The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-05-07

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was coming to join us for time arriy-
ed, ! don't think his advent was hailed
by any one. Certainly not by Mr.. Ra-
ven, who no sooner heard the intelli-
gence Of Mr. Green's proposed visit
than he talked of trip into the coun-
try, which must, he said, come,of be-
fore he married, as it was to a bachelor,
and where he could not so we'll take
Fanny as to his other friends. We,
however, persuaded him to defer this
journey for few days, as there were
several little evening engagements, in
which he was included, for that week.
Mr.. Waters was the only one of the
circle who expressed pleasure at making
Mr.. Green's acquaintance. "He has
not yet seen him !" thought l. That
evening Fanny's father arrived, and we
all dined very happily together, after
which Mr.. Waters invited Mr.. Green
to take stroll and smoke cigar with
him. Fanny and Mr.. Raven also went
out. Meantime, good Mrs. Green,
Mrs Waters, Emma Green, and myself,
brought out our needlework, and sat
down to work and chat in the front
room. Alas that evening, begun so
quietly, was indeed a memorable one,-
such one as does not occur often in a
lifetime, and of which the events are
but toorwell impressed upon my mind.
Within a. few hours we ladies received
shock which nearly paralyzed us with
distrust and alarm. Could we believe
all that we were then told of Mr. Raven
TO be true7
1t is said that startling events rarely
come alone, and certainly that evening
was an instance of the truth of the
proverb for we had scarcely recovered
from one distressing event before an
other still more painful revelation was
forced on us,-both In reference to Mrs.
Green's lodger, in whom we all felt so
great an interest. We were, as / said,
busy at work on portion of Fanny's
garments, and talking of the Madeira
scheme, when the door-bell rang vio-
lently, and a laundering knock at the
door startled us; voices were heard on
the steps, and we listened, the door
being ajar, to know who could be COM
ing at this unwonted hour. "Does Mr..
Raven live here :" we heard distinctly,
and as distinctly the voice of lhe little
maid, d,-"No, sir !" care you sure I"
again asked the voice. "No, sir! but
he used to live here. He went away a
long time ago!" said Mary. "What
does the girl mean :" said Miss Green.
81 dare say it is some one on business,
perhaps from the publishers. will go
and tell them be is only out for a walk"
So saying, she left us with the door
open. "Did I hear you ask for Mr..
Raven7" began Miss Green; but she
started back as she saw two policemen
in the hall, and Mary trembling like a
leaf. eyes, ma'am!" said the consta-
BILE. "Your servant has just told me
that Mr.. Raven, alas Mr.. Wood, is not
here. We think differently; and per-
haps you will allow us to look for our
selves, in virtue of this search warrant"
and he produced a paper. "What do
you mean 7" said Miss Green, alarmed.
"Why, ma'am, nothing more than what
we say. We've orders to take this Mr..
Raven in custody for being supposed
to be concerned in forgery! You can
see the warrant if you don't believe u.s."
By this time Mrs. Green and myself
had put down our work and risen.
Taken aback as we were, our wornanly
instinct seemed to strike us all three at
once with the same idea,-to screen
Mr.. Raven from the officers. Fortu-
nately Miss Green had not yet commit
ted herself when we joined her, and,
taking the initiative, l said, boldly
(may be forgiven the falsehood y,
"There must be some mistake; Mr..
Raven does not live herel This house
belongs to these ladies, Mrs. Green
and her daughter, The gentlemen who
are staying here are Mr.. Green, her
son, and Mr.. Waters, clergyman from
the country" My self-pOssession of
manner somewhat nOn-plussed the Off
GERS. "He was, l think, living here
lately, ma'am 7" he said. "a smallish
man, with a dark mustache; calls him
self an author; goes to market early;
was once in Grant and Co.'S employ;
he is suspected of being concerned in
several jewelry robberies" "You
must surely refer to some one else," /
said, continuing to actas spokeswoman,
for Mrs and Miss Green were speech
less with alright. "Well, ma'am, /
am sorry to contradict you; but as
we've warrant out against him, and
he has been traced here, we must beg
leave to search the house." "Of course!"
l replied. Mrs. Green would be the
last person to resist the ends of justice.
Mary, bring a candle, and show the
way!" Now, happily, the little attic
into which Mr.. Raven had moved, to
accommodate my friends, was quite at
the top of the house, and was only ap-
preached through narrow door lead
ing out of another attic used only as a
lumber-room. "This is the strangest
proceeding l ever heard of in lady's
house," said, "but perhaps you will
begin your search down stairs" "All
the same madam" replied the police
man; eve will give as little trouble
as possible, but we must do our duty.
It is as we'll to leave one of us here to