The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-11-21
"Him and Polly p gasped Thornley,.

Jim ana Polly |! gasped Inofnley.
"Baxter p
Hannah had hit the mark at last.
Blessings brighten as they take their
fight. Polly might have lived at Thorn
ley farm for q century, and Thornley,
never have found out that she was dearer
to him than Hannah, till some one else
should threaten to claim her. After that
Baxter could do nothing to please him;
he lay in wait and watched the lovers as
o cat watches mouse, and worried them
as cruelty.
One evening Miss Hannah entered
the room where Polly was sitting in the
twilight.
Plotting mischief, 1 reckon" she
said. care you fond of darkness, Pol
ly, cause your deeds are evil Strike
a light, girl. I'd roll of crisp bank
bills in my hand an hour ago-Square
Emery paid his butter bill this after
noon; put 'em in my gown pocket
when Hiram called me to turn the grim
stone-and they're gone Now you
needn't tell me they're gone without
hands,"
"There's been no pickpocket here,
Miss Hannah"
saint there When you take folks
in out of the highway, without no re-
commendation, how do you know what
their habits is? To be sure, I didn't
suspect no one of having stole 'em out
of my pocket; there's hole in it; I'd
forgot about; 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 trav.
eled further without hands,"
"Mercy!" cried Polly. elbow much
was there2"
GA whole hundred dollars, miss; and
if it amt forthcoming, somebody'll
smart for it,"
"You don't think that I took your
money, Miss Hannah 2"
"Well, may be not; but it's gone
and there's Baxter"
"Baxter p
eyes, indeed. What do you or I
know about the fellow ?"
81 know he wouldn't do it."
"He'll have to prove it. I'll have
him up before the court, as 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
has the innocent suffered how often
has injustice triumphed over justice |
To be suspected merely was an irrepara-
BILE injury, she thought. Baxter might
lose his good name, his work might be
sent to prison-everything might go
against him, and he had nobody but her
for defense. As it happened, he had
gone down to the village to get the mail
and do some chores, and while Hannah
inveighed and Polly defended, small
boy knocked at the door to bring the
pleasing news that "Mr. Baxter, the
fellow as works for old Thornley,, give me
quarter to run up and let you know
he wouldn't be home tonight, and may
be not tomorrow neither, as he'd been
called away sudding like along of a
letter."
"There |" calculated Hannah, "I
hope you're convinced. He's absconded.
III have the law after him sure as his
names Baxter, which I 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
were fves and tens just as it hap
pened."
We must have another good search
before you accuse any one."
"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
from him, her heart sank beneath the
weight of Miss Hannah's words not
that she doubted him for an instant, but
the suspicion might keep him away, and
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 the town and mail a
letter.
"Lor', Hiram'll mail it for you," said
Hannah, intent upon mastering it's con-
tents first. But Polly was firm in the
matter /; the letter was too precious to
trust to another. 1t ran:
"MR. BAxTER-If you are staying
away from your work and losing wages
because you are suspected of finding
Miss Hannah's money, which she lost
the day you left, please return at once,
as money has been found, and your good
name is restored, though never suspect
ed by your friend,
"PAULINE POWERS"
But her object in town was not merely
to mail this document she went direct
from the postoffice to the bank where
her little hoard was growing, and drew
out hundred dollars in crisp gceen-
backs, fves and tens, trusting that they
made no larger parcel than Miss Han
nahs; then she retraced her steps
homeward, and quietly dropped the
precious roll on the floor of Miss Han
nah's closet, where it might easily have
been overlooked after falling from the
rent in her pocket; she wisely con-
iectured that the next day being Friday,
Miss Hannah would bring it to light
with her broom.
"What's all this about Miss Han
nah's money and my good name ?" asked
Baxter, when he returned on Saturday
and found opportunity to speak to Polly
privately. Polly related the facts, leav-
ing out her own share in the results.
"And where was the money found 2"
"Miss Hannah found it on sweeping
day on the floor of her closet, " demurely.
HAnd who put it there, Polly9"
"Who9 Why, she says it must have
dropped there when she hung up her
gown"