The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-12-08

Il y
camp thing" SAID hope. "Do l no,
tell you papa, that 1t was my own
doing from first to last; Grantley did
not know where / got the note from,
l only asked him to get it cashed for
me. But l asked him not to tell you
that / had done so, because / was
afraid you would be angry with me,
and ] meant to tell you when you
were kind again" This she SAID
coaxingly.
John Rashleigh turned flercely
again to the youth. "How dare you
abet my child in her folly2" he ex.
claimed passionately. "What was
folly in her, and excusable consider
ing how | lave always humored her,
and acceded TO her wishes, and re
membering after all, she is q mere
child still, was downright wickcdncss
and dishonor in you. And how do
know but that you instigated her
to It'll How do i know but that il
was your doing in reality, and she
but the innocent tool Of your cunning
schemes2 You bought a precious
gimcracl< for yourself, and paid for
it with my own money. / tell you
Grantley, the whole thing looks too
black yet for your whitewashing.,'
Il could not break my word to
Miss Hope" said Grantley, in a low
voice, but firmly. "Yet l should
have thought, Mr. Rashltigh, that
you would have known me too well
TO have suspected me Of such q thing
as this What Miss Hope had a
right to do is another matter, but it
would have been a theft in me; and
men" (here Mr.. Rashleigh smiled a
little satirically) "do not become
thieves all at once. Yet l do not
think you have ever seen much want
of honor in me y
81 will not have that tone taken"
said Mr.. Rashleigh barshly. "You
have done i'll, Grantley, and it is alb
surd to attempt to give yourself the
airs of injured innocence, and as if
you had a right to blame me because
l suspected what was so entirely sus-
picious. And what do I know yet ?
l have no proof, only youi word and
Hopes assertion, which, for aught |
know, may be merely her generous
desire to get you out of a perilous
position by taking the blame on her.
SELF l can scarcely believe'her gull
ty. To have gone into my room in
my absence, unlock my desk, take
the money / had refused the day be-
fore-to steal-I cannot believe it
will not! You have been at the
bottom Of it Grantley, you have had
some hand in it,
CHOW, papa, how can you go on
so ?" cried Hope thoroughly fright
ened. "Did not tell you Grantley
IS innocent, and that l had been the
only one to blame What more can
alt is not an easy matter to con-
'ince me that my child has commit
ed theft" said John Rashlcigh
yravely, and turning away his head
81 did not think Of it rs fault at
he time, dear papa" she cried fling
ng herselfinto his arms. 81 wanted
t for poor Annie Rogers, chiefly; l
lid not want it for myself. Forgive
me-, dearest papa, for having been so
and wilfull, and do no
accuse Grantley any more ! am
5he only one to blame, and he has
been far nobler than l deserved."-I
Here she burst into tears and buried
her face in her fathers breast. -
Wont you forgive me dear papa ?"
she sobbed again, after short pause,
kissing has cheek, which her tears
made almost as wet as her own. John
Rashlcigh could not resist this
Hope had never been unforgivcn,
even when she had shown such con-
triton, and the unusual soltness of
her mood to-day, could meet with
but the most fervent res
ponse.
"Do not cry, Hope Dry your
eyes, child! he said tenderly.-
"There, there, let us have no more
aboutit. I quite believe you, and l
quite believe that you d Il not know
you were doing anything wrong, and
that you were only thoughtless and
as usual. And as for you,
boy, Ito Grantley,) / am sorry that
l accused you so hastily; so shake
hands and think no more about it.
You cannot expect me TO say m @
than that | am sorry" he added,
pleasantly, as Grantly still hcsitated.
The blow on his cheek still stung,
and it was rather early days to take
the hand that struck him. "No gen
tleman can want more than an apollo
gy, and father can only express his
regret TO a son; so shake hands boy,
and let us forget what has been
very painful misunderstanding"
That word did what the feeling
hud failed to do. Grantloy graspod
his cousins hand warmly; he had CON
quered all his boyish pride and man.
ly Indignation by the simple name
of father.
at have made you suffer, Grant
ley" said Hope as her father left
them; and again she laid her hand in
his.
"I would have borne more than
this for your sake, Miss Hope" he
answered, pressing her hand between
both of his, and looking at her low
ingly; she not naughty and disdain-
full as usual, but downcast, bashful
and repentant.
81 do not know what we shall do
without you. Grantley," she said ycry