The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-07-19
THE LOST DEEDS.

A parting glance around the office, to
assure himself all desks, closets and iron
safes are properly secured for the night,
and the solicitors confidential clerk locks
up and prepares for home. With coat
buttoned to the throat, and hat drawn
over his eyes, Mark Edwards turns his
steps towards home, and cheerfuly faces
the rough wind and drizzling rain, which
numerically pelt and buffet him, as he
vainly halls omnibus after omnibus to
receive the same answer" Full" But
Mark makes no trouble of these out Of.
door incOnvenienees, for his minds eye is
fixed on the yell-coyered tea-table, bright
fire, and, best Of all, the pretty young
wife awaiting his return. The picture is
so pleasant, that he cheerily breaks forth
in line Of Home, Sweet Home" as he
turns the corner Of the street where
stands bis c'rd tri1o Ittle domicile.
Mrs Edwards is reering into the dark
lrnvSs ,mungn 'tSN~ iJ,Ss G1;. ne s,asl;n S'1>-
.Jains, aud has the door open before Mark :
hand touches fhe. knockeT. .- .-
"What a night for yo6, love ?" says
the htle natrOn, brushing the rain-drops
from his buShv whiskers, and kissing him
compassionately; and how late you
are !"
Edwards looks up at the clock as he
struggles out of his dripping coat ~
am late, indeed" he answers; "but Mr..
Pleadwell has started on his trip to the
lakes this afternoon, and there were
great many things TO attend to before hc
went. And, look here, Fanny, this pack
ct contains some valuable deeds and secu-
rites, which will be called for by the
owner in few days; in the MEANWHILE
have to copy one of them, but don't feel
inclined TO begin tonight. Where can
place them with salety?"
Fanny Suggested, ms uesA, pn li,nl iss
the first article burglars would be likely
to mrddle with. The wife's cheek palcs
at the idea of such visitor. and she con-
sidcrs THAT old escritoire in the spare
bed room, will not that do?" she asks.
Mark still hesitatts. 81 had so many
injunctions to be careful, and not let them
60 out of my own possession, that am
afraid Of even that"
Fanny reminds him that there is Sc
cret drawer in il. Don't you remember
what trouble We had to fud ~ she
asks.
1.-The very place." he exclaims. So his
wife carries the candle for him, and the
valuable packet is deposited in the hidden
receptacle. Its only contents are few
highly scented letters, tied together with
piece of ribbon, the which Fanny, with
bushes confcsSeS are Mr.. Mark Edwards 5
love eitusions before marriage, carefully
preserved to bear witness against him
when he grows cold and cross.
Perhaps it was n restless night and un-
pleasant dreams that made the clerk so
uneasy-even in the hurry of the next
days work-knowng that he had not
visited the eScritOire before leaving home
in the morning to ascertain with his own
eyes the safety Of the papers placed in
his charge. lie pooh-poohs the idea as it
presents itself, remembering that one key
is in his own possession, and the other
one in his wife'S housekeeping bunch
but it'returns so often, that it is with
feeling Of relief that he hears the signal
for closing, and feels he is at liberty to
return home.
How is it his welcome is not such
smiling one as usually greets him? Fan
ny's spirits seem depressed. and her eyes
look as though they had been clouded
with tears.
Have you had any visitors to day ?"
her husband carclessly inquiries as he sips
his tea.
The hesitating "No" is so family pro-
nounced that the young man, hitherto
pveocc0pied with business, looks up.
THAT NO sounded like Yes!'-
Who has been here"
"Only my brother George" Fanny an
swers in low voice, and Mark, frowning,
turns away and takes up book,
" brother George" is his aversion,
and the torment and trouble of his wilc'S
family-always in difficulties, no sooner
rescued from one scrape than rushing
headong into another--sOmetimcs invisi-
bic for months, and suddenly reappearing
to levy contributions on any relative able
or willing to assist him. Mark has Scri-
ously contemplated forbidding his visits;
but then Fanny is so tender-hearted, and
cherishes such kindly belief in the prod
igalS ultimate reformation, that her hus-
band has not yet mustered sufficient firm
ness to enforce his wishes, although he
knows where his wife's brooch went. and
why she wears that old velvet bonnet
Fanny seems to guess what is passing in
his mind, by her coming so softly to his
side, and stroking his hair, and pressing
her lips to his forehead, but neither of
them say 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 ensconceS
herself in n corner with work table, re-
GREETING as she does so that her "poor
boy" must be bored with this odiOuS wri-
ting when he ought to be resting. How
ever, Mark soon comes down stairs, t6ree
steps at n time, to ask, rather angrily,
why she has moved his packct without
mentioning it.. With astOnishment in
her looks, his wife denies having done
SO, and hurrics with him to the Saare bed
room, asserting her belief that he has
overlooked the parcel. Not thing is out
of its place. The old escritoire stands
exactly as they left it, the lock had hot
been tampered with, nor was the secret
drawer open; and there, nndisturbcd, lie
the love letters; but the small brown pa.
per parcel, tied with pink tape, and sealed
with the office seal, is gone!
The husband, suspccting he knows not
what, looks almost sternly at his wife,
whose answering glance is confused and
full of terror
Tell me the truth, Fanny, my dear
Fanny. Are you playing a trick to tease
me? Remember, if | cannot produce
these papers, am ruined mani 1t
would be worse than the loss of money !;
that might replace. these | cannot. Tell
me at once where they are"
"Indeed, Mark, ] know no more about
them than you do yourself They must
be here--perhaps they have slipped be-
hind the drawer"
Although this is next to impossible, the
chance is not overlooked. Hammer and
u: r. =