Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-10-28
eady to go to bed, and-it was

In vain proved all search. Neither
up chimney nor down cellar, nor in
any imaginable corner was the bag
of gold to be found.
"Mrs. Peckington,' said Cora,
huskily, "it must have been stolen"
"Yes," said Mrs. Peckington,
whose lips were now compressed,
and there was something in her
manner that Cora never before
noticed, as she called the white
headed farm-boy, and told Linn to
run over and ask Farmer Simkins
to stop to the Peckington place in
the morning.
"And you may as we'll stop for
George Merrilton as you come
back" she said.
When he was gone, she came
close up to Cora Dallas.
"Cora," said she, "we two are
alone together now, and l am the
last one to be hard on you; confess
now, and we'll see how the matter
can be cleared up"
Cora opened wide her brown eyes.
"Confess what Z" she asked in
nocently.
"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 a strong temptation
to a gall that never had five dol
lars of her own in the world. Cora
you are young child, and / don't
te'ieve you're at)gether bad, but
Satan Sits us all as wheat, and"
"Stop!" cried Cora, growing
white and breathless; "you sus-
pect me-you think l am a thief
Mrs. Peckington, may God forgive
you forgive you for your very
cruel suspicion"
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 miss
ing gold
"George, George ~ 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 / stole
the money; you do not think so,
do your
George Merrilton's eyes sparkled
nervously.
"Cousin Clarissa, would stake
my life on Cora's innocence.
Mrs. Peckington shook her head.
at locks very ugly for her."
she said "but of course if she ctn
prove it"
at needs no proof in my eyes,"
said George, quietly, as he drew
Cora'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 2"
asked the widow, missing her
strongest ally in this hour of need.
eff you please, ma,ma," said the
white headed farm-boy, "he 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 undecid-
ed.
"At all events" she said, turning
to Coar Dallas, "you can't expect
shelter under my roof no longer.
| didn't ask for such treatment
from you"
"Cousin Clarissa," said Merrilton,
bravely, 81 love Cora Dallas, and i
stand here to espouse her cause.
You may sue her if you like"
81 shan't do that" said the widow
"least-wise not until Jehorum Sim
kins comes home to advise me
what's best"
"But," went on George Merrillton,
81 shall make her my wife this very
day, in order that l can offer her
home in place of the one which you
have so 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 choose to marry
q thief"
But she stopped here-the up
blazing fire in Merrilton's eyes
admonisbed her to go no further.