Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-12-10
UNDER SUSPICION.

UM DEn SUcE1O1UWs
a hard dark day it was for US whe
the constable took poor jamie to jail
He was boy scarce turned of twenty
and, though Pm his mother that say
it, an honester lad or better son new
er lived. Ever since his father died
he labored hard and faithful, and 'twa
not in the dram shop he spent hi
earnings either, but he brought then
home on Saturday night, whenever
came; and he used to lay. the brigh
silver dollars On my lap, and then b
would say with his canny smile:
"Here is the money, mother, tina
will buy us our Sunday dinner, and al
the good things for the next week"
l had noticed for long time tina
Jamie and Maggie Bryan were yer,
fond of each other, and | was not sor
ry TO notice it. for l knew the boz
would be wanting to get married some
time, and a nicer, neater girl than Mag
gle was not to be found.
Twas a mile from our little cottag,
to where Maggie lived, and on SUNDAY
nights Jamie would clothe himself il
his best and walk over there, and whel
he came back, if'I chanced to be up
it did me good to look into, his happy
contented face, as he raked up th'
smouldering logs in the fire place, anc
took his seat by the chimney corner,
could tell by the half-dreamy look il
his eyes, that he saw Maggie's sof
curls and rosy cheeks in the flames
and that he was in love.
One Sunday night, however, wher
be came home later than usual, there
was atroubled puzzled look on his face
and be didn't smile nor speak any Of
his pleasant words, but just paced the
floor in nervous manner, and seemed
doubtful whether or not to tell me
something that burdened him.
| didn't question him, for | concluded
that he had a quarrel with Maggie,
and if twas a heart wound that
troubled him, talking about it could
but open it wider.
He went to bis bed soon after com
ing in, and I was about to do the same,
when | heard the fire bells in the vii
lage ringing Iwent to the door, and
looking out | saw great flaming light
in the direction Of one of the churches.
l was glad our cottage was not situated
in the heart of town, for these fires had
become very common of late, and the
newspapers said there was gang OF
mea engaged in kindling tn m, and
that nobody's property was safe, though
it was not dwelling houses they burned,
but it was barns and churches and pub
lie buildings.
A $1,000 reward had been offered for
the arrest of the incendiaries, but who
ever they were they kept clear of the
authorities.
l don't know how it happened, but
as l stood there at the door listening
to the bells, they seemed to say every
time they changed, Jamie Riley, ia
ME Ri-ley!' and l could not resist as
sociating my poor boys name with
some serious, awful crime.
1 slept but poorly that night, and
being awake very early in the morning,
| heard Jamie come softly down stairs
and go out at the door. After time
l got up, and just as l had placed the
breakfast ON the table, my boy, Jamie,
came in.
He looked very pale, and had no ap-
petite for his food
l began to be frightened about him.
Jamie y said I, "are you sick?-or
what ails you?"
"No, mother" he answered, 81 am
not sick, and l cannot tell you what
troubles me-"
Then he rose from the table, and,
putting on his hat, he started to the
factory where he worked. He took up
the tin pail in which l always placed
his lunch, but he did it as if by habit;
nor did he stop to inquire, as was his
custom, what it contained.
! felt worried all day. Some trouble
seemed hanging over us, but what it
was | couldn't guess.
In the afternoon Maggie Bryan came
in to see me, She was very handy with
the needle, and the folks who lived in
the big house on the hill had sent for
her to do some sewing. She was re-
turning, and called to tell me how kind
the lady had been to her, and how
much pay she had received for her
work. Maggie saw in moment that
l was not in good spirits, and SO she
ceased her pleasant prattle and asked
in serious tone: -.
"Has anything bad happened Mrs.
Riley? You seem very sorrowful to-
day." se iii
Then | spoke out boldly:
'You have quarreled with Jamie
have you not Maggie?"
may, nay, Mrs, Riley" she answer
ed. 1 quarrel with Jamie? You know
L love him dearly"
And then the sweet girl blushed at
her own confession.
You may guess that this knowledge
didn't ease my mind much. How now
could I account for Jamie's pale face
and nervous manner?
lsIt did not seem possible to me that
the lad could have done any wrong
aei. but T couldn't forget how the bells
seemed to clang: Jamie Riley, Ja-
me Riley and whens remembered
ths boys strange actions. an awful fear
grew uponnne. Aa8a
i Maggie tried in vain to discover what
disturbed me. She went away in q