The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-06-26
FINDLAY, OHIO FRIDAY. JUNE 26, 1868.

l-- - si - A &sh
!, Annie from Mrs. Benson's. that lad
and her husband were seated in the
luxuriously furnished apartment. A
length the gentleman raised his ey
from the paper that he had been pt
rusing, and gazing silently and inten,
lily upon the face OF his young wit
for moment, said:
ELLEN you look very sad I; whs
troubles you?'
Not sadder than ! feel, Charles
was the rejoinder. 4 am thinkin,
about poor Annie Selwyn; llav
striven all the evening to Danish he
from MY thoughts, but her pale, sa,
face is constantly before me-
%, Ellen you are quite too sensi
tive For my own part, instead of re
preaching yourself, 1 think you shoul.
take considerable credit for lettin.
her off so easily. II I'd had my SAL
about the affair, she should hav,
been made a public example, and In
not sure but in the end it would hav,
been better for her. She reminds m,
Of the story of the viper that turned
and stung the hand of the one who
had kindly nourished it. Now, pray
do cheer up, Ellen dear, and thini
no more about the girl, for she il un
worthy of your thoughts.'
well God grant that her innocence
may yet be proved said Mrs. Ben
son, as she sighed heavily, and then
relapsed into her former musine
mood
Weeks came and went, but they
brought no token for good to tae
stricken heart of Annie Selwyn but
each day the shadow rested darke.
around her path.
: Mr.. Harrington said a little boy
who had long resided in the family
of Mr.. Benson, addressing Mrs. Ben.
sons brother, Walter, Il have some.
thing / want to tell you, and so
followed you into the garden. j have
thought 1 would tell you a good ma
ny times, but have not dared to; but
last week when Mrs. Benson sent me
to carry some patterns to Annie Sell
wyn-you know her, Mr.. Harring
ton, the girl who sewed at the house
she came to the door when / knock
ed, and D, how she looked, so white
and thin and when she spoke to me,
her voice was SO low and sad that it
made the tears come into my eyes,
and / had to hurry away without
speaking, for my throat swelled SO
that / could not say a word, and
when / got away where there couldn't
see me, o, how ] cried and
then my throat didn't ache any more,
and that day l made up my mind
that 1 would tell you all, the first
chance / could get
We'll, my boy, go on said Walter,
as he laid his hand caressingly upon
his head, and smoothed his damp,
lark locks. Come into the summer.
house, and then we shall be out Of
sight; and don't be afraid to tell me
ALL
well then,' said the boy, you
know while Annie Selwyn was here,
Mrs. Benson lost Ler diamond ring
and it ~as found in her purse, and so
all the folks believed she stole it.
Well, that morning--are you quite
sure there's noe one t.--s,~e. .ne. Ar.-
r-as I passed her room
door, which stood open, saw Miss
Eveline bending over her band box,
and when she found that saw her,
her face at first was mighty pale, and
then red, and as she came. towards
me, a small green purse dIopped from
ner hand, and q ring rolled out upon
he floor. She picked it up quick,
and then said:
Henry, If you won't tell what you
nave seen, will give you this silver
half dollar; come promise me now,
hats q good boy
j don't want the money, said ].
and ! guess I shan't promise for l
never did much like Eveline, she was
70 spiteful-
well, do as you please. Master
Henry said she, looking at me SO
ugly with her great black staring |
eyes that it quite frightened me I: |
but il you dare to tell I'll be the |
means ofyour leaving this house, and
hat amt ALL
This made me. afraid not to prom
Sc, and so did and when l heard |
he servants say that Annie Selwyn |
,ad stolen the ring, ! thought if !
vas only to tell what l knew, itnight
ielp to prove that she did not steal it,
md / knew l oughtto, but somehow
could not find courage; but the 9th
,r day when | saw her looking 80 al
.ered, it made think all about how
xind she was to me, just as gentle as
f she had been my sister, and l
made mp my mind to tell everything
knew about the ring, in spite OF
Miss Eyeline.'
Il am sorry that you did not come
10 this determination before. But
you may 60 now, and mind that you
DO not breathe q word of this to any
one, until called upon, and then do
not be afraid, but relate the story you
have told me, and ! assure you no
harm will come to you, my boy
10, Walter, Walter!' y cried Mrs.
Benson, when he had related to her
the conversation that had passed be
tween himself and Henry, 'only to
think what the poor girl has suffered!
will call Eveline at once, and maka
her confess all. Heaven be praised,
it is not to late to make restitution,
in part, to poor Annie Selwyn J.
CONSERVATION was written upon
Eveline's every feature, as Henry
proceeded, at the request OF Mrs.
benson, to relate the facts in regard
to the ring; and the girl seeing no
chance for escape, at once owned her
guilt, and the motives that induced
her to commit the heartless deed.
The lamp burned dimly In the
apartment of widow Selwyn, and its
fickerlng rays fell upon the pale face
of the mother, who was hanging over
the bed on which Annie was lying,
tossing from side to side, and occa
sionally moaning piteously.
Mother she at length said: What
is to become of us2 / heard you
tell Letta you was burning your only
candle, and that your last stick q