |
ruined man ! 1t would be- worse than The loss
OF money that l might replace, these can
not Tell rue at once where they are
Indeed, Mark know no more about than |
than Won do yourself They must be here |
p"rhaps they have slipped behind the draw
err"
Although next to impossible, the chance is
not overlooked hammer and chisel are soon |
fetched, and the back Of the escritoire ia | |
knocked out, leaving no nook or GRANNY where |
tho smallest paper conid remain unpeIceived ,
Almost beside himself, Mark leads his wife !
down stairs, and commences questioning her
Where is her key On the ring; IL has NOT | q
been out oil her possession Has she been ont d
NO Isshe quite sure of that7 Quite besides
as she ven lures TO remind him, the locks have
not been forced, nor is aught else missing as 4
would nave been the case ii THE yes had en- tered
the house. Ia uncomfortable agitation the | :
bewiiderrd young man PAGES the room while |
Fanny, unable 10 proiler advice or assist him
WIN any reasonable conjecture, watches him
In tremb bling silence. |
suspicious are crowding upon his mind
hints gwen before his marriage about Fanny
Roberts brother, and regrets uttered, even in
Ea
Mr. Edwards should lower himself hv snch a y
are suddenly remembered and
i~tlt upoa. lie pauses before his wife and
-ternly demands what errAnd had brought | III
mat brother OF hers to his house. Tha, B
bro her OF hers! What speech All Fanny's 4
-ist"ry feelings are in arms, and yet her voice 8.
Itlter, FOR she is forced to own that II was the =
want OF money. "And you told him had | l
those papers In the house." Mark cries accus- | A.
ingly. With crimson face, she angrily de.
ntes IL. She did not mention Marks affairs
tor To IL 1 AZ
would do sol Or If she did, would George,
poor foolish fellow that he is steal up stairs
and rob his sisters homer RidicuIousl I'm.
possible
"lmpo:sbie," Mark retorts, without he
posse I'd the kew"
at has not been out of nv pockst sohs
Fanny.
Then where" nsks Mark, .are the miss.
ng papers'" Their little servant. maid awav
Tor holiday--no one IN the house. according |
10 fannS,s own confession, bat this young
nan. Where ara the papers
Receiving for reply torrent of tears and
he dlngs himself on the sofa
and tries 10 steady his nerves to the couse. -
luehces OF THIS extraordinary loss Mean. ,
" while ranny goes and institutes an upayail.
hg eeaieh Ia every box, and cupboard and
~ a"tr whereit conid be possible TO ftnd such
i'Nfcti, bihough IL would puzzle her 10 ex- O.
nitin how 1t could have withdrawn itself IN
'i"h lHe secret drawer 10 take refuge else. v,
v mere al last she returns to the par,or in | ~
aepSh. the packet must ha We been stolen = ~
,,ut no" When! by whomg Getting
'irh 80, sd ~ az marKs gloomy looks, she is de.
n|ou when Il tap at the dosr Announces a |
xisIlor and that visitor proves 10 be her IA
~" 20 MN the mysterious affairs cireum. |
I'httaiiy ae4iied and Mark points ONT the |
a. ~. loss oi his situation and good name
mi ot,f la.a K