The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-01-29
ALLIE UNIONS TRIAL.
BY CHERRY JAMES.

BY CHERRY JAMES.
"She has stolen my ring; tell you no
clearly that pulled it off and laid it on
the counter while tried on those fur rid
ing gloves. No one but this girl has waited
on me, and no other has taken it. There
stands the thief" ~
The speaker, fashionably dressed, styl-
ish young lady, was greatly excited; she
stood the centre of gaping crowd at one
of the counters in the large establishment
of Burt & Bond, while her finger pointed
with stern accusation at one of the shop
girls, who, with face pale as death, chung
in a sort of dunno stupor to the counter for
support. The speaker had missed a valua-
BILE diamond ring from her finger, the coun-
tiers and floor had been carefully searched
without leading to its discovery, and the
suspicion which the loser entertained from
the moment of first missing the ring was
no longer concealed.
"There stands the thief. am as posi-
tive of it as that l live," she continued,
sternly.
"Do not say that. Oh, please do not!'
the accused, after several choking efforts,
managed to gasp out. 81 have not taken
your ring. I did not even see it. Search
me, if you think am deceiving you"
ooh, no doubt you have safely concealed
it long before this. Such hardened wretches
as you understand such things" sneeringly
remarked the other. "Guy," she added,
turning to the gentleman accompanying
her, "call an officer at once, please. shall
deliver this creature over to justice"
"Mercy, oh, have mercy" moaned the
accused, piteously. cit will kill my poor
old mother; and oh, am innocent
The handsome face of the young man
flushed a deep red, us, laying his hand with
restraining gesture upon the lady's arm,
he pleaded: I" beg of you think this over
again, Anna. That poor girl don't look
like thief or criminal. Her face and &C
tions are too innocent and honest for that,
and feel certain she has not committed
the theft
"Tush, Guy. you are led captive by her
pretty face, and your silly disposition to
believe all the world as honest as yourself, :"
she replied, impatently, and with sting
of something like jealousy in her words as
well. "Besides, you seem to forget, Guy,
that it is the diamond ring that you gave
me.'
81 will purchase you a handsomer one
to replace it. Come, we will go for it at
once, and forget all about this affair"
She broke away angrily from his restrain
ing grasp. "Guy, you are blind. l know
this girl deliberately stole the ring, and l
shall remain here until she is in custody.
Will not some one call an officer?'
In few moments police officer ap-
peared, who, after listening to the charge
made against the poor girl by the young
lady, said, looking upon the deathly pale
face of the accused Dit must have been a
timid, trusting, honest face, and very lovely
before the terror of this charge changed it,
and it strangely moved the officer, for he
had a daughter just about her age also
serving in a store, and he thought how it
would kill him, if some day she we're charged
with crime like this):-
"Of course, mi S. if you charge her with
the theft and demand her arrest, l must
take her with me; but a Jail is an awful
place for such a tender, innocent looking
thing to be locked up in. Maybe some one
here would like to accompany US to JUS
tice and go bail for her appearance. 1t
would be an act of mercy to the poor thing"
He looked straight at the members of the
firm, but they saw, if he did not, the storm
of passionate anger his words occasioned
in the breast of the accusing lady. One OF
them drew him aside to whisper, "We dare
not assist the girl. This lady who makes
the charge is the daughter of the wealthy
and influential Mr.. Reynolds, and we can
not afford to do any thing that would alien
ate her patronage from u.s."
The officers lip curled in scorn, as, turn
ing to the accused girl, he said, grasping
her hand tenderly, "Come with me, pool
thing; there is no help for it. Keep up like
brave little woman, now
1t probably was his touch that aroused
the girl from her stupor. Casting one last
bewildered stare upon the faces about her.
she seemed to fully realize the hopelessness
of her position, and, moaning out, "My
poor old mother! my poor mother she
dropped to the floor unconscious.
At this juncture the gentleman who wa:
with the accusing young lady turned again
to her, and, laying his hand gently upor
her shoulder, said:
Gamma, l plead with you for the girl:
mothers sake, if not for her own, relin
quish this purpose of yours, and forget al
about the fatal ring"
"Guy Halford," she exclaimed, throw
ing off his touch, her face livid with anger
"your interest in this creature is very I'm
reasonable, to say the least Your petit
tions in her behalf only make me NOR,
determined not to rest until see her thu
| inmate of a prison, where she deserved,
belongs
The young man stepped aside with
very flushed face as the accused girl wa
carried out by the kind hearted policeman
placed in cab and driven off to polio
station. A minute after, Miss Reynolds
having completed her purchases, calle'
upon him to escort her to her carriage, and
at her direction, they were driven to tn
police court. The magistrate in attend
ance, learning that she was Miss Reynolds
daughter of the wealthy merchant to whom
in great degree, he owed his position
blocked the wheels of justice long enougI
to grant her, in the most obsequious man
ner, private interview.
She reiterated her charge Of theft agains
the shop girl and he. after listening after