The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-01

sald MIS- johns, hOOthlngly " never tor-
get that the Almighty is stronger than
man, and who can tell by what mysterious
providence he may clear you from suspi-
cion, and exonerate you before the
world ?"
cob! God help me p quivered the pale
lips a few tears fell, and the sewing was
resumed.
" Has Miss Westerly been near you
yet P' asked Mrs. Johns.
No, nor my aunt, nor any one connect
ed with the house have you seen Belle,
latelyP"
"No, nor do want to-prefdious, cruel
girl T"
"Why, Mrs. Johns, you do not think
you surely do not think" she did not
finish the sentence, but sat bending for
ward, her hand pressed the table till the
delicate cords stood out, her eyes wildly
dilating, her lips apart.
81 think your cousin knows all about it (;
she was cunning as an infant, deceitful as
a child she is as deep and deceptive a
woman as her autecedents presaged."
ooh Mrs. Johns, what could be her
motive She SO beautiful with luxury
surrounding her, an heiress, and / only a
poor orphan, with hitherto an unspotted
name. cannot suspect her cannot
think she would do so deadly a wrong"
My friend bent forward and whispered
in her ear. The fair girl crimsoned, neck,
hands, brow, then hiding her face, 1
thought she wept.
When she lifted her head her strength
seemed gone, and she said, as if with an
effort, "I did think that, sometimes she
was so strange whenever he came. Oh !
Mrs. Johns, if God would but take me to
himself! 1t seems as if 1 could not bear
this dreadful, unmerited disgrace" She
burst into tears and sobbed violently. l
walked away to another part of the room
l was sorry had come, for my heart beat
painfully at the sight of sorrow so real, so
agonizing and longed, in some way, to
exonerate her from this vile charge.
While stood at the grated window, the
same at which l had seen her the night
before, heard my dear friend soothing her
with her own soft voice and gentle words,
till she became more quiet
"And if it should be so,' said Mrs.
Johns, "when your friend arrives, it will
in some manner be cleared up ; he may
find important testimony. 1 am sure he
will feel unbounded confidence in your in
tegrity a man like De Witt Dalston is not
swayed like reed either by good or i'll
fortune. Put your trust and faith in God
who is able to save unto the utteImost."
"Oh am all wonder to know how any
one could accuse that sweet girl of crime p'
was my first exclamation, as we left the
gloomy precincts of the Jail. "Her very
face is an index of integrity ! shan't
sleep for thinking of it while am here.
An orphan too no mother to weep with
her-no father to vindicate her; wonder
how she can live, guiltless though she is.
I" had rather be there, my head pillow.
ed within cell, than to lie ON the costly
down on which her cousin dreams, for
think she is at the bottom of the whole af
fair. have no doubt but that she OBJ.
tanned false keys, and placed the bank-bills
and jewelry in her Cousins trunk. She
was always plotter, spoiled, neglected
child, who never scrupled to lie and dis
simulate; and now with her passions full.
grown, she would stoop to the meanesi
treachery."
"But what could be her motive ?" ask
ed, as Mrs. Johns ceased speaking.
Love for this young supercargo who is
engaged to Alice. He was frequent Wis
itor in the family, after the innocent, art.
less child went there. Alice was ostensibly
one of the family in her uncle's house, but
she fully earned her living she was a
slave at the needle and kept in the back
ground as much as possible. De Witt saw
in her the woman he wanted for wife
and before he left port, six months ago
Alice was engaged TO him. He had beer
gone three months when the valuable
jewels and bank-notes were missing. The
time was well chosen; Alice was ready Il
go on journey, some thirty miles away,
to visit another uncle--a farmer. All the
house was searched one morning suspi
cion fen upon one servant after another
and Belle Westerly confessed, with great
trepidation and many tears, as If the words
were wrung from her, that she had found
one of the bank-bills in her cousins travel
ing-dress that morning. An officer was il
attendance, and there, concealed with the
greatest care, between the lining of the
trunk were many bank-bills, rich neck