The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-05-01
Selrtt Storp.
From BeIgrdrid.
UNDER SUSPICION.

! UNDER SUSPICION
A hard day it vas for US when the con.
stable took poor jamie to the iail He
was only boy, scareed turned out twenty
and though TN his mother that saws il
an honester or better sou never lived. Ey,
er since his father died, he labored hard
and faithful, and il was not in dram sbon.
he spent his earnings either, but he brough,
them home on Saturday night whenever il
came; he used to lay the bright silver dol.
lars in my lap, aud then he would saw
with bis canny smile: ~
Heres the money, mother. that'U buy
US our Sunday dinner and all the good
/ things for next week -
/ / had noticed for long time that ia.
mie aud Maggie Ryan were very fond Of
each other, aud was not sorry to notice it
for | knew the boy would be wanting to
get married sometime. and \ nicer nn,,er
girl than Maggie was not to be found,
Twas a mile from our little cottage To
where Maggie lived, aud on Sunday nights
Jamie would clothc himself in his bes,
and walk over there, aud when he came
back, If | Glanced to be up, il did me
/ good 10 look at his happy, contentcd face
as he raked up the smoldering logs in the
fireplace ari took his seat in the chimney
corner. could tell by that half dreamy
look in his eyes, that he saw Maggie's sol,
curls and rosy cheeks in the flames. aud
that he was in love.
0ue Sunday night, however. when he
came home later than usual, there was a
troubled, puzzled expression on his face,
and he didn't smile nor speak any of his
I pleasant words, but just paced the floor in
nervous manner, and seemed doubtful
whether or not to tell me some secret tha,
troubled him.
didn't question him, for | concluded
that he had had quarrel with Maggie
aud it it was heart wound that troubled
him, talking about it could but open it the
wider.
lie went to bed very soou after he came
in. was about to do the same, when |
heard the fire bells in the village ringing.
went to the door, and looking out / saw
great flaming light in the direction of
one Of the churches. was glad that our
cottage was not situated in the heart Of
the town, for these fires had become very
frequent Of late, and the newspaper, said
that there was a gang of men engaged in
kindiing them, and that nobodys property
was safe, though twas not dwelling houses
they burnt, but barns aud churches and
public buildings. Ii8 .t.II II
A thousand dollars reward had been Of.
ierred for the arrest of the incendiaries,
but, whoever they were, they kept clear Of
the authorities,
don't know how it happened, but as |
stood there at the door, listening to the
bells, they seemed to say, every time they
changed, Jamie Riley, jamie Riley T.
and l could not resist associating nv dear
boys name with some awful crime.
| slept but poorly that night, aud being
awake very early in the morning, | heard
Jamie come very softly down stairs and 70
out Of the door. After q time GOT up.
and just as was placing the breakfast on
the table, jamie came ia.
He looked very pale, aud he had no sp.
petite for his food.
| began to be frightened about him.
"Jamie, said / "are YOU sick. or wba.
ails you?' i '
'iNo, mother lie said, "I am not sick
but | cannot tell YOU what aiIs me"
Then he rose from the table and INIT
ting on his hat he started for tho f,ciorv
where he worked He took mn ,he III
pail in which always placed his lunch
seem TO inquire, as was his custom ns 10
what it contained.
l fel, worried all day. Some trouble
seemed hanging over US, but what IL was
could not guess.
In the afternoon Maggie RYAN came in
to see me. She was handy with the peo
die, and the folks who lived in the hi,
house on the hin had sent for her 70 do
some sewing. She was returpipa and
called to tell mo how Kind the hay baJ
been to her, and how much nav III baJ
received for her work. Maggie saw in n
moment tha, | was not in good spiri,s
and SO she ceased her pleasant pralllc. and
asked 10 i serious tooe EII1 rgfI -
Has anything happened, Mrs. Riley ?
You seem sorrowiul to-day"
Then spoke out boldly:
'Yoa have quarrellcd with jamie have
you not, Maggie ?" tH
"Say, nay, Mrs. Riley" she apswered
II quarrel with Jamie You know i