Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-02-01

Cured some ten or twelve months after.
wards. was then promoted to an appoint
ment as clerk in charge, upon the first
vacancy.
The business of the clerks in charge il
to take possession of any post office in the
kingdom, upon the death or resignation OF
the post master, or when circumstances 0
suspicion cause his suspension from office
My new duties carried me three or fOui
times into Mr.. Huntngdon's district
Though that gentleman and never ex-
changed word with regard to the mystic
rious loss in which VIC had both had an in
nocent share. he distinguished me with a
peculiar favor, and more than once invited
me to visit him at his own house. lie liv-
ed alone, having but one daughter, who
had married, somewhat against his will,
one of his clerks,-the Mr.. Forbes whose
handwriting had been so successfully imi-
tatcd in the official order presented to me
by the selfstyled Miss Anne Clifton. (By
the way. may here mention, though it
has nothing to do with my story, that my
acquaintance with the Cliltons had ripencd
into an intimacy. which resulted i'll my Ell
gagemcnt and marriage to Mary.)
1t would be beside my purpose to speci-
r ty the precise number of years which elaps-
ed; before was once again summoned to
the secretary's private apartment, where
found him closcted with Mr.. Huntingdon.
| Mr.. Huntingdon shook hands with unot-
cial cordially; and then the secretary pro-
ceeded to state the business Oh hand.
'Mr. Wilcox, you remember our offer to
place you i'll office in Alexandria ? he said.
Certainly, sir answered.
1T has been troublesome Office he
continued, almost pettishly. we sent out
Mr.. Forbes only six months ago. on ac-
count fhis health,whch required a warm
er climate and now his medical man re.
ports that his life is not worth three weeks
purchase.
Upon Mr.. Hunting'lon's face there rest
ed an expression of profound anxiety and
as the secretary paused he addressed him
self to me.
Mr.. Wilcox he said, Il have been So
iciting,as personal favor, that You should
be sent out to take charge of the packet
have some one at hand to befriend her,an,
manage affairs for her You are not per-
sonally acquainted with her, but know
can trust her with YOU
You may, Mr.. Huntingdon said
warmly. i will do anything to aid Mrs
Forbes. When do YOU wish me to start 2
'lIow soon can you be ready , was the
rcjoinder.
Tomorrow morning.
was not married then, and anticipat-
+ ed 10 delay in setting off. Nor was ther,
any. travelled with the overland mai
. through France to Marscilles, embarked il
a vessel for Alexandria, and in few day,
h from the time first heard of my destina
ton. set tuot i'll the office there. All til,
postal arrangements had fallen into consid
:, cradle irreguarity and confusion for. as
was informed iniIicdialcl. on my arrival
II Mr.. Forbes had been in dying condition
: for the last week ,and of course the absenc,
of Il master had borne the usual results.
took formal possession of the office, ant
= Them conducted by one Of the clerks, pro
= cceded to the dwelling of the miortunat,
r postmaster and his no less uniortnnat,
a wife
+. 1t would be ont of place in this narrative
q to indulge in any travellers tales abou
= the strange place where was 50 unexpect
= eddy located Suffice it to say, that the
! darkencd, sultry room into which was
shown. on inIuiring for Mrs. Forbes, wa.
bare of furniture, and destitute of all thos.
; little tokens of refinement and taste whicl
y make our English parlers so pleasant t,
q the eye. There was, however, piano il
: one of the dark corners OF the room, open
= aud with a sheet OF music on it, While
q | waited for Mrs. Forbes appearance,
. stroled idly up 10 the piano to see wha
:, music it might be. The next moment IN!
y. eye fell upon an antique red morocco worl
it box standing on the top of the piano.
l. work box evidently, for the lii was no
# closely shut, and few threads of silk am
:. cotton were hanging ont of it. In a kim
N of dream,-tor it was difficult to belcv
- that the Occurance was a tact,-l carrie
~ the box to the darkened window, and ther
=, plain in my sight, was the device scratchc
4 upon the leather: the revolutionary sym
# bol OF heart with dagger through it.
y had found the Premier's despatch box i
the parlor of the packet agent of Alcxal
dtia!
:. stood for some minutes with that dreal
>. like feeling upon me, gazing at the box
IF the dim obscure light. 1t could not l
a. real My fancy must he playing a trio
+, upon me But the sound OF Il light step
ii for, light as it was, ] heard it distinctly 1
~ i, approached the room-broke my trance
" and FASTENED to replace the box on til
:. :: piano, and to stoop down as if eXaminii
er the music, before the door opened. | ha
~ not sent my name to Mrs. Forbes, for
,nn did not suppose that she was acquaintt
e. with it, nor could she see NE distinctly,
III stood in the gloom. But could see he
m ro She had the slight slender fgure.thc chill,
~ like face, and the fair hair of Miss Am
Clifton. She came quickly across the roo
A. holding out both her hands in Il chillis
! appealing manner.
,J 'Oh = she walled, in tone that wei
n. straight to my Aealt, 'hc is dead He hi
er just died"
1t was 10 time to speak about the II
oe morocco workbox. This little child,
as creature; who did not look day older thG
nr when had last seen her in my ;raveliil
ss post Office, was IA widow in a strange Ian
,s lar away from amy friend save myself.
mt had brought her letter from her fathe
,;r The first duties that devolyed upon II
n. were those of her husbands ntermel
4. which had to take place immediately
Three or four weeks elapsed before cou
ii. with any humanity, enter upon the inve
tigation other mysterious completely
co the daring theft practiced on the Cover
o. ment and the postoiiice.
a did not see the despatch box again.
a the midst of her new and vehement gri,
Mrs, Forbes had the prccaution to reno
it before was uShered again into the roo
e. where had discovered it. was at sol
,r, trouble to hit upon any plan by which