The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-07-09

What the smatteisE cried eote,
Ibfeathlessly, =
= money! sgasped The widow,
~ n ll.e
ar.
sBut what Of it?r
'It's clean gone, stolen, took awaylr
Are you surea" eagerly demanded
Cora.
aAs sure as ! am that you're star
ing at me now. ! felt up tho chin
ney for it the last thing afore | got
ready to go to bed, and-it was all
gone"
In vain proved all search. Meth
er up the chimney, nor down in the
cellar, nor in any imaginable or un-
imaginable corner was the bag of
gold pieces to be found.
'.Mrs. Peckington, said Cora, husk-
lily, sit must have been stolen.n
"Yes," said Mrs. Peckington, whose
lips were now compressed, and there
was something in her manner that
Cora never before noticed, as she cali.
edih white-headed farm-boy, "and
told him to run over and ask farmer
simkins to step to the Peckington
place that morning.
."And you may as well stop for
George Merrilton as you come back,n
said she.
When he was gone, she came close
up to Cora Dallas.
"Cora,9 said she, eve two are alone
together now, and l am the last one
to be hard on you; confess now and
we'll see how the matter can be clear.
ed up"
Cora opened wide her brown eyes.
Confess what?p she asked, inno-
Gently. 3
sThat you took the money; there
was no one, else that could have. done
tit. od wefeshefe an alone yestGrs
day evening, and / know il was a
strong temptation to a gal that new
er had FIVE dollars of her own in the
world. Cora, you're young, child,
and | don't believe you're altogether
bad. but Satan sifts US all as wheat,
and"
"stopl'' cried Cora, growing white
and breathless, you suspect me-
you think / am thief Mrs. Peck
ington, may God forgive you foryour
very cruel suspicion"
Mrs, Peckington was silent. She
knew not how she could help the i'm
preston which so strongly bore upon
her mind. Who but Cora Dallas
could have taken the missing gold2
George, Georgel" gasped the poor
girl, fitting up to him as for safety.
as the door openedand the stalwart
form of George Merrilton appeared,
"she believes thatI stole the money;
you do not think so, do you?7
II Gerge Merrilton's eyes sparkled
.nervously.
"Cousin Clarissa, | would stake my
life on Cora's innocence
Mrs. Peckington shook her head.
SIt.looks very ugly for her." she
said, @butof course if sheprove it" !"
"It needs no proof in my eyes"
said George, quietly, as he drew
Cora's arm within his. "There, lit
tie one, don't tremble SO, and look SO
wonderfully frightened; no one shall
dare harm you'as long as 1 am by
your side"
"But whereis Mr.. simkins?7 ask
ed the widow, missing her strongest
ally in this hour Of need
4If you please, ma'am," said the
white headed farm. boy, che had gone
away suddenly to Allenville at four
o'clock this morning, to see his faith
er, as he had stroke, and they don't
expect him back until the last of
next week"
Mrs. Peckington stood undecided.
@At all events she said, turning
to Cora Dallas, "you can't expect
shelter under my roof no longer. l
didn't look for such treatment from
you" t...
"Cousin Clarissa," said Merrilton,
bravely, q love Cora Dallas, and |
stand here to espouse her cause
You may sue her if you like"
II shan't do that said the widow,