Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-06-20

hear both his children accused of such crime
is more than his irrascble temper will endure,
and he enters q counter accusation that Mark
has, for some unworthy end, removed the par
eel himself Words now become so hot and
bitter that Fanny's distress is increased, not
lessened by this championship, and she weeps
so bitterly and pleads SO earnestly with both
that Mark more touched than he would like
to confess, abruptly leaves them to shut him
self III his chamber. After some hours, the
sound OF his footsteps ceaSing the anxious
wife creeps softly up stairs and is relieved TO
find him lying on the bed in an uneasy slum.
ber- Her father persuades her rest too but
poor Fanny shakes her head on his shoulder
and feeling more forlorn and miserable than
it had ever been her lot to feel before What
will poor Mark do And what will become
OF her if he persists in believing her guilty?
Equally bewildered and almost as unhappy
as his daughter, Mr.. Roberts tries to soothe
her with promises, not only.to seek George,
and bring him to exculpale himself, but to for
give Marks hasty speeches, aud assist hm in
investigating this mysterious affair. SO, at
last, Fanny begins to fee! more Comforted,
and to wish her father to leave her but
her in such trouble, and they continue TO oc-
cupy the same position by the fire till night
has long given place to morning, and Mr..
Roberts eyes closed involuntarily.
A footstep overhead startleS them at Is
only Mark, says Fanny. after a moments lis
tening. Poor fellow, | wish he had slept
longer"
In the modern six roomed house every sound
is distinctly audible, and they heard him en-
ter the chamber where stands the shattered
escritore. After a short pause, he is heard
slowly decending the stairs, aud his wife raises
herself from her reclining position, aud
smoothes her disordered hair
AS he entered the room, Mr. Roberts lays
his hand on his daughters arm. Look,
child, look !" he whispers and Fanny sees
with astonishment that her husband is fast
asleep, and hodS in one hand the bundle Of old
love letters.
Setting down his candle, Mark uulocks the
front of his large aud well filled book case,
and begins deliberately taking down, one by
one, the handsomely bound volumes OF the
" History of England" which grace the high
est shelf then he draws out a number of the
loose magazines, hidden there because Of their
untidy appearance lays the Old lOve-letterS
quite at the back of all replaces the odd num-
bers returns the volumes to .heir shelf, care
fully putting them even locks the glass doors,
and is talking away, when Fauny, with q cry
which awakens him snaches the key from his
hand Rubbing his eyes, and wondering, he
sees her eager fingers dragging Hume and
Smolett from their proud position 10 assume
an iugIOriOus one on the hearth-rng and in
the fender ; the once treasured Belle Assem-
bIee" are scattered N all directions the high,
Iy priced love-letters receive similar usage and
then, from behind all the rest, Fanny trium-
phantIy takes out the small brown paper par
eel, tied with pink tape and sealed with the
Office seal Crying and laughing in one
breath the happy h!tIe wife is the next mo-
ment in her husbands arms, kissing and being
kissed ad HJl!um
Little explanation vas needed. The Young
mans brain, excited by extreme anxiety re.
garding his trust, had led to his cautiously
rising in the night, and unconsciouSly trans
terrIng the packet to what lie afterwards re-
membered as the first hiding place which had
presented itself to his MUD on bringing it
home the preceding evening.
How many times he asked forgiveness is
cot recorded ; but Fanny is a true women,
quick to resent, but easily appeased and
Mark has taken George and Georges affairs
IN hand so heartily, that the young scapegrace
is actually improving, and there is even some
hope OF Fauny'S belief in total reformation be-
ing realized.