The Placer herald., 1862-09-06
The Lost Deeds.

sure himself all desks closets and iron safes
are properly secured for the right, and the
solicitors confid ntial 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 cheerfully faces the rough wind aud
drlzzling rain, which numerically peIt and
buffet him, IS he halls omnibus after omn,
bus to receive the same answer-"Full." ="
But Mark made no trouble Of these out of
door inconvenances, for his minds eye is
fixed on the we'll covered tea table. bright
fire, and best Of all, the pretty young wife
awaiting his return. The picture is SO pleas
ant, that he cheeriIv breaks ford, in s line
of "IEome, Sweet IIo,ne," as he turns the
corner of the street where stands his own
trim little domicil.
Mrs Edwards is peerino into the darkness
through the folds Of the uauSiIn curtain, and
has the door open before Marks hand touch.
es the knocker.
"What a night for you love?" says the lii.
lie matr"n, brushing the rain drops from his
bushy wh>kerS, and kissing him compassion
alelv: show late Won are.'
Edwards looks up at the clock as ne strug
S'0H '"t w "'N vi u P''H '""'' "h '6'e '"'
Deed" he answers, but Mir. Plendwell
has started on his trip 10 the lakes this even
ing. and there were a great many things To
attend TO before lie went. And lock here
Fanny, this psrket contains some valuable
deeds and securities, which will be called for
in a few days; in the meanwhile, have to
copy one of them, hnt don't feel inclined to
begin tonight. Where can | place them
with safttyl"
Fanny suggested his desk but that is the
| first article burglars would be likely to med
die with. The wife's cheek paes at the idea
OF such visitor, and she considers. "lhat
old escritore in the spare bed room, will
not hat do!' she asks.
Mark still hesitates. 81 had so many in
functions to be careful, and not let them 90
out OF my possession, that | am afraid Of
even that "
Fanny reminds him that there is secret
drawer in it. "Don't You rem mamber what
trouble we had to find i!" she asks.
The very pIace!' he excams So his
wife carries the candle for him, and the valu
able packet is hidden in the secret recepta.
Gle. It's only contents are few highly
scented letters, tied together with piece
of ribbon, in which Fanny. with bushes con
f sses are Mr.. Mark Elward's love illusions
before marriage carefully preserved to bear
witness against him when he grows cold and
cross.
Perhaps it was a restless night and un-
pleasant dreams that made the clerk so nn,
easy-even in the hurry Of the next days
wolk--knowiny that he had not visited the
escrItore before leaving home in the morn
ing TO ascertain with bis own eyes the safety
OF the papers placed in kis charge. He
pooh-poohs the idea AS it presents itself, re-
membeling that one key is in bis own pos
session, and the other one in his wife's house
keeping bunch; but it returns so often, that
it is with a feeling of relief tha, he hears
the sigual for closing and felt he is at lib
erty to return home
| How is it his welcome is not such smil
ing one as usually greels him! Fanny's
spirits seem depressed, and her eyes look as
though they haI been couded with tears.
"l1ave you had any visitors to'day?" her
husband carelessly inquired as he sips bis
tea.
The hesitating "No" is so family pro
nonnced that the young man, hitherto pre-
occupied with business, looks up.
That NO sounded 'Yes.'- Who has
been here."
"Ony my brother George" Fanny an,
swers in a low voice, and Mark, frowning,
turns away and lakes up book.
"My brother George" is his aversion, and
the torment and trouble of his wife's family
always in difficulties, no sooner rescued
from one scrape, than rushing headlong into
another-sonetlmes invisible for months,
and suddenly re-appearing to levy contrihu
tlons on any relative able or willing to assist
him-Mark has seriously contemplated for
bidding his visits; but then Fanav is SO TEN
der hearted. and cheri>he= such a kindly
be ief in the prodga s ultimate reformation
that her husband has not Vet muster-d suffi'
clent tirnless TO enforce his wishes, although
he knows where his wife's brooch went, and
win. she wears that old velvet bonnet. Fan
ny seems to guess what is passing in his
mud, by her coming so softly to bis side,
and striking his hair, and pressing her lips
to his forehead, but neither of them say
anything, and Mark IeisureIy prepares for his
task Of copying While he has gone up
stairs to te'ch his papers, she lights an extra
candle, and ensconses herself IN a corner,
with II work table. reyrelling as she does 50
that her ''poor boy" must be bored with
this odi'us writing when he ought to he
resting. However, Mark soon comes down
stairs, three steps at Time, to ask rather
angrIv, why she has moved his packet
without mentioning it. With astonishmeni
in her looks, his wife denies having done So,
and hurries with him to the spare bed room
asserting her belief that he has overlooked
the parcel. Not thing is out of it's place
The old escritore stands exactly as they left
it, the lock has not been lanpered with, nor
was the secret drawer open; and there undis.
turbed, lie the 10 letters; but the small
brown paper parcel, tied with pink tape, and
sealed with the office seal, is gone.
The husband, suspecting he knows not
what, looks almost slerniy at his wife, whose
answerinr Olanra ia confnsad and fnIl of tor