The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-11

| '-ON
even the best of them. "Can you suggest
any one else who by any possibility could
have taken the moneyw
"Indeed, | can not" Marian replied.
at could not be housebreaker, for the
locks were just as left them; nothing
had heen touched, apparently"
"You admit it could not be any one
outside of TIE house, so it must be Martha;
that is plain logic" l said, with as much
evenness of temper as / could command
at the moment.
1T isn't Martha," replied my wife,
stubbornly; "Pli never believe it."
For my part l felt sure that it was
Martha. And as it was quite impossible
that she could have got rid of it yet, /
hoped should easily discover it.
But she denied the charge so emphat-
ically that it was with very anxious
heart that betook myself to the bedside
of my patient. The case was a compli-
Gated ana peculiar one, and my mind be-
came so interested in the progress Of the
various symptoms, that my own cares be-
came as things of naught. After paying
one or two minor visits | returned home.
Martha opened the door and Immediately
retired into the kitchen, without a word.
Marian was nowhere to be found. | went
upstairs in search of her. She was not
there, but a little table in the corner cov-
cred with writing materials betrayed her
recent presence. An open letter in a
handwriting that knew and detested
attracted my attention. Husbands have
certain prerogatives. ! asserted one at
that moment. If you care to do the
same, here it is; if not, skip it.
"DEAR MAY--If you don't contrive to
send me $40 before this day week it will
be ruination for me. If you send it you
will enable me to retrieve my former po-
sition, and become acredit to my family.
"4ours, affectionately, FRANK"
"Thc young rascal. what fresh mess has
he been getting intoW | exclaimed, an
grily. This same Frank had been the
source of untold squabbles between my
self and Marian; holding fairly good
position in the city, for an unmarried
man, and yet always getting into debt
ICSCHllN ltflI VI uI 'llhu tuttI ult
house, With tte letter in my hand |
confronted her. She turned first whiya
and then red, and asked me by what
right gentleman entered a lady's pri-
vate room and read her correspondence.
paid no attention to this high flown
language, but replied by asking her
whether she had been out to post a letter.
She admitted she had.
"lo FrankW | inquired.
81 decline to answer" she replied
haughtily.
Containing money!" I asked.
"That also decline to answer" she
replied.
Here was pretty pass things had
come TONY own vile openly refusing
to answer my questions! What was to
think? think any one else in my
place would have come to the same con
cluson as | did-namely, that the letter
was to Frank, and that it contained
money. A few inquiries at the post-of-
flee confirmed my supposton. From
the time of this discovery cloud seemed
to have settled over our usually happy
household. Marian was sulen and angry.
and sat at the head Of the table without
speaking a word. Between meal-times
scarcely ever saw her. Martha sided with
her mistress, and always looked at me
reproachfuly.
Ip the meantime other cares were
pressing hard and fast upon me. In
spite Of a rigid examination | could dis
cover no clue to the lost money. Of
course, | had been obliged to make it
good and, in order to do this, had
drained myself Of every available farth-
ing.
These events happened at a time of
year when it was impossible to call in
many out-st nding debts; SO that, after
while Of desperate struggle against our
unfortunate circumstances, ] was com
PEELED, sorely against my will, to appeal
to my father. All this while | had not
been inert about the lost money, but had
held several discussions with detective.
A fear of incurring additional expense
had deferred me from setting him to
work; but as he seemed to think that to
IldCe JIG LlollSS NOulu NC llle easiest unlHT
in the word, | at last gave him authority
TO commence a strict inye tigation.
From the detectives, ] went to my
ia her; and, plainly stating the facts,
asked him if he would lend me the sum
l had lost This he agreed to do; and
the conversation turned on family mat
ters generally. The unhappy GOODNESS
which had arisen between myself and
Marian was presently discussed; and
when my father taxed me with unkind-
ness towards her, / felt bound TO explain
to him Franks demand, and her resent
ment of my interference.
My mother started up suddenly from
fit of thinking and piled me with ques-
tions.
"Was Marian the only person who had
access to the sideboard%
GAS far as | knew, the only person." l
replied.
"And d. her letter to her brother con-
tain money!?
"Yes-a P. O. o. for e1O."
'Had she Gl0 of her ownW
"Not that | knew Of"
"Was she likely to have saved it from
her allowance for housekeeping or private
purpo,esY'