Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-11-30
efIJMB1RI AND MD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3d. 1865
An, inocent. Do you hear me, grill l say

am inocent. Do you hear me, girl? l say !
tpr ocent."
know it," answered abstrac.ly," but you
are to be cleared Don't touch ue, Il added,
as he came uearer, Il won't kiss you until
YOU are cleared / can't be unnervcd.A-
There is work to be done. Don't touch me.
boy Until you are grueed innocent y.t
T.. "Just once, Que time, sister. | shall feel
better to embrace you once before you GO he
pleaded. putting his arm about me. 1put my
teeth close together. and clenched my hands
10 keep buck the pain and the rush, of tender
ness, as He strained ME close to Iris heart and
kissed my cheek and foreheadi yet I did no,
groarl nor weap, md i,cn he said, Good by
my poor darling. good-by," | only answered
You shall be cleared boy. good-by Then
left him, and walked briskly away from the
Jail, toward the Office of my cousin, Ralph
Stanley. who was the relative-I had in the
world, except my brother and our only ac-
ouaintarcc Of influence. My cousin Ralph
was dissolute young man of fortune, and
rejected lover of mine. | walked into his Of
Ece Che WIS lawyer). and taking chair
without noticing his look Of surprise, l said,
'Ralph Stanley, ] came to ask why you did
not offer bail for my brother this momiugf'
Bail for your brotleri" he asked i'll sur
prise.
"Yes; he was arrested for cmbezzlament,
and he is in jail, Didn't you know Of i;!''
"Why, bless me, not word. Why didn't
the boy scud for me?' he asked.
| "Perhups be- did not think of it. or per-
haps he was too proud to ask favor on the
claim of relationship under such circumstan-
ces" ..'. ..-'
"Ah, humph, yes. did hear that young
man was arrested tls morning at Levy's for
cmbezzlemcnt, but never dreamed of its be-
ing Perry Langdon. L.........
sWhat did you hear?" asked inpatient
ly. l.....s. ..,
"I heard that the proof was conclusive;
that part of the stolen money was found in
the lining of his coat in sewed-up pocket"
"a sewed-up pocket" shrieked
ayes, lie answered. while something hot
and giddy as instantly burned in my brain.
A sewcd up pocket in the lining of his. Two
nights before had made pocket in the liL-
ing of my brothers. oyercoat that he said
would be convenient, he thought: but re-
member now that he had said, " dou't much
like the pocket after all; I'll get you to sew
it up again sometime. If it is there shall
be apt to use it, and with anything in it. the
looks of my coat outside will be spoiled.
Never mind it now, but we'll have 1t sewed
up wheL you are nos busy" Oh. how fearfully
distinct the words were They were as SO
many daggers piercing and maddeDing me.
=" That is handsome cloak you have on.
cousin. Did you buy it lately?' | looked
up at Ralph Stanley and answered with a
groan, " l bought it yesterday" f" a, -.
"And your brother gave you the money!
l have said Ralph Stanley was a lawyer. yet,
at that moment. he looked demon.
''He had little surplus money from night
work" answered fercely. He has been
very hard at work lately He told me SC
when he gave me the money. you insinu-
ate anything against my orphan brother Ralph
Stanley, will murder you."
was fast dosing all control of myself, for
terrible conviction was forcing itself upon
me--a conviction that gathered and darkcncd
with the memory Of my bro!here's words
You are to comfort yourself with the belief
that | am innocent" / was reused from the
madness Of my abstraction by Ralph Stanley's
voice that went through my heart like a
knife.
Il don't insinate anything. The court will
try the boy and condemn him without word
from me-" ......
"Ralph Stanley" 1 shrieked as the convic.
tion have before mentioned settled over my
h art close and terrible as a shroud. ''you
hcave weth and influence. There ia no law; il
is money or no money. Save my brother
You can do it--you --must-you shall9'
And my rcward?'' he asked. 9.
Your reward" repeated, for could no
understand him. ...
"Ycs what is my reward to bet" he asked
Anything" answered. Il will wasl
out by the day the balance Of my life rather
allow yon, to lose cent by it, Save NJ,
bsolhcr at,any price. We arc poor but We
are young. We can work aud repay you
Only clear my brother-save him from th
peuitentary Take the stain from my deaf
fathers name and you may demand, au.
price" ... .. .-..-....
, "The price demand, Ruth langdon. i
/ your hand in marriage You are good an'
talented want such a woman as you ar
; for my wife. DO you acccpt?'
For one moment thrank from him.
> had rejected him once with loathihs. Dcnt
were far preferable to such marriage. but ol
my brother. my precious orphan brother
| That name and memory rose in my heart
J aud said calmly" Il accept, Ralph Stan
t ley"
:" Well" said he coolly. II know you
be firm and conscientious. Swear to me tina
9 you viii marry me in case your brother
Q cleared. Swear it. and no man shall dar
S say ought against your brothers honor"
, 81 swear it |" | easped, and fell down o
, his feet in death-like swoon."
X X Il Il
F.; The trial was over. They proved somcthin
| about q young man who had taken the none
b and absconded. and whom the officers wer
, tracing up very rapidly. My brother wa
= cleared, and came back to me jubilant wit
8 triumph. Yet. though l embraced him an
| wept over him. and thanked God for his ac
qui,al. could not be happy, for in my secre
t soul dared believe that brother guilty an
G the law cheated. Dared do this when b
held me closest and called by the tendercs
5 names Then. too. was to marry Ralp
t Stanley. though this, even this could d
/ with less pain than ] believe my brothe
, guilty. That stuns and goaded me until
was wasting AWAY to a mere shadow