The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-09-11

frightened /; no one shall dare harm you
as long as 1 I'm by your side"
"But where's Mr.. Simkins ?" asked
the widow, missing her strongest ally in
this hour of need.
eff you please, ma'am," said the
white-headed farm-boy, she had gone
away suddenly to Allenville at four
o'clock this morning to see his father,
as he had a stroke, and they don't e.
pect him back not until the last of next
week."
Mrs. Peckington stood undecided.
sat all events" she said, turning to
Cora Dallas, "you can't expect shelter
under my roof nc longer. I didn't ask
for such treatment from you"
"Cousin Clarissa," said Merrilton,
bravsly, 81 love Cora Dallas, and 1
stand here to espouse her cause. You
may sue her if you like"
81 shan't do that" said the widow,
"leastwise not until Jehorun 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 I can offer her a home
in place Of the one of which you have so
cruelty deprived her
The widow, albeit naturally a kind
hearted woman, fred up at this.
"Of course I've nothing to say" she
said, eff You choose to marry a thief"
But she stopped here-the upblazins
fire in Merrilton's eyes admonished her
to go no further.
1t was lonely enough those cold win
ter days, sitting at her fireside, the
money gone, the merry sound of George
Merrilton's voice silent, and Cora's
bright presence vanished.
eff 1 should be wrong in 'sposing she
took it," she said to herself, Il 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 edge of Saturday
Farmer Simkins came.
Il never was SO glad to see anybody
in al my born days" said Mrs. Peck
ington, impulsively jumping up from
her seat-and she told hinAthe 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.. Simkins turned doll red-ther a
tallow white-Sot up and sat down
again, and finally dragged a leather bag
from the recess of his butterrut-colored
coat-tail.
81 neverN play Off a practical joke
again, blamed If l do" he calculated 4;
"for / declare to gracious l hadn't any
idea of the mischief l was dom! Here's
your money. Clarissy-I heard you tell
the folks where it was as I wal
a-scrapin' the snow off my feet under the |
window that night, and l reached it
down, inst for n joke, when you was
gone to see about the supper. 1 meant
20 have brought it back the next morn
ing, AID have a good laugh with you
about the burglars, but you see how l
was fixed-father got poorly, and l
couldn't think of nothin' but him-but
You won't lay it up again me, Clarissy, |
10Y viii you?"
but Cora Dallas 2" gasped the as
tonished widow. "I've told everybody |
she took it."
"Then you and l must 80 around and
explain matters to everybody, that's
all" said the farmer.
And Mrs. Peckington began to cry.
Poor Cora" she sobbed, "poor
motherlessc child {! Icouldbitem my tongue
when l think of what wicked things | |
have spoken with it. But I'll go right
over and beg her pardon, so l will, and
Georges, too"
Cora Merrilton forgave Mrs. Picking |
ton much more sweetly and readily
than her husband could bring himself
to do-and she even came over to help |
the widow make cake for her own we'd
ding.
"For, of course, 1 knew it would all
be set right ooner or later" said Cora,
c%heerfully, land well let bygones be
~bySones."
And the widow solaced her conscience