Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-03-12

angle of the old-fashioned kitchen chin
ney had just struck midnight, when
Cora Dallas was reused from her sleep
by sheeted form at the foot of her bed
tall and narrow, clad in white-but
no ghost nevertheless, but Mrs. Peck
ington's self.
SWhat's the matter ?" cried Cora,
breathlessly.
"My money" |" gasped the widow,
waving her hand tragically in the air.
"But what of it?"
"It's stolen !"
care you e?" eagerly demanded
Cora.
"As sure as am that you're staring
at me now. felt up chimney for it the
last thing afore I got ready to go to bed,
and-it was gone"
In 7ain proved all search. Neither
up chimney, nor down cellar, nor in
any imaginable or unimaginable COR
uer was the bag of gold pieces to be
found.
"Mrs. Peckington," said Cora, hus-
kily, "it must have been stolen"
dyes" said Mrs. Peckington, whose
lips were now compressed, and there
was something in her manner that Cora
never before noticed, as she called the
headed farm boy, and told him to
run over and ask Farmer Simkins to
step to the Peckington place that morn
ing.
"And you may as well stopfor George
Merrilton, as you come back, said she.
When he was gone she came close up
to Cora Dallas.
"Cora," said she. eve two are alone
together now, and I 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 ?" she asked, inno-
Gently.
"That you took the money there
was no one else that could have done it.
You were here all alone yesterday even
ing, and know it was strong tempta-
ton to a gal that never had five dollars
of her own in the world. Cora, you're
young, child, and I don't believe you're
altogether bad, but Satan sifts us all as
wheat, and"
"Stop p cried Cora, growing white
and breathless "you suspect me-you
think am thief! Mrs. Peckington,
may God forgive you; forgive you for
your very cruel suspicion y
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 Dallas could
have taken the missing gold ?
"George, George !" gasped the poor
girl, fitting up tc him as for safety, as
the door opened and the stalwart form
of George Merrilton appeared she
believes that I stole the money; you
do not think so., do you2"..
George Merrilton's eyes sparkledner-
vously.
SCousin Clarissa, I would stake
my life on Cora's innocence"
Mrs. Peckington shook her head.
cit looks very ugly for her." she
said. "but OF course if she can prove
it"
cit needs no proof in my eyes," said
George, quietly, as he drew Cora's arm
within bis. "There, little one, don't
tremble ESQ, and look 80 wonderfully
frightened. one shall dare harm you
as long as I am by your side"
"B1t where's Mr.. Simklns ?" asked
the widow. missing her strongest ally
in this hour of need.
eff you please ma'am," 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 ex-
pect him back not until the last of next
week.
Mrs. Peckington stood undecided.
cat all events" she said, turning to
Cora Dallas, "you can't expect shelter
under my roof no longer. didn't look
for such treatment from you"
"Cousin Clarissa," said Merrilton
brayely, "I love Cora Dollas, and 1
stand here to espouse her cause. You
may sue her if you like"
"I shan't do that" said the widow,
" least wise not until Jehorum Simkins
comes home to advise me what's best"
But" went on George Merrilton,
"I shall make her my wife this very
day, in order that can offer her home
in place of the one in which you 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, eff you choose to marry thief"
But she stopped here--.the upblazing
fire in Merrilton's eyes admonished her
to go no further.
1t was lonely enough those cold win
ter days, sitting at her ireside, the
money gone, the merry sound of George
Merrilton's voice silent, and Cora's
bright presence vanished.
'If should be wrong in 'sposing she
took it," she said to herself, 81 should
be dreadful sorry to think of all the
ugly names 1 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 edge of Saturday
night Farmer Simpins came.
"I never was 80 glad to see anybody
in all my born days." said Mrs. Peck
ington, impulsively jumping up from
her seat-and she told him the story of
the vanished bag of gold, before he had
a chance to deposit his portly bulk
upon the chair she Hospitality drew
forward.
Mr.. Simpkins turned doll red-then
a tallow white-got up and sat down
again, and finally dragged leather
bag from the recess of his butternut-
colored coat-tail.