Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-05-02

Sl,npkins was gong to stay to tea.
And then Mr.. Simphins took his
leave with a roguish twinkle of lis eye
towards the young people, and Mrs.
Peckington went over to spend the
evening with Mrs. Do1cas Dottleford,
her pet crony, and Cora sat all alone
in the fire light, sowing, signing and
thinking. For George Merrilton had
gone home early to secure Mr.. Simp-
kins' companionship part of the way
through the lonely roads which were
already becoming veiled in snow.
Tho tall, old-fashioned clock in the
angle of tho old fashioned kitchen
chimney had just struck midnight,
when Cora Dalles was reused from her
sleep by shceted form at tho foot of
her bed--tall and narrow, clad in white
but no ghost, nevertheless, but Mrs.
Peckinyton's self.
What's tho matter?" cried Cora,
breathlessly.
"My money!" gasped the widow,
waving her hands tragically in tho air.
"But what Of it p
"It's clean gone, stolen, took away 2
caro- you sure % eagerly demanded
Cora.
Gas sure us am that you're staring
at me now. felt up chimney for it
tho last thing aforo l got ready to so to
bed, and it was-gone."
In vain proved all search. Neither
up chimney, nor down cellar, nor i'll
any imaginable or unimaginable corner
was the bag of gold pieces to be found.
Mrs Peckington,' said Cora, husk-
lily {: it must have been stolen
eyes," said Mrs. Peckinytou. whose
lips were now compressed, and there
was something i'll her manner that Cora
had never before noticed, as she called
the itc-headed farm boy, and told
him TO yum over ana ask Farmer Simp-
kins to step to the Peckinyton place
that morning.
"And you may as we'll stop for
George Merrilton, as you come back, "
said she.
When he was gone, she came up close
to Cora Dalles.
"Cora," said she I" 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 wllat?" she innocently
asked.
"That you took the money; there
was no one else that could have done
it. You were here all alone last even
ing, and know it was strong temp
tation to gal that never had five dol
lars of her own in the world. Cora,
you're young, child, and don't believe
you're altogether bad, but Satan Sits
us all as wheat, and"
"Stopr' cried Cora, growing whito
and breathless, you suspect mo-you
think l am thief! Mrs. Peckington
may God forgive you; forgive you for
your cruel suspicion
Mrs. Peckington was silent. She
knew not how she could help the i'm
preston which so strongly bore upon
her mind. Who but Cora Dalles could
have taken the missing gold?
"George, George" gasped the poor
girl, fitting up to him as if 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 you?"
George Merrilton's eyes sparkled ner-
vously.
"Cousin Clarissa, Ivould stake my
life on Cora's innocence"
Mrs. Pecklngton shook her head.
"Itlooks 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 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 I am by your side"
But where's Mr.. Simpkins 2" asked
the widow. missing her strongest ally
in this hour of need.
If you please Ma'am,' said the
white-headed farm boy, 6" he had gone
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 till the last of the week"
81,