American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-11-30

was not slow to discover. BY painful
degrees her keen eyes took in the situa-
ton, and her emotions changed, as the
case became hopeless, from love to
hatred; she seemed to echo the poets
assertion;
To love you WAS pleasant enough,
But, OIL tits delicious to hate you
Neither was Polly's existence made
more agreeable just at this time. Han
nah's amusement was to thwart Baxter
in his lovc-making, to send him wild
goose chase of mile or t~t in the
wrong direction, to put stumbling
blocks in the way. But she did not
stop here; she suggested to Thornley,
slow mind the possibility of an elore,
ment, of duty neglected "alone Of spoon
ing Upon Polly"
"Do we know any thing about Bax-
terp Did he have a recommendations
she darkly insinuatcd. "Didn't l eau
ton you against taking him in? If you
lose any thing through him and Polly,
don't lay it to my door, that's all"
"Him and Pollys" gasped Thornley,.
Baxter"
Hannah had hit the mark at last.
Blessings brighten as they take their
flight. Polly might have lived at Thorn
ley Farm for century, and Thornley,
never have found out that she was dear
er to him than Hannah, till some one
else should threaten to claim her. AT
ter that, Baxter could do nothing to
please him, he lay in wait and watched
the lovers as cat watches a mouse, and
worried them as cruelty.
One evening Miss Hannah entered
the room where Polly was sitting in the
twilight.
"Plotting mischief, reckon" she
said. care you fond of darkness,
Polly, cause your deeds are evilP Strike
a light, girl. I'd a roll of crisp bank
bills in my hand an hour ago-Square
Emery paid his butter bill this after
noon; 1 put 'em in my gown pocket
when Hiram called me to turn the
birthstone and they're gone! Now
you needn't tell me they're gone with.
out hands,
"There's been no pickpocket here,
Miss Hannah"
Saint thereP When you take folks
in out of the highway, without no recon-
mendation, how do you know what their
habits lisp To be sure, l didn't suspect
no one of having stole 'em out of my
pocket; there's hole IN it; I'd forgot
about it; and naturally them bills must
have dropped out between here and the
barn; but Hiram and me has hunted
the place over and again, and it stands
to reason they couldn't have travelled
further without hands"
"Mercy!" cried Polly. "How much
was thcreP''
ga whole hundred dollars, miss and
if it amt forthcoming, somebody'll
smart for it,
"You don't think that took your
money, Miss Hannahp'
swell, maybe not; but its gone-and
there's Baxter"
"Baxter!''
"Yes, indeed. What do you or know
about the fellowP"
81 know he wouldn't do it,
"He'n have to prove it. I'll have
him up before the court, sure as you
live.'
Polly could hardly keep her anger
from flaming into audacious words; the
bare suspicion was blow to her. She
believed in Baxter thoroughly; though
an angel had accused him, yet would
she have upheld him. But how often
have the innocent suffered! how often
has injustice triumphed over justice! To
be suspected merely was an irreparable
injury, she thought. Baxter might lose
his good name, his work might be sent
to prison-every thing might go against
him, and he had nobody but her for de-
tense. AS it happened, he had gone
down to the village to get the mail and
do some chores, and while Hannah, in
and Polly defended, small boy
knocked at the door to bring the pleas
ing news that "Mr. Baxter, the fellow
as works for old Thornley,, give me a
quarter to run up and let you know he
wouldn't be to home to night, and may
be not tomorrow neither, as he'd been
called away sudding like along of let
teri
"There!" calculated Hannah, 81
hope you're convinced. He's abscond-
ed. I'll have the law after him sure as
his names Baxter, which dare say it
amt"
Were your bills new greenbacks?
and did you take the numbers?" asked
Polly.
"Crisp and fresh as new cabbage
leaves; and as for the numbers, they
we're fives and tens just as it hap
pened." ~ ,-,-
ave must have another good search
before you accuse any one." a
"Only them that hides can find"
And Polly spared no pains; every
minute that she could secure from her
duties was spent in the search; but
when the second night and day passed
without bringing Baxter, or any tidings
rom him, her heart sank beneath the
weight of Miss Hannah's words; not
hat she doubted him for an instant, but
he suspicion might keep him away,
md she might never see his face again
There was now but one thing to do, and
she did it. She begged leave of Miss
Hannah to go to town and mail a letter
"Lor', Hiram'll mail it for you,"