Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-02-06

Jour most, "InaJ before. we leave
this room we shall proceed to
search each other, the ladies ON
this side, and we gentlemen yon-
der. Let all who object hold up
their hands"
/ AT the word 9search" all the
blood in my veins rushed back
4 to my heart, and a cold sweat
broke out on my forehead and
Itrickled down my face, which I
! felt had become an ashy pale.
/ stood there apart, with a rush
of sound in my ears, a mist be-
fore my eyes, and swaying to
and fro like q man drunk with
wine. And through it all, ]
could hear the laughing voice Of
my host counting the votes in fa-
vor of his proposal. Suddenly
he confronted me, and said in
peculiar tone and a significant
glance at my arms that were
tightly folded across my breast:
"And YOU, sir, do not approve
of my suggestion %
81 do not, sir" l replied with
outward frmness, but with a face
paler than ever. A silence as
of death succeeded these words,
and every eye in the room was
turned in my direction.
81 beg your pardon for this
foolish joke, sir" said the judge
after pause, in a tone / shall
never forget. 81 would rather
be the loser of ten thousand dol,
lars than wound the feelings of
guest under the shelter of my
roof" and, moving toward the
door, he added lightly, gentle
men, coffee will be ruined if We
delay here longer" Just as he
was passing through the open
door / advanced toward him.
II owe you an explanation,
Mr.. Carleton" I said; "you will
hear me? Pray do not refuse
me- l added, seeing him turn
coldly away. He stood still for
a moment, and then turning to-
ward me, he said brusquely but
without looking at me-
every well, come," and he led !,
the way to his study.
The door had hardly closed
behind us when shouts of laugh
ter was heard from the drawing
room, and before | had time to
utter a word, Mrs. Carleton
burst into the room, holding the
ring in the palm of her
hand.
"T'here is your ring" she said,
it to her husband; "a
servant has just found it."
"Where?" stamme red d Mr.. /
Carleton with a look of stupefed !
amazement. ft
"Just in your plate" she an
swered, laughing merrily.
Every well, Annie, leave us
for an instant and we will join
you in the drawing-room."
AS the door closed behind his
wife, Mr.. Carleton came up to
me and seized me by both hands.
Before you say another
word, sir, hear my story" | cried,
and then with rapid feverish elo-
qaence / told him of my strug-
giles, my affection for my sister,
of my sufferings at seeing her
and, finally of the heart
wringing scene of the morning.
q sind this is why / prefer to /,
pass for a thief rather than have it !
known that my fathers daughter J
vas dying from hunger, l con-
cluded, drawing from my pocket
the portion of the fowl / had :
to slip from my plate /,
during the sumptuous repast of I
which had just partaken. The {
sears fell from the eyes of the good I
awyer as he listened to me, and
when / had ceased speaking, he :
once more seized my hands and !
exclaimed,
"Good lad The sister you
owe so well shall never know ,
want again." and with my hands {
till clasped in his own, he threw +
,pen the door of the drawing /
'oom, drew me in after him, and '
aging his hand on my shoulder !
With fatherly affection, he said !.
n avoice of deep emotion,-- II
"Gentleman, ] present to You
he most honorable and worthy t
ellow l know, my private secre-
saly."