Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-05-23

own apartment.
The young lady entered her room,
and sat down TO reflect upon this very
peculiar occurrence. Could il be that
her lover wanted to carry away the
watch and chain as remembrance OF
her, or that he merely wanted some
thing that was hers to put under his
pillow that night? Or was the proceed
ing intended as joke, which would be
explained and laughed over in the
morning? Surely it could be nothing
worse than this, and she resolutely dis.
missed the dark suspicion that intruded
itself upon her. She went to bed, but
her thoughts of the strange conduct of
her lover kept her awake long time,
though she assured herself that the af-
fair would be pleasantly explained in
the morning.
But in the morning the young officer
was gone. He had risen at an early
hour, as was his intention; and had re.
turned to camp long before Augusta
was awake. She searched the room
which he had occupied, but saw no
sign of the watch and chain, nor even
a note from him to explain the disap.
pearance of the articles. This was un.
accountable, and the yonng lady was
naturally much displeased but she
concluded that it would be best to say
nothing about the matter at present,
hoping that Coulter would explain it
satisfactorily on his next visit.
She saw him after the lapse of few
days. He came to the house as he
had been in the habit of coming, and
there was nothing in his appearance
or manner to indicate that anything
unusua; had occurred. He treated An-
gusta precisely as he had treated her
before his strange declaration of love
was spoken, and made not the re-
hottest allusion to the affair of the
watch and chain.
This was quite displeasing to Au-
gusta, who determined to draw him out
in private, as her questioning looks in
public had failed to produce any effect
upon him. She asked him to walk with
her, and when they were entirely alone
began to question him.
did you bring back my watch and
chain. Frank ?" she asked.
"Your watch and chain ?" was his
surprised reply.
Eyes, my watch and chain, which
you carried away the last time you
spent the night here"
II don't know what you mean. I
have not had your watch aud chain.
know nothing about them"
1t was then the young lsdy's turn to
show surprise and indignation.
"You surely cannot have forgotten.
said she, that you took those articles
from the bureau in my room the last
night you staid at our house. and car
ried them away with YOU .,... ,....
This is news to me, I assure YOU"
"You had taken off your coat and
boots, sir, and doubtless supposed that
you were not observed. bnt I saw YOU
plainly in the moonlight"
Miss Penohyn. do You know what
you are saying? You are accusing me
of stealing"
Il did not believe that you meant to
steal them" she said, half sobDing. ct
supposed that you had only taken them
for a joke, or perhaps for keepsake.
and that you would bring them back or
make an explanation. But I never
thought that you would deny taking
them" ..-..
"Miss Penohyn, this is unbearable.
To he accused of theft, and by lady,
at that, is something new in my expert
ence. declare, upon my honor, that
did not take your watch and chain,
and that was not out of my room that
night" .,t ... ...f
"Do you really think that you can
face me down in this way?" she indig-
nantly demanded. I suppose you will
also deny that you came down stairs
just before you took the watch and
chain, and came to where / was sitting
on the porch, and said"
"Some other crime" he said, per-
ceiving that she hesitated. st am not
in the humor to listen to any more &C.
cusations. Either there has been some
monstrous mistake, or you are deliber-
ately insulting me-" . Ii
"Or the honor, Of which you just
spoke, does not exist"
If you can speak to me in that
strain, Miss Penohyn, the sooner leave
you the better"
g Yes, indeed-before any more port
able property is missing" -,e
They parted in anger. and that part
ing was final. Augusta Penohyn told
her mother and sister of her loss, and
was at first disposed to complain to the
colonel of Coulter's regiment, but was
persuaded that such q course might
bring the family into trouble, and al
lowed the matter to drop. The regi-
ment was soon ordered away, and she
saw no more of Frank Coulter. wa
1t was not until two years after the
close Of the war that Frank Coulter re-
turned to Virginia, and then he came
in the peaceful capacity of an agent or
. drummer for New York dry-goods
house. The Penohyns had become
comparatively poor, and the family
mansion was turned into tavern
which was kept by the son, Henry, VI
had come out of the war with tue loss
OF an arm. s ...... 49,.
At that tavern Frank Coulter stopped
TO pass the night. There was no other
place to &c to. and perhaps he would
hot have made another choice if he had
had the chance, as he was neither q
physical nor moral coward. ~
| Augusta PenOhyn had told her hroth.