The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-21

had Just offered aas the counter had
been stolen; that it was necessary fol
nc 10 know where sne ,obsained it.
At my words her face took the livid
hue of death, but she shook her
head as much as to say she would
never tell me. I piled her with i'm
portunities, entreated and begged;
but it was of no avail. I had no
recourse but to take her into custody.
Still hoped to be able to discover
from her the proof of the cashier S
guilt. He was evidently her lover;
but doubted much if she knew his
real name or actual position. I piled
her with questions on this head, and
although she was on her guard, and
her answers were evasive, I was soon
satisfied that tho real name of her
lover was unknown to her. AS I left
the cell, I heard her mutter in the
most poignant grief:
ooh, Charley, Charley, can this
be true?" This was, indeed, his
first name. ! returned on the in
stant, and said to her that I knew
the person who gave her the money,
that his name was Charley -. At
the mention of this name she claD-
ped her hands and laughed. It was
not the name she knew him by.
was almost ut my wits end. The
girl must confess, or the real criminal
would escape punishment Thought.
however, of resource, and put it
into execution at once. I went to
the store and told the merchant that
1 wanted picture of every member
of his establishment, himself includ-
ed. He looked puzzled, but complied
with my request. Armed with these,
1 returned to the cell. I told the
girl [ had something to show her
my heart ached rs I did SO. I knew
she worshipped the heartless scoun-
drel who had betrayed her. 1 held the
picture so that she could see it in
full; as the light flashed on it, I said
to her, "Mary, this is the Charley I
am after"
She gave one quick, hurried glance
at the pictures, and then, with low
moan of anguish, fell fainting to the
floor. The tears would come to nv
eyes as I looked at the poor, beauti
full creature in her agony. Only
heaven knows how 1 pitied her; but
justice, MS we'll Us her own good, re-
qulred that the mask should be lifted
and the criminal exposed. AS soon
as she had had time to recover. I
went to her again. I found her
calm, but with look of sorrow that
pierced me to my heart. I told her
who her lover was, his crime. and
begged her to reveal all she knew of
him. L might as well have talked to
stone. She sat deaf, silent in her
fearless anguish. Only once she
murmured, she loved me, he is true
to me-" L told her she was mistaken
he cared nothing about her
would never marry her. She laughed
at me in bitter scorn. AS q last re-
source, l went to the place at which
she had been been working. 7
found out all about her friends, and
with whom she associated. From
these l learned that she was engaged
to be married to "Charley," who
represented himself as a young me-
chanic; that he had persuaded her to
go to st. Louis for that purpose,
where it was said that he had rela-
tives. L knew it was only to get rid
of her, while he married the mer-
chants daughter. I had got all the
information I wanted. AS L return
ed, l passed by the theatre, brilliant
~ lighted for an evenings entertain
ment. [ stepped in; the beauty and
fashion of the city were there. In
one of the boxes sat Charley and his
betrothed. She was radiant in beau
ty-he attentive and lover-like. NV
resolution was taken on the instant.
l left the theatre hurriedly, and
went to the station. In few mo-
ments [ returned, accompanied by
Mary. L took her to a seat COM
manding o full view of the box.
One glance was enough; I saw that
her heart was breaking. Silently L
led her out of the theatre and back
to the station.
Will you tell me now?"
~ can die, but I have nothing to
tell"
She never did. It was useless to
detain her. We let her go, but three
weeks afterward she died of broken
heart. The mystery of the robbery
has never been explained.