Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-11-27
UNDER SUSPICION.

He was q boy scarce turned Of twenty;
and, though I'm his mother that says
It, an honester lad or O better son new
er lived. Ever since his fnther died,
he laborcd hard and faithful, and
twas not in the dram shop he spent
his earnings either, but he brought
them home on Saturday night, when.
ever II came; and he used to lay the
bright silver dollars on my lap, and
then he'd say with his canny smile
"Here's the money, mother, that
will buy US our Sunday dinner, and
all the good things for tho next
week" lii " ~ III
I had noticed for long time that
jamie and Maggie Bryan were very
fond Of each other, and was not sor.
ry to notice It, for ] knew the boy
would be wanting to get married
sometime, and q nicer, neater girl
than Maggie was not to he found.
TWAS mile from our little cottage
to where Maggie lived, and on Sun.
day nights jamie would clothe him.
self In his best walk over there
and when he came back, II / chanced
to be up, It did me good to look into
his happy, contented Mce, as he raketl
up the smouldcring logs in the firt
place and took his seat by the chimney
corner, I could tell by the half-dreamy
look In his eyes, that he saw Maggie'i
soft curla and rnsy- cheeks in the
'flames, and that he was in love.
One Sunday night, however, wher
he came home later than usual, there
was a troubled, puzzled look on his
face, and he didn't smile nor SPEAK
any of his pleasant words, but just
paced the floor In q nervous manner
and seemed doubtful whether or moi
to tell me something that burdened
him. .l.
1 didn't question him, for I conclu.
ded that he had quarrel with Mag
gle, and if'twas a heart wound thai
troubled him, talking about 1t cOult
but open 1t wider.
He went to bed very soon after hs
camein. was about TO do the same
when heard the fire bells In the vii.
lage ringing. / went to the door, ant
looking out I saw great flaming
light In the direction of one Of tht
churches. i was glad our cottage wa
not situated In the heart of town, fol
these fires had become very common
Of late, and the newspapers said thert
was gang of mon engaged in kind
ling them, and that nobody's proper
ty was safe, though 1t was not dwell
ing houses they burnt, but barns and
churches and public buildings.
A $1,000 reward had been offered fol
the arrest of the incendiaries, bu
whoever they were they kept clear o
the authorities.
] don't know how II happened, bu
as stood there at the door listenint
to the bells, they seemed to say ever,
time they changed, "Jamie Riley
Jamie Ri-leyv and i could not re
sist associating my dear boys nam,
with some awful crime.
l slept but poorly that night, ant
being awake very early I'm the morn
ing, heard Jamie come softly dowI
the stairs and go out at the door,
After a time l got up, and just as
had placed the breakfast on the tabl,
jamie came In.
He looked very pale, and he had NJ
appetite for his food.
began to be frightened about him
"Jamie," said I, "are you sick, O
what ails youT'
mo, mother" he answered, ~ an
not sick, and l cannot tell you wha
troubles me.n
Then he rose from the table, and
putting on his hat, he started to tn,
factory where he worked. He tool
up the tin pail In which / Away
placed his lunch, but he did IL as II b,
habit; nor did he stop to inquire, O
was his custom, what Il contained.
felt worried all day. Some troubl
seemed hanging over US, but what
was l couldn't guess.
In the afternoon Maggie Bryal
came In to see me. She was yer,
handy with the needle, and the folk
who lived In the big house ON the hill
had sent for her to do some sewing
She was returning, and had called I
tell me how kind the lady had bee
to her, and how much pay she ha
received for her work. Maggie sa,
In q moment that was not In goo
spirits toprattle and asked in q seriou
tone:
HAS anything bad happened, Mr.
Riley? You seem sorrowful to-day.
Then | spoke out boldly:
"You have quarreled with jamie
have you not, Maggie~
NAY, nay, Mrs. Riley" she Al
swered. II quarrel with jamie 2
You know love himdearly."
And then the sweat girl blushed |
her own confession.
You may guess that this knowleds
didn't ease my mind much. Ho
!. now could / account for Jamie's pa
I face and nervous manner2
/ IL did not seem possible 10 me tn
!. the lad could have done any wroI
act, but l couldn't forget how Il
bells seemed TO clang; Jamie Ri,
Jamie Riley and when i remer
o bered the boys strange actions,