St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-08-17
THE LOST DEEDS.

81: ,3.,. THE LOST DEEDS.
A parting glance around the Office, to as
sure himself all desks, closets and iron
safes nre properly secured for the night,
and the solicitors con6I Iential clerk locks
up and prepares for home With coat but
toned to the throat, and hat drawa over
his eyes, Mark Edwards turns his steps to-
ward home, and cheerfully faces the rougl
wind and drizzling rain, which 9unmerci-
fully pelt and buffet him. as he vainly halls
omnibus after omnibus to receive the same
answer-s,Full.'' But Mark makes no
trouble of these out of door inconvenicnces
for his minds eye is fixed on the we'll Gov
cred tea-table, brigh. fire, and best Of all
the pretty young wife awaiting his return.
The picture is So pleasant, that lie cheerily
breaks forth into line Of Home, sweet
Uome," as he turns the corner Of the street
where stands his own trim little domicile.
Mrs. Edwards is peering into the dark
ness through the folds of the muslin cur
tains, and has the door open before Marks
hand touches the kuockcr. -
'.What a night for, you. love" says the
little matron, brushing the rain drops from
his busky whiskers, and kissing him COM
passi"natcly; ':and how late you arc!''
Edwards looks up at the clock as he
struggles ont of his dripping coat. IL am
late, indeed he answers '.but Mr.. Plead
we'll has started on his trip to the lakes this
afternoon. and there was great many
things to attend to before he went, And
look here Fanny, this packet contains some
'xaluable deeds and securities, which will
be called for by the owner in few days !;
in the meantime have to copy one of them
but don't feel inclined to begin to night.
Where can I place them with safety y
Fanny suggests his desk, but that is the
first article burglar would be likely to
meddle with The wi1e's cheek pales at the
idea of such a visitor, and she considers.
''That old escritvire in the spare bedroom,
will not that DO 20 Z =. g" =. y. '>
Mark still hesitates. ~ had so many
injunctions to be careful, and not let them
go out Of my own possession, that am
afraid of even that r ''@:
Fanny reminds him that there is q secret
drawer in it. '.Don't you remember" she
asks, '.wl,at trouble we hadto find it?'
ella! the very place!"' So his wife car
ries the candles for him, and the valuable
packet is deposited in this hidden recepta
Gle. Its only contents are few highly
scented letters, tied together with piece
of ribbon, the which Fanny, laughing and
5blushing, confesses they are Mr.. Mark Ed
:wards' love effusions before marriage, care
fully preserved to bear witness against him
when he becomes cold and cross. .
( Perhaps it was restless night and un-
pleasant dreams which made the clerk SO
uneasy-even in the hurry Of the next day .
work-knowing that he had not visited the
escritoire before leaving home in the morn
ing to ascertain with his own eyes the
safety of the papers in. his charge He
pooh poohs the idea as it presents ITSELF,
remembering that one key is in his own
possession, and the other one in his Wife
housekeeping bunch; but it returns SO Of
ten, that 1t is with feeling Of relief that
he hears the signal for closing, = and feels
he is at liberty to return home. " q 80 - =
= How is it his welcome is not such q smi-
ling one as it usually isl? Fanny's spirits
seem depressed, and her eyes look as If
they had been clouded With tears. ts. sesea.
s'Have you had any visitors to-day'
her husband carelessly inquiries as he sips
his tea. ....s s.s i 49,. 81. sssrs. 81 zsc
The hesitating ..No''' is 50 family pro-
nounced, that the young man, hitherto pre-
occupied with business, looks'up. 1'..E155
.'That NO sounded like Yes i 3 Who
has been here ~ ti2ts', ',s g. .4 .ss '.s =,
''only my brother George Fanny an.
swers in q low voice, and Mark, frowning,
turns away and takes up book. @..' ,.s-. '...-..
sl..My brother. George is his aversion,
and the storments and troa,bleof his 7wife's
family; always in difficulties, mo sooner
rescued from one scrape than rushing head
long into another; sometimes invisible for