Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-11

! lonely meditatiOnS- Her thoughts soon
+ found utterance:
/ "What change" she murmured-
.'what a change from our happy condi-
/ ton of a week ago, / can hardly realize
/ il. A bank robbed, and Charles arrested
/ as the perpctrator of the robbery and
/ thrown into prison, How could they
| ever suspect him? Yet the circumstan-
ces are very mysterious, and hasty IN
vestigatiOn points to him. 1t Is evident
/ TO me, though, that he only left Orryille
/ temporarfIy-that he was really called
away. Strange that he should have deS-
troyed the letter, and that il turns ont
there is no such person as Greenup in
| Dalton, 1t is not at all strange that he
should have become excited when cou-
pie of men laid their hands on him as he
was getting out of the train, and told
him he was a thief, and was wanted i'm
mcdiatciy at OTTville. Who wOuldn' [ get
excited under such circumstances =
What nonsense they allege, They say
he might have written the note himself,
and passed it through the post. But
know he has not the least link of cOnnec-
tion with the affair; and the authorities
have no right to commit him to prison,
when he can obtain bail from half dOZ-
en- different persons. But the people
here are so excited that they will listen
to nothing" \ tear tricklcd down her
pale cheeks. "Pshaw. I'll not be such
a baby; all Will be right yet
She sat in the boat until the lights in
the different departments of the hotel hO-
tel gradually disappeared, and was just
about to rise and return to the house,
when figure, coming down the path to-
wards her, induced her to retain her
seat. The figure proved to be that of the
young merchant, Mr.. Van Haven. Mat
tie had always been attracted by the
the gay New Yorker, and rather enjoyed
his society than otherwise. SO she re-
maincd seated until he took his place by
her side.
Let's row out upon the lake" said
Van Haven, without an unnecessary
Good evening"" as he raised the oarS
and pulled gently from the shore. lit is
IA very quiet night, and We shall not be
disturbed. Most of the folks have retir-
ed. w must move o2sstieusly.''
''Why:" questioned Matte, rather sur
prised at this remark.
why? DO you want to betray your
ScIf:''
"Betray myself. Why, what are YOU
talking about, Mr.. Van Haven"
just then the moon, which had been
shining on his back, fell full upon his
face, and revealed cOuntenance with an
unusually strange expression, and TO the
that her companion was asleep, Van
Haven had been known to walk in his
sleep, and perform a great many marvel
Gus feats while in that condition; and
Matte Harris herself had happened TO
meet him once while enjoying a SOmnam-
bulistic ramble. So she was not at all
frightened by the circumstances under
which she suddenly found herselfplaced,
but some what aStOnished; and, being
younOr lady Of CroD1 IpqI of mischief
and possessed of the usual amount of Gu
riosity, of course she determined to let
her companion continue on his uOctUr-
nal excursion.
''What are you talking abOut:" repeat
ed Matte, her saddencd features giving
place to an amused smile.
''You know well enough what l am
talking about, jim. We must secure it
tonight. 1t may be found where we
have hidden it, and that would be the
last of us. That letter was a sharp thing
of ours, wasn't it: l trcmble lest Lacy
may be clcared-thOugh, then suspician
would seek some other party. So we'd
better find other quarters rs soon as VIC
can possibly do SO without causing any
comment upon it; and, of course, we will
not let the money remain where it is
now
At the mention of Lacy's name. and
money Mattie's mind, which for the
past week had been invariably coupling
those words together, caught eagerly aJ
the suspicion thus aroused; and her very
frame shook rs the light of great disclo
sure suddenly flashed upon her. She had
found one of the guilty parties concerned
in the bank robbery, and could liberatc
her lover!
The discovery was almost too much for
her. \ dim mist sufTused her eyes. She
clutchcd eagerly the side of the boat
But she soon recovered the first shcck,
yet did not permit herself to speak she
trcmblcd so violently.
Van Haven continued:
I'VE must leave tomorrow; don't yuU
think Sog'
Yes" venturcd Matte. ..Now lets
be quiet, for fear We should be heard
"All right
They moved slowly aud uoiseIc--Iy
across the ripping watercS OF the lake,
until they reached the opposite shore.
the woods hung darkly over the tran
quill depths, and all was quiet. Van
Haven tied the boat to "a Sapliug. and
stepped ashore, followed silently 10y Mat
ti.. lie led the way TO a dense thickct of
unlcrbrUsh, pauSiug moment To assure
himself that they were alone. Having
satisfied himself of this point, he took
few steps forward and cautiously raised
a large stone. Under it lay Caskct.
lie picked il mp and replaced the stone.
IN carry it, said Mattje. with ayiui-
Gus caEerucsS, feeling confident that II
She once got possession of the stolen
money all would be well with her.
VERY wcll,' said the somuambli>t,
aud consigned the ca>kot TO her keeping.
''Nuw let us get TO the boat again, and We
will finish the arrangement of our plans
IS we cross over for Orrville.
Matte considered ii q matter OF pTu-
dcuCe TO agree, and followed her sleep
ing companion TO the lake. lie took his
seat in the boat and looseucl the chain
from the SapiiuS, cnioininE his associate
10 maintain perfect silence until they
should be out on the lake. He seemed TO
think that all was well, and showed OF
from the shore.
Matte stood I'm the moonlight, aud
watched the boat and its solitary oars
man until both were concealed within
the dark shadow OF the mountain, be-
hind which the moon was fast hiding
herself.
I'm safe uow,' she said. with a iov-
ful bound. But what shall do:" I'm
half mile from any house, and have no
means OF crossing the lake. There i a
road here some where, though. which
Z leads round to the town. I'll walk to the
hotel, ii it takes me till morning, There
i no time 10 be lost
SO saying, she began her search for
f the road, which was soon found: and
/ after four hours of rapid walking. for
/ which the excitement of the occasion lent
/ the requisite amount of strength. she
/ reached OrrYille.
/ She lost no time in informing the au-
/ thoritieS Of the town of her singular adj
/ venture, producing the casket for their
/ examination in proof of her statement.
Early in the morning, before most OF
( the guests had arisen. the Orrville House
/ was surrounded by halfa dozen men, ev-
identity intent upon the capture of some