The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-10-15
"Only my brother George" Fanny
answered, in low voice, and Mark,
frowning, turns and takes up book.

frowning. turns and takes up a book
my brother George" is his aversion
and the torment Of his wife's family
always in difficulties no sooner rescued
from one scrape than he rushes headlong
into another sometimes invisible for
months, and suddenly reappearing to levy
contributions on any relative able or
willing TO assist him. Mark had seriously
contemplated forbidding his visits; but
then Fanny is so tender hearted, and
cherishes such kindly belief in the
prodigal's ultimate reformation, that her
husband has not yet mustered sufficient
firmness to enforce his wishes, although
he knows where his wife's broach went,
and why she wears that old velvet bon
net Fanny seems TO guess what was
passing in his mind, by her coming so
softly to his side, and stroking his hair,
and pressing her lips 10 his forehead, but
neither Of them said anything, and Mark
leisurely prepares for his task Of copying
While he has gone up stairs to fetch his
papers, she lights an extra candle and
work table, regretlins, as she does. that
her "poor boy must be bored with this
odious writing when he ought to be rest
ing" However, Mark soon comes down
the stairs, three at time, to ask, rather
anyrilv, " Why she had removed his
packet without. mentioning ?" With
astonishment in her looks, his wife de-
MED having done SO, and hurries with
him to the spare bedroom, asserting her
belief that he had overlooked the parcel.
Not thing is out of its place. The old
escritoire stands exactly as they left il !;
the lock has not been tampered with, nor
the secret drawer open and there, un-
disturbed lie the love letters but the
small brown paper parcel, tied with pink
tape, and sealed with the office seal, is
gone.
The husband, suspecling, he knows
not what, looks almost sternly al his wife
whose answering glance is confu eI and
full Of terror
Tell me the truth, Fanny, my dear
Fanny. Are You playing a trick 10 tease
me ? Remember, that if cannot pro.
duce the papers, am ruined man Ii
would be worse than the loss of money
Mot | might replace-these l cannot
Tell me at once where they are
.'lnleed, Mark, know no more about
the than YOU do yourself. They must
be here ; perhaps they have slipped be-
hind the drawer"
Although next 10 impossible, the
chance is not overlooked. Hammer aud
chisel are soon fetched, and the back OF
the escritoire is soon knocked out, leav
ing no nook or corner where the smallest
paper could remained unperceived.
Almost beside himself, Mark leads his
wife down stairs, and commences ques.
lioning her. Where is her key? On
the ring it has not been out of her pos
session. Had she been out No. Is
she quite sure Of that? Quite be-
sides, AS she ventures TO remind him, the
locks have not been forced, nor has aurh,
else been missing, as would have been
the case if thieves had entered the house
In uncomfortable agitation, the bewillerel
young man PAGES the room, while Fanny,
unable 10 protier 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 re.
grets uttered, even within his hearing,
that respectable young man like Mr..
Edwards, should lower himself by such
a connection, are suddenly remembered
and dwelt upon. He pauses before his
wife, aud sternly demands what errand
had brought that brother of hers to his
house. That brother of hers. VIVA, "A
speech! All Fanny's sisterly feelings
are in arms. and yet she falters, for she
is forced 10 own that it was the want OF
money.
land yoS told him that had those
papers in the house." Mark cries. accu.
singly.
With crimson face, she angrily denies
it. She did not mention Marks affairs.
durin. their short Interview. Is II likely
she would do so ? Or il she did. would
George, poor, foolish fellow, that he is,
steal up stairs and rob his sisters home
Ridiculous Impossible
Impossible" Mark retorts. a unless
he possessed the key"
" II has not been out of my pocket"
sobs Fanny.