Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-08-16
bilitv conld have takan tho n, nov %,

II lou dumlC GnaI IL cOul0 not be any
one outside the house, so it must be Mar.
tina; that is plain logic" l said with as
much eyenness OF temper as could com.
mand at the moment.
1t isn't Martha" replied my wife stub.
b0rnly; I'll never believe it." -FFi
For my part I felt sure that it was
Martha. And as it was quite impossible
that she could have got rid of it vet.
hoped / should easily discover it.
But she denied the charge so emphat.
ically that it was with a very anxious
heart betook myself to the bedside of
my patient. The case was a complicated
and peculiar one, and my mind became
so interested in the progress of the
various symptoms that my own cares be-
came as things of naught. After. pay
ing one OF. two minor visits L returned
home. Martha opened the door and i'm
mediately retired into the kitchen with
Tout saying a word. Marian was nowhere
Ito be found. ! went up stairs in search
of her. She was not there, but a little
table in the corner covered with writing
materials betrayed her recent presence.
An open letter in handwriting that /
knew and detested attracted my atten-
ton. Husbands have certain preroga-
tives. :. l asserted one at that moment.
If you care to. dc, the same, here it is; if
not, skipit: SCO ~ W - p
"DEAR MAY-n you do not cOntriye to
send e1O before this day week it will be
ruinati0n for me. IF you send it you
| win enable me to retrieve my former
position, and become credit to my fam
lily.
Yours affectionately, FRANK"
"The young rascal! what fresh mess
has he been getting into?" l exclaimed
angrily. This same Frank had been the
source of untold squabbles between my
self and Marian; hold a fairly good posi-
tiOn in the city, for an unmarried man,
and yet always getting into debit ca
Presently I heard Marian enter the
house. With the letter in my hand
confronted her. She turned first white
and then red, and asked me by what
right gentleman entered lady's pri-
yate room and read her correspondence.
Ipayed no attention to this high-fown
language, but replied by asking her
whether she had been out to post let
| ter. She admitted she had.
ITO Frank" inquired.
II decline to answer" she replied
haughtily.
| Z Containing money! asked.
/ 'That also decline to answer" she re-
piled. v. tt.kt 49, Hf1'H
Here was pretty pass things had
come tony own wife openly refused
to answer my questionsl What was to
think? / think any one else in my
place would have come to the same con-
clusion as I did-namely, that the let
ter was to Frank, and that it contained
money. A few inquiries at the pOstofice
confirmed my superstition. From the
time of this discovery cloud seemed to
have settled over our usually happy
household. Marian was sullen and angry,
and sat at the head of the table without
speaking q word. Between meal-times
l scarcely ever saw her, Martha sided
with her mistress and always looked at
me reproachfully. se ee- 4,f,4,sf ger
In the meantime other cares were
pressing hard and fast upon me. In
spite of 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 drain
ed myself ofevery available farthing.
These events happened at time of the
year when it was impossible to call in
many outstanding debts; so that, after
while of desperate struggle against
our unfortunate circumstances. / was
compelled sOrely against my will, to ap-i
peal to my father. ALI this while had
not been inert about the lost money, but
had held several discussions with a
detective. A fear of mourning additional
expense had deferred me from setting
him to work; but as he seemed to think
that to trace the money, would be the
easiest thing In the world, I at last gave
him authority to commence a strict in
vestigatiOn. 81 if
From the detectives I went to my
father; and, plainly, stating the facts,
asked him If he would lend me the sum
I had lost. This he agreed to do; and
the conversation turned on family mat
tiers 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.
Mymother started up suddenly from
fit Of thinking and piled me with ques-
tions. 49,
~Was Marian the only person who had
access to the sidebOard%
@As far as knew, the only person."
sAnd did her letter to her brother con-
tain money!" ~ e&s
sYes-a P. o. o. for e10.
l. Had she e10 of her 0wnT
+ mot that know Of"
"Was she likely to have saved it from
her allowance for housekeeping or pri-
| yate purpOses?"
& HVery unlikely, indeed"
Then" my mother continued, 'it
seems to me that the nearer home you
look for your money the sooner you win
find it." -.
When 1 arrived home my mind was
tom and distracted by conflicting opin-
ions. felt very anxious to discover
some assurance Of innocence or maybe
of guilt. 81, - FA|
+ marian" said, as gently as could,
swhere did you get the money from that
| you sent to FrankH
She started and turned quickly around
upon me.
@How do you know I sent money to
Frank"
"Never mind how knew it." replied.
where did you obtain itP You must
answer me that question before you
leave this rOom," added, more sternly;
for her evasion Of my question disquiet-
ed me.
She looked me steadily in the face for
minute, then dropping her eyes and
clasping her hands tightly together, she
exclaimed: lfltf
al see now the drift of your question.
The money was lost at the same time
that / sent some to Frank. Harold, you
suspect me-y0ur own wife of being
the thief, and you have sent that man q
saw he was detective directly to track
me out and prove this against me. Do
YOU intend to send me to pris0n% 8
"Marian answered nXcitAdlY HWhan