Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-12-16

anu SIdppeu HE Ill IIlo IdCc, ouo "oo oo
hopping mad
.sSuch actions in respectable store
You depraved brute!'' says she; and
marched out and didn't come back for
week, for which | was truly thankful.
When she did come she was all smiles
and amlabiiity and she talked to Lilly |
and smiled at Sam. and she really did
come out beautifully. considering Lilly
took a great notion to her.
@What nice, pleasant lady Mrs.
Wood is" she said, as we were folding
things up that night; ''and so pretty,
too, afhes.ase L think she's splendid"
''Glad to hear it, said l.
Dear me p she said. with her head
under the counter.
'Sister-in-law, you know" said I;
zone of the family it won't do to praise
her too much.
''Oh, [ wasn't thinking of what you
were saying" said she. 'I'm so sur
prised about my key. I'm sure | hung
it here. A little brass door-key, with a
nick in the handle and a piece of pink
ribbon tied to it. I can't think where it
is gone.
Well, we both looked everywhere.
We unrolled packages and peeped into
boxes, and poked down cracks in the
floor Lilly kept worrying about get
ting locksmith to fit another before she
could get in. and said Rosa was always
so tired.
Rosa was her sister. The two were
orphans and kept house together in one
little room of respectable tenement
house.
"I've always had tea ready before
Rosa got in,'' said Lilly, "but tonight
she will have to wait
"It's odd how we remember little
things sometimes Perhaps the girls
pretty, puzzled facs and graceful motion
as she ran about looking for her key,
impressed this one on my mind At all
events we did not find the notched key
tied with pink ribbon and Lilly went
home without it. I told Margaret Ann
about it when | saw her next and she
inquired very politely of Lilly as to the
end of the affair, when she next saw her.
The key was never found, but Lilly said
she had two made SO that such thing
; could never happen again. She could
| keep one and Rosa the other.
| ''And as l presume it was lost here,
you must have the value of it from US, y
, said Margaret Ann. "It's not very
7 much, but it is just And that thought
, very kind of the Widow Wood, consider
1 ing.
: Well, time passed on, and one day
was about like the other. Winter went
e and spring came. People began to &C
e to the country, and trade was dull. And
Sam told me that Lilly and he were tc
: be married soon-God willing.
g had just left Sam when Margaret
: AIMS colored girl stepped across the
street and told me that her mistres:
y wanted to see me.
+ Of course | went over. And when
G got into the back parlor, I found Mar
d garet Ann wrapped up in a shawl, he
eyes red with crying.
e Anything happened % says I.
# eyes," says she, Il am afraid so. 0
n am so sorry"
e .Dear me Do mention the fact,
d says l.
1t We'll" says she, 81 can hardly bea
r. to do it; but-who has chance to tn
n safe besides you and me p
e Nobody but Lilly Rathbone," says
i. '..You are sure" says she.
IS ''Why, of course" says I.
l. "Ah, we'll! !'' says she, perhaps ther
re is another way out of it. Maybe you'v
le had occasion to use that money of mine
I I mean the thousand dollar bank not
W that put in there in red pocket boo
last week.
f, "No," said |. Of course I'd hav
N spoken of it. 1t was your private mon
ey."
ct "It's gone, Richard" !" says she. ''Yo
e, saw me look into the safe to-day ?''
IS YES" says |.
l. "Well, says she, sit was gone ther
~ [ couldn't bring myself to speak of i
It You see girl like that has so man
" temptations going to marry, and al
lg Richard, promise me that you wont hay
at her arrested, or anything if it is her.
W .'It's not" | cried Besides, it ws
e. your money. You would be the pros,
;" cutor of any thief
Dear me, says she, ''and I'll let he
US go; but | must get it back, and 81
m must leave the store"
I'd "How can you think so i'll of the girl ?
said |. "Why don't you suspect me
'e, I'm ever so much more of a doubtfl
character than she is"
e, "You are my brother-in-law, sal
Margaret Ann. s.Now come to the stol
with me and we'll search If we don
Us find it, shall charge Lilly with Il
theft tomorrow, and if she don't confes
ed get a search warrant out for her room
e L. ! L L j