The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-18
90 Read fhaf -

LIB, he SAID, YOU'D make an ex-
cellent detective. It's pity your sex
shuts you out from 80 congenial field
of action"
Mrs. Mayfeld smiled quietly. She
could afford to be tolerant. She would
not quarrel with the patient for making
WY face over bitter pill.
Sat any rate" said Tom, "don't act
hastily in this matter. The bill may
turn up, but then it may be too late to
heal the wound you may inflict by undue
precipitation.
With that he left the room.
Miss Compton did not appear Mt the
tea table. Mrs. Mayfield looked signifi-
cantly across at her cousin, but he sat
looking doggedly down into his plate.
In the evening, while working in the
garden in moody thought, he suddenly
came face to face with the governess.
She had shawl thrown over her head,
and was fastening toward the house.
Upon seeing him she started back, and
would have avoided him but he was at
her side in an instant, recollection of
Mrs. Maytield's suspicion of her meeting
her brother flashing through his mind.
Miss Compton -
She turned upon him, and grasped his
arm almost fiercely.
"Do you believe her p she demanded.
81 heard her telling YOU"
Then you must have heard my re-
ception of her absurd suspicion"
" That is true, replied the governess,
with an air of relief.
Miss Compton, said Tom, taking
her hand, 81 cannot express my regret
that you should have overheard my
cousin, who, at best, is but a woman
easily influenced by outward appear
ances. But since you did hear her, 1
am about to prove to you that in my
mind, mt least, not shadow of suspicion
rests against you. Miss Compton
Jessie-let me call you So love you,
and ask you to be my wife !"
With sharp cry, she snatched her
hand away, and broke from him.
"Don't don't !" she cried. ct am
satisfied that you believe in my inno-
cence in this case but, aside from this,
am unworthy of you. Do not enter
tain the thought for moment"
"Jessie, know all ; but, if you return
my love, will brave the opinion of the
world. ., let me stand between you and
it Give me the right to be your pro-
tector."
"No, no, Mr.. Harkworth. 1 cannot
accept the sacrifice your generosity would
prompt you to make. l cannot drag You
down with me. And now let me pass,
please"
"Jessie, is this your final answer"
" Yes, final. 1t must be So" she said
in broken voice.
"One moment" he said. "Do not
think that L give you up. 1 do not be-
lieve l am indifferent to you, and some
day / shall renew my suit"
With that he stepped aside and let her
pass.
The next morning Mrs. Mayfeld's maid
came to her and said
"Just see, ma'am, what found in
baby's Clothes"
And she put into the lady's hand a
crrlmpled five dollar note. 1t was mutt
lated and wet, indicating that it must
have been in the childs mouth.
"Dear me !" said Mrs. Mayfield, with
a look of distress, cit must have blown
down on the floor, where baby could get
it. Then he got it into his mouth and
afterward dropped it down into the
bosom of his dress. 1t must have been
overlooked in undressing him."
She fastened with the bill and her ex-
lips. ~
"This is very poor salve for the pain
your tongue caused her yesterday" he
said, gravely.
I'm sure didn't mean to be unjust"
said Mrs. Mayfeld, with a whimper.
Then she ran to Miss Compton's room
to apologize. The chamber was empty.
A note explained the matter.
"Of course, cannot stay under your
roof with the suspicion of theft resting
upon me. The money due me will
more than repay you the amount you
suspect me of having stolen from YOU
the injustice of which may never be
known save to God and myself. DO not
think thet L entertain hard feelings
toward you. L dOnot. Appearances are
certainly against me. But my useful
ness would end with the loss of your con-
fidence, and hence l go. Jessie Comp
ton."
4hio' 4h"J hciu Mcpo ONci luc hOt.
Tom put it into his pocket without COM
ment. He Immediately employed
private detective and hunted her up.
Miss Compton," he said, " it would
be only generous i'll you to return and
receive my cousins apologies"
When he had carried his point, and
Mrs. Mayfield had again and again begged
Jessie's pardon with tears, he said
" You cannot better show your perfect
forgiveness than by consenting to retain
your position.
That was purely selfish. However, he
was ably seconded by Mrs. Mayneld,
and between them they almost con-
strained compliance with their wishes.
Tom had quiet laugh in his sleeve,
noting his cousins enthusiasm, and
thinking how it would be cooled down
by a little peep into his mind
While they were talking tragedy was
being enacted in another part of the city.
A fugitive from justice, being hard
pressed by the police, shot himself rather
than be captured. Tom took charge of
the body of John Compton, and secured
for it decent burial.
Six months after that he shocked his
cousin and the devotees of Mrs. Grundy