The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-12

w hOlN Lho In NAoIG1S
| pretty young English girl, milliner
working on Canal street. There was some.
thing very noticeable about the girls face
n sort of melancholy and sadness that went
straight to our hearts. Any one would
have felt kindly towards her by just looking
at her. Somehow or other felt present..
ment that this girl was mixed up in the
robbery. couldn't get rid of the idea
1t haunted NE. In this way several weeks
passed. One day we received message in
great hurry to come to the steamboat
landing. 1t was late in the afternoon, and
the boats for St. Louis were about leaving
Arriving there, we went at once On board
the Republic, and up to the clerks desk
Standing at the counter was the pretty
English GIRL and in the hands of the clerk
were two of the marked twenty-dollar bills.
She had just offered them in payment for
her passage to st. Louis. | felt now
that the cashier was in my clutches
But it was necessary to proceed care
fully and not frighten the girl. As
gently as l could, told her that the
money she had just offered at the counter
had been stolen; that it was necessary for
me to know where she obtained 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. l piled her with
opportunities, entreated and begged; but
it was of no avail. had no recourse but
to take her into custody. Still hoped to be
able to discover from her the proof Of the
cashiers guilt. He was evidently her
lover; but | doubted much if she knew
his real name or actual position. | piled
her with questions on this head, and
although she was on her guard, and her
answers were evasive, was soon satisfied
that the real name of her lover was un-
known to her. AS left the cell heard her
mutter in the m ost poignant grief
"Oh, Charley, Charley, can this be
true?"
This was, indeed, his first name. I re-
turned on the instant and said to her that
knew the person who gave her the money !;
that his name was Charley -. At the
mention of this name she clapped her hands
and laughed. 1t was not the name she
knew him by. was almost at 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. Iwent to the store,
and told the merchant that wanted pic
ture of every member of his establishment,
himself included. He looked puzzled, but
complied with my request. Armed with
these, | returned to the cell. l told the girl
had something to show her. My heart
ached as I did so. | knew she worshipped
the heartless scoundrel who had betrayed
her. held the picture so that she could
see it in full. AS the light flashed on it
said to her Mary, this is the Charley !
am after"
She gave one quick, hurried glance at the
pictures, and then, With low moan of an
guish, fell fainting to the floor. The tears
would come to my eyes as looked at the
poor, beautiful creature in her agony. Only
heaven knows how | pitied her; but JUS
tice, as well as her own good, required that
the mask should be lifted and the criminal
exposed. As coon .as she had had time to
recover, | went TO her again. | found her
calm, but with a look Of sorrow that pierced
me to my heart. told her who her lover
was, his crime, and begged her to reveal
Ill she knew of him. | might as vel! have
talked to stone. She sat deaf, silent in her
fearless anguish Only once she murmured,
81 He loyed me-: be- is tr,1c tn me-" ! told
about her-would never marry her. She
laughed at me IN bitter scOrn. As last
resource, l went to the place at which she
had been working. found out all about her
friends, and with whom she associated. From
these | learned that she was engaged to be
married to Charley" who represented
himself as q young mechanic, that he had
persuaded her to 90 to st. Louis for that
purpose where it was said that he had
relatives. | knew that it was emily to get
rid of her while he married the merchant
daughter. / had got all the information l
wanted. As | returned | passed by the
theatre, brilliantly lighted for an evening S
entertainment. lstepped in the beauty and
fashion of the city were there. In one OF the
boxes sat Charley and his betrothed. She
was radiant in beauty-he attentive ana
loyer-like. My resolution was taken On the
instant. I left the theatre hurriedly and
went to the station. In a few moments |
returned, accompanied by Mary. | took
her to seat commanding full view OF the
box. One glance was enough; | saw that
her heart was breaking. Silently led her
out Of the theatre and back to the station.
"Will you tell me now ~
81 can die, but / have nothing to tell"
She never did. 1t was useless to detaln
her. We let her 20, but three weeks after
ward she died Of q broken heart. The
mystery Of the robbery has never been ex-
planned.