Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-02-08
N. O. ..WALLAGE,
AnAppalling Discovery.
A Strange and Thrilling story.

- . VI GA 80 0AAO mining 0SOAyS
The night shadows were begin
ming to settle downsupon the earth.
All day the rain had been falling,
sometimes lightly, sometimes in
heavy showers. The roses and
/ pinks in the garden had sickly
Ilook, for their petals hung low and
and were heavy. with water, aud
with the mud that had splashed
upon them. The clouds were
still dark and threatening, be-
speaking q stormy night The
little town of Ashton was t1nusn-
ally quiet. The streets were too
muddy and the weather too in.
element to entice people from
their homes. Only now and then
a solitary traveller was to be seen.
These, business had driven forth,
and they walked with rapid steps,
anxious TO again get under shelter
In vine-wreathed cottage, on
a fowery sprinkled lawn, the sup
per had been waiting over an hour
for the master of the house,
whose business had necessitated
his being absent from home all
."
day. Mr.. Jacobs was the tax col
lector of the township, and con-
eequently could not wait the re-
turn of pleasant weather before
pursuing the journey. There
fore he had equipped himself In
his India rubber over-garment. in
the morning, and had gone about
his business, leaving his wife the
prtlnise of an early return in the
evening. But the supper hour
had come and gone without his
making an appearance. Mrs. ia
cobs, however, was not.anxious as
yet. Such delays were too fre
quent to cause this one to give her
any uneasiness of mind.
She fitted about the house,
busy with her evening duties, sing.
ing a gay song as she went. She
was a bright little woman, with a
world of courage written in her
dark, sparkling eyes, and on the
firm, red lips. .,r
! Anon she disrobed her two lit.
! tie ones, and put them to bed, and
when the night shadows turned
into inky blackness, she seated
herself by the lamp and began to
sew, still leaving the supper table
spread and the food on the stove,
keeping warm for the return Of her
husband. But the little clock on
the mantle shelf had told the hour
of ten, before his step was heard
at the door. s. 3
He came in hurriedly, and
strode to a seat without removing
his dripping outer garments or his
muddy boots. ~
WAS detained, Am in an aw-
full hurry. Going to Winchester
tonight" diving his hand into a
pocket of bis inner coat, and CLAN
cling snxioasly around the room.
ITO Winchester repeated his
wife in dismay. ''Twenty milesin
the storm I" ..:g,
"Can't be helped, ,'he returned:
"Business is business, you know
Tie removed his hand from his
,,ocket, took off his hal, and brush
| ed back his fair hair, revealing
the ra ther handsome face OF light
couplexioned, middleaged man.
He had large gray eyes, and their
glance wandered restlessly about
the apartment. % .
"Jane," be said suddenly again
diving his hand into the trouble;
some pocket, '1do you suppose that
you could take care Of q large sum
Of money till tomorrow 2
"Why, yes" she answered,
looking'up in surprise, /
81 have collected five thousand
dollars" he continued, "and it is
too late to get into bank, sand II
do not dare to carry SO much With
me" al ra.s.., ,si = 81
"Well, you can leave it here as
well as not. No one would think
of my having such sum Of mon
ey." t-z ,-7LE ~
He drew q large wallet from his
pocket and placed in her hands.
at belongs to the government,
and if you let it pass from your
hands, | am ruined" he comments
ed. And he arose as ii to depart.
"You are going to eat some sup.
per Z" she queried. ss
"No, | have no time to lose. ]
must make Winchester by mid.
nigh:. Good bye. Take good
care of the money, and fasten all
the doors" s--a'7 . 81
I He gave her a hurried kiss,
and the next moment he was
gone. -
But the sound Of his 6o,step,