The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-09-20

b1t' And so he is going to be-" cried Frank.
| He's going to be married himself. So, you
see, You didn't quite break his heart, Nellie,
after ALL"
"To be married !" exclaimed Ellen; who
is the lady7"
81 don't know, Mrs. Curious" returned
her husband. Z" He told it to me as Il secret,
only to be confided to us three. Il would
rather not mention her name, Frank he
said; but believe | have won as great a
prize as you have, and am indeed happy
man."
"Tbank God!' said Willie fervently, as
he rose to leave. 81 must be going now"
And the united entreaties of brother and
sister that he would stay and dine could
not prevail on him to leave his sick people
and his night schsol. They could do
nothing more than extract promise that
lie would come the following day and talk
over the good news.
From that day forward Richard Dunno
found a marked difference in Ellen's manner
towards him; he was welcomed with real
cordially, and her nature was SO naturally
trustful, that when she had once taken him
into her good graces, no further suspicion
ever crossed her mind. And Frank was so
happy! Not only did the increase of in
come lessen his cares, but the employment
was more cOngenial to him he felt himself
of nse and value to his employers; his work
was no longer mere dry mechanism he
was required to think and to judge, to be
in his employers confidence, and to know
some of the wheels within wheels on which
the business of the firm turned.
And SO the months flew on; there was
pleasant visit paid to the home of Frank
and Ellen's childhood, where Margaret
delighted to hear the voices and watch the
gambols of her children's children. Then
the party returned to town, and soon the
winter drew on, with its short days and
dull leaden skies. Ellen was not very
well, and had to keep much at home, and
rest on the sofa, while her fingers, which
themselves on sundry tiny articles of wear
ing apparel.
One day, Frank, came home, looking pale
worn, and harassed. After hasty kiss to
his wife, he went to a writing table, con-
tanning various drawers, kept expressly
for Ills own use, and made an eager search
among his papers.
Have you lost anything, Frank 7" said
his wife presently; =" let me come and look,
dear you know always find your things"
81 can't have you firing yourself and
getting ill.," said Frank, in a tone of such
detection that Ellen was instantly at his
side.
What is it, dearest; what am I to
look for 7"
To her intense surprise Frank, instead
of answering, flung down the mass of
papers he was examining, let his head fall
on the desk, burst into tears, and sobbed
aloud. Ellen had one moment of dismayed
silence, and then, like true woman, the
sight of n mans grief gave her courage to
act for him.
Gradually she drew the truth from him. A
bundle of notes had been lost which had
been given to him to pay into an account
at another clearinghouse in the city. He
had, he was certain, placed them in his
pocket book, buttoned it up. in an inside
pocket of his coat, and was preparing to
go out, when Richard Dunno came in with
IL bundle of letters requiring answering and
consultation: When Frank stated the
business he had in hand, Richard bade him
"1ever mind it" for that day but lock the
notes up in his private drawer at the
banking house. This he had done, he was
positive he had done it; he had stayed
talking over matters with Richard till long
ing, on looking in his private drawer for
the notes, they were not there. The lock
had not been picked, nor was there a
single paper in the drawer disturbed; it
was impossible it could be the work of a
robber. The only solution of the mystery
drawer, but had, in the hurry of talking,
thrust them into his pocket. Frank, how
ever felt certain and maintained that he
had put them in. He remembered every
circumstance; he had taken them out of
his pocket, but placed them in thick blue
envelope, put them in the drawer under
meath an old red pocket-book containing
some papers, and then locked the drawer
with his own key and put the bunch of
keys into his pocket.
"And Frank, darling" said his wife
when the story had been told, what were
the numbers of the notes; cannot they be
stopped9"
40, Nellie, that is the worst! l did not
put them down. l ought to have done so !;
it was an act of great negligence on my
part, anyhow, and now that hey are lost 1t
tells terribly against me-"
"Tells against you, my DE- Arrest Frank ?
you don't mean to imagine that for one
instant you are suspectedP" f.
"Ah, Ellenfyou don't know how soon a
mans reputation may be gone in business
life. Suspicious circumstances, improved