Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-02

y u
ber, if can not produce these papers, am
a ruined mani II would be worse than the
loss of money; that might replace these
can not. Tell me at once where they are"
'1ndeed, Mark, I 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 key2 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.
Srspicions are crowding upon his mind;
Limits 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. lie pauses
before his wife, and sternly demands what
errand had brought that brother Of hers to
his house. That brother of hers What a
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 a crimson face, she angrily denies
it, She did not mention Marks affairs dur
ing their short interview. Is it likely she
would do so ? Or if she did, would George,
poor foolish fellow that he is, steal up stairs
and rob his sisters homer Ridiculous i'm
possible
impossible" Mark rctorts "without he
possessed the key"
"It has not been out of my pocket" sobs
Fanny.
"Then where asks Mark, "are the miss
ing papers Z"
Their little servant-maid away for holi-
day-no one in the house, according to Fan
ny's own confession, but this young man.
Where are the papers?
Receiving for reply torrent of tears and
protestations, he Hings himself on the sofa,
and tries to steady his nerves to the cOnse-
quences Of this extraordinary loss. Mean
while Fanny goes and institutes an una
vailing search in every box, cupboard and
! drawer, where it could be possible to find
such q 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 how2 When? By whom?
! Getting frightened at Marks gloomy looks,
| she is delighted when tap at the door an
nouncea 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 Fanuys dismay, he
particularly dwels upon her brother 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 tamely
hear both his children accused of such a
crime, is more than his rather irascible tenn
per will endure, and he entertains a coun-
ter-accusatiOn that Mark has, for some un-
worthy end, removed the parcel 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 in his chamber. AfCer some hours the
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 an
uneasy slumber. Her father persuadcs her
to rest, too, but poor Fanny shakes her head,
and still sits by his side, leaning her head
on his shoulder, and feeling more forlorn
and miserable than it had ever been her lo'
to feel before. What will Mark do? And
what will become of her if he rsists in be-
lieving her guilty?
Equally bewildered, and almost as un-
happy as his daughter, Mr.. Roberts tries to
soothe her with promises, not only to seek
George and bring him to exculpate himself
but 10 forgive Marks hasty speeches, and
| assist him in Investigating this mysterious
| affair. So at last, Fanny begins to feel
more comforted and to wish her father to
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 given
place to morning, and Mr.. Roberts eyes
have closed invountarily.
A iootstep overhead startles them.
'It is only Mark" says Fanny, after O
moments listening. "Poor fellow, | wish
he had slcpt longer"
In the modern six-roomed house, every
sound is distinctly audible, and they heaI
him enter the chamber where stands thC
now shattered escritoTe. After a short
pause, he is heard slowly decending the
stairs, and his wife raises herself from hei
reclining position and smooths her dis
ordered hair.
AS he enters the room, Mr. Roberts lay
his hand on his daughters arm.
"Look, child, look!" he whispers; an(
Fanny sees with astonishment that her hus
band is fast asleep, and holds in one ham
the bundle of old letters.
Setting down his candle, Mark unlock
the front Of his large and well-flled bool
, case, and begins deliberately taking dow
, one by one, the handsomely bound volume
Of the History Of England which grace tn
[ highest shelf; then he draws out a numbj
5 of loose magazines, hidden there becau
Of their untidy appearance; lays the old lo'
| letters quite at the back of all, replaces h
: ! odd numbers, returns the volumes to the