Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-07


hard on you. Confess now, and Well see
how the matter can be cleared up.'
Cora opened wide her brown eyes.
"Confess what?" she asked, innocently.
"That you took the money; there was
no one else that could have done it. You
were here all alone yesterday evening,
and | know it was strong temptation to
a gal that never had five dollars of her
own in the world. Cora, you're young,
child, and | don't believe you're alto
gether bad, but Satan sits US all as wheat
and"
"Stopw cried Cora, growing white and
breathIess; you suspect me-yOu think
| am thief Mrs. Peckington, may God
forgive you; forgive you for your very
cruel suspicionm
Mrs. Peckington was silent She knew
not how she could help the impression
which so strongly bore upon her mind.
Who but Cora Dallas could have taken
the missing gold?
George, Georgew gasped the poor
girl, fitting up to him as for safety, as
the door opened and the stalwart form of
George Merrilton appeared :" she believes
| that l stole the money; you do not think
so, do you?"
George Merrilton's eyes sparkled
nervously. cousin CIarissa, would
stake my life on Cora's innocence"
Mrs. Peckington shook her'head.
1t looks very ugly for her." she said,
but of course if she can prove it"
1t needs no proof in my eyes," said
| George, quietly, as he drew Cera's arm
within his. "There, little one, don't
! tremble so, and look so wonderfully
frightened-no one shall dare harm you
as long as [ am by your side"
But where's Mr.. Simkins?" asked the
widow, missing her strongest ally in this
hour of need.
Ifyou please, ma'am," said the white
headed farm boy, che had gone away
suddenly to Allenville at four O'Clock this
morning to see his father, as he had
stroke, and they don't expect him back not
until the last of next week"
Mrs. PeckingtOn stood undecided.
"At all events" she said, turning to
Cora Dallas, "yOu can't expect shelter
under my roof IA longer. I didn't look
for such treatment from YOU"
cousin Clarissa,". said Merrilton,
bravely, 81 love Cora Dallas, and stand
here to espouse her cause. You may
sue her if you like"
e shan't do that" said the widow;
"leastwise not until Jehorum Simkins
comes home to advise me what's best"
But" went on George MerriltOn, az
shall make her my wife this very day, in
order that | can offer her home in place
Of the one Of which you cruelty deprived
her"
The widow, albeit naturally a kind
hearted woman, fired up at this.
"Of course I've nothing to say" she
said, elf you chose to marry a thief"
But she stopped here-the upblazing
fire in Mentions eye admonished her to
go no further.
1t was lonely enough those cold winter
days, sitting at her fireside, the money
gone, the merry sound of George Merrill
TOMS voice silent and COra's bright pres
enCe vanished.
IF I should be wrong in 'spOsing she
took it," she said to herself, " I should be
dreadful sorry to think of all the ugly
names [ called her-but I don't see as
there can possibly be any doubt to it.
Any way, JehOrum will advise me when
he comes. "
And on the dusky eve Of Saturday night
Farmer Simkins came.
{" | never was so glad to see anybody in
all my born days." said Mrs Peckington,
impulsively jumping from her seat-and
she told him the story of the vanished
bag fgoId before he had a chance to de-
posit his portly bulk upon the chair she
Hospitality drew forward.
Mr. Simkins turned doll red-then q
tallOw white-got up and sat down again,
and finally dragged a leather bag from
the recess of his butternut-c0lOred coat
tail
"IH never play off a practical joke
again, blamed eff [ do" he calculated;
for [ declare to gracious I hadn't any
idea of the mischief was dom! Here's
the money, Clarissy-I heard you tell the
folks where it was as | was a scTapin' the
snow off my feet under the window that
night, and | reached it down just for joke
when you was gone to see about the sup
per. | meant to have brought it back the
next morning, and have good laugh with
you about the burglars, but you see howl
was fiXed-father got poorly, and l
couldn't think Of nothin' but him-but
you won't lay it up again me, Clarissy,
now will yOu?'
but Cora Ballast" gasped the aston
isned widow, "I've told everybody that
she took it.'
"Then you and I must go round and
explain matters to everybody, that's all"
said the farmer.
Anu MIS- 4 CChluS lon bCSdA w VI
"Poor Coral" she s0bbed; "pOor
motherless child! I could bite out my
tongue when 1 think what wicked things
have spoken with it. But I'll go right
over there and beg her pardon, and
Georges, too"
Cora Merrilton forgave Mrs. Picking
tOn-more than her husband could bring
himself to do-and she even came over
to help the widow make wedding cake
for her own matrimonial benefit
"For, of course, / knew it would all be
set right sooner or later" said Cora,
cheerfully, land we1l let by-gones be
by-gones."
And the widow solaced her conscience
by presenting Mrs. Cora with just half the
contents Of the mischievous leather bag
for a wedding present.
Congressional Speeches With the Laugh
Left Out.