Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-05-31
LOST!

TOTS cOnQQ6ntiai cClerk iOChS Ups 0nu PA0P0A
for home. With coat buttoned to the thros
and hat drawn over his eyes, Marx Edwar
tnrns his steps towards Islington, and cheerfu
ly faces the rough wind and drizzling raj
which numerically pelt and buffet him, as
! -inly halls omnibus after omnibus, to recei'
.sa sa. .a, answer, "Full." But Mark makes I
.no th,a J1 - tho out.door inconyenienoes, for
ra;ndS o1a i f;xad ~ che well covered tea-tabl
bright fire, and, best of al, tne prel1y youl
| wife awaiting his return. The rH.s'ufe -
pleasant, that he cheerily breaks forth into
line of, Home, ssoeet home, as he turns the cor
ner of the street, where stands his own trir
little domicil.
Mrs. Edwards is peering into the darknes
through the folds of the muslin curtains, an
has the door open before Marks hand touche
the knocker.
"What night for you, love!" says the lit
| tie matron, brushing the rain drops from hi
bushy whiskers, and kissing him compassionate
| "; '.aEd how late you are u
| Edwards looks up at the clock as he strug
giles out of his dripping coat: Il am late In
deed" he answers "but MIR. Flesdwell ha
started on his trip to the Lakes this afternoon
and there were great many things to attent
to before he went. And look here, Fanny
this packet contains some valuable deeds ant
securities, which will be called for by the ow
ner in few days; in the meanwhile, have t.
copy one of them, but don't feel inclined to be-
gin tonight. Where can / place them witt
safety ~
Fanny suggests bis desk, but that is the frs
o. ticle burglar would be likely to meddle with
The wife's cheek pales at the idea OF such Wis
itor, and she considers. 'sThat old escritoire in
the spare bedroom, will not that do 20
Mark still hesitates II had SO many injunc-
tions to be careful, and not let them go out oil
my own possession, that | am afraid of even
that"
Fanny reminds him that there Is secret
drawer in if. "Don't you remember" she asks,
"what trouble we had to find it 9''
ssHa the very place !" So his wife carries the
candle for him, and the valuable packet is de-
posted in this hidden receptacle. Its only con-
tents are few highly scented letters, tied to-
gether with piece of ribbon, the which Fanny,
laughing and blushing, confesses are Mr.. Mark
Edwards love effnsions before marriage, care
fully preserved to bear witness against him
when be becomes cold and cross.
Perhaps it was restless night and unpleas-
ant dreams which made the clerk so uneasy
even in the next days work Knowing that he
had not visited the escritoire before leaving
home in the morning to ascertain with his own
eyes tuo Shl0tJ vi lno pdpSiS III LIS SHdiS0s h0
pooh poohs the idea as it presents itself, remem-
bering that one key is in his own possession,
and the other on 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 it usually is z Fanny's spirits seem de-
pressed, and her eyes look as if they had been
elouded with tears.
"Have you had any visitors to-day 2" her
husband carelessly inquiries as he sips his tea.
The hesitating "No" is so family pronounced
that the young man, hitherto pre- occupied with
business, looks up.
sThat No sounded like 'YesI' Who has been
here2"
sonly my brother George" Fanny answers
in low voice, and Mark, frowEing, turns away
and takes up book.
my brother George is his 0gersson. and the
torment and trouble of his wife's family always
IN difficulties, no sooner rescued from one
scrape than rushing headlong Into another
sometimes. invisible for months, and suddenly
resppeariIg TO levy contributions on any rela-
tiges able or willing to assist him. Mark has
seriously contemplated forbidding his visits; !;
but then Fanny is so tender-hearted, and cher
ishes such kindly belief ia the prodgals ulti-
mate reformation, that her husband has pot yet
mustered sufficient firmness to enforce his wish
es, although he knows where his wife's brooch
went and Why she wears that old velvet bon
net 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 ne ther 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 esconces her.
L<1x <ahta
as she does SO that her "poor boyD must be bor-
ed with this odious writing when he ought to
be resting. However, Mark soon comes down
the stairs, three at time, to ask, rather an
grily, why she has moved bis packet without
mentioning it. With astonishment in her
looks, his wife denies having done so, and hHr-
ries with him to the spare bedroom, asserting
her belief that be has overlooked the parcel
Not thing is out of its place. The old escri-
toire stands exactly as they left it, the lock had
not been tampered with, nor was the secret
drawer open !; and there, undisturbed, lie the
love letters but the small brown paper parcel,
tied with pink tape, and sealed with the Office
seal, is gone!
The husband, suspeoting he knows not what,
looks almost sternly at bis wife, whose answer
ing glance is confused and full of terror.
'sTell me the truth, Fancy, my dear Fanny
Are you playing trick to tease me Remem-
Der, if cannot produce these papers, am rus
ined man 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 behind the drawer
Although next to impossible, tie chance is moi
overlooked hammer and chisel are soon fetch.
ed, and the back of the escritoire is knocked
out, leaving no nook or Granny where the small.
est paper could remain unperceived.
Almost beside himself, Mark leads his wife
down stairs, and commences questioning her,
Where is her key On the ring it has not
been out of her possession. Has she been out
No. Is she quite sure of that ? Quite besides
as she ventures to remind him, the locks have
not been forced, nor is aught else missing, az
would have been the ease if thieves had enter.
ed the house. In uncomfortable agitation. the
bewildered young man PAGES the room, while
Fanny, unable to proffer advice, or assist hin
with any reasonable conjecture, watches him il
| trembling silence.
| Suspicious are crowding upon his mind hints
| given before his marriage about Fanny Robert
brother, and regrets uttered, even in his hear.
| ing, that respectable young man like Mr.. Ed
wards should lower himself by such conneo
| ton, are suddenly remembered and dwelt M
on. He psuses before his wife, and sterrly de
Inands what errand had brought that brother o
hers to his house. That brother of hers Wha
q speech All Fanny's sisterly feelings are ir
arms, and yet her voice faltes, 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 aceusingly. With crimson face
aha auorilv donioc n Che did not ,cnnt,a,