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

" Il
goes and institutes an unavailing search in g
. cry box, and cupboard, and drawer where
Q could be possible to find such parcel, althou,
: 1t would puzzle her to explain how it con
) have Withdrawn itself from the secret draw
to take refuge elsewhere. At last she returps
J the parlor in despair. The packet must ha,
been stolen. But howa Whens By whom
Getting frightened at Marks gloomy looks. sb
is delighted when tap at the door announces
visitor, and that visitor proves to be her fatbe
TO him the mysterious affair is circumstantia
ly detailed, and Mark points ont the ineyitabl
loss of his situation and good name if he shoul
i be unable to produce the papers, or, give an,
clue which might lead TO their recovery. n
Fanny's dismay, he particularly dwells upon he
tbrother visit, and her half,made endeayor +
conceal it concluding by an entreaty that sh
will, if retaining any affection tor her husband
tell all she knows.
But now the father interposes. To tamely
hear both his children accused of such a crime
ls more than his rather irascble temper will en-.
dure, and he enters counter accusation thai
Mark has, for some unworthy end. removed
the parcel himself. Words now become so hot
and bitter that Fannyss 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
himself in his chamber. After some hours the
sound of his footsteps ceasing, the anxious wife
creeps softly up the stairs, and is relieved to
find him lying on the bed in an uneasy slumber
Her father persuades 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 lot to feel before. What will poor
Mark dos And what will become of her, If he
persists in believing her guilty.
Equally bewildered, and almost as unhappy
SO his daughter, Mr.. Roberts tries to sooth her
with promises not only TO seek George, and bring
him to exculpate himself, but to forgive Marks
hasty speeches, and assist him in Investigating
this mysterious affair. So, at last, Fanny be-
gins to feel more comfortsd, and to wish her
father to leave her but, tired as he confesses
himself, he cannot quit her in such trouble,
and they continue to occupy the same position
by the fire till night has long given place to
morning, and Mr.. Roberts eyes close inyolun-
tarily.
footstep overhead startles them. sIt is on
ly Mark, says Fanny after moments listen
ing. "Poor fellow, / wish he had slept lon
ger.
In the modern six~rooomed house every sound
is distinctly audible, and they hear him enter
the chamber where stands the now shattered
escritoire- After short pause, he is heard slow
ly descending the stairs, and his wife raises her.
self from her reclining position, and smoothes
her disordered hair.
As he enters the room, Mr.. Roberts lays his
hand on his daughters arm. "Look, child,
look u he whispers and Fanny sees with as
tonishment that her husband is fast asleep and
holds IN one hand the bundle of old love-lette-s.
Setting down his candle, Mark unlocks the
front OF his large and well-fled bookcase, and
begins deliberately taking down, one by one,
the handsomely bound volumes of the History
Of England, which grace the highest shelf
then he draws number of loose magazines,
hidden there because of their untidy appear
ance lays the old loye-letters quite at the back
Of all, replaces the odd numbers, returns the
volumes to their shelf, carefully putting them
even, locks the glass~doors, and, is stalking
away, when Fanny, with cry which awakens
him, snatches the key from his hand. Rubbing
his eyes, and wondering. he sees her eager fin
gers dragging Hume and Smolle.. from their
proud position to assume an inglorious one on
the hearthsrug and in the fender the once
Belle assemblies are scattered in all
directions the highly priced loye>letters re-
ceive similar usage and then, from behind all
the rest, Fanny triumphantly takes out the small
parcel, tied with pink tape, and
sealed with the office seal. Drying and laugh
ing in one breath, the happy little wife is the
next moment in her husbands arms, kissing
and being kissed ad zi6itune.
Little explanation was needed. The young
mans brain, excited by extreme anxiety re-
sarding bis trust, had led to his cautiously ris-
ng in the night, and unconsciousiy transferring
he packet to what he afterwards remembered
IS the first hiding place which had presented IL
self to his mind on bringing it home the pre-
seeding evening.
How many times he asked forgiveness is not
recorded, but Fanny is a true woman, quick to
resent, but easily appeased ; and Mark has ta-
ken George and Georges affairs in hand so
heartily that the young scape-grace is actually
improving, and there is even some hope of Fam
nys belief in his total reformation being realz-
ed.