Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-06-16

, tho stair head aud called his wife
Presently they camo In together th'
landlady's face very red and troubled
! "Such a thing never happened IL
my house before" she protested
"But there's been only one person IN
your room since you came besides
yourself, and she's the person you
must reckon WITH" pointing to tae
maid, who, with white cheeks and
downcast eyes leaned against the wall
as II awaiting sentence,
"Oh, indeed, indeed, ! didn't take
II! never saw any wallet" she said !
but her voice was drowned IN Mrs,
Nash's louder tones
"And pray who else took II do you
suppose' Who else had the chance 7
Answer mo that. II serves me just
right for taking a giIl with no recon.
mend-a girl didn't know anything
about, not so much as her name, or
where she come from OF who her folks
are. Five weeks tomorrow, that's
all the time she's been in tho house,
sir, and this is the end Of il. It's the
last time Ill ever have a help ! don't
know all the long and short OF, 80 You
needn't bc afraid to stop with us
again-no, nor none Of your friends,
either; aud as for her. out she packs
this day"
"l'd better 60 for the constable,
hadn't II II you're sure i! was under
the pillow you put it;" suggested the
landlord.
"Oh don't, please, please DON'T"
pleaded the girl weeping violently.
"Glve the gentleman his wallet
back and perhaps he will let You off"
81 cant, ! haven't got it. never
saw it. Oh, please believe me. Don't
send me to JAIL" she urged.
The lady only answered by a sound
expression of disgust. And throwing
her apron over her head, the poor
girl wept in silence, saying no more.
John had held his peace during
this alteration, sharply eyeing the
parties concerned in it meanwhile.
The Nashes he knew something about.
They were Of good reputation as far
as he was aware. The maid was q
stranger to them, as to him; but in
spite of the circumstances, and her
manner which was hardly less suspi-
cious, he could not bring himself to
believe her guilty. He was not a
hasty man but he was just one. with
kind heart TO back his temperate
judgments; and after a few Minutes
reflection he made up his mind what
TO do.
II cant swear that l put my wal.
let under the pillow, or anywhere
elsc," he said. "Im pretty sure that
I did, but my thoughts about it are
confused somehow, and it may be
that left it at Bolton where l slept
Tuesday. don't want no injustice
done on my account. So don't cry
like that Undressing himself to the
girl. an tell you what I'll do. Get
the bay shod during the day, will
YOU ?"-to Mr.. Nash-"and if you'll
lend me a saddle III ride back to Boz
ton and make inquiry there. If
find the money we'll and good; if
don't it will be time enough to talk
about it tomorrow.
"pm sure it's very good OF you to
take so much trouble" declared the
landIady. "But whether or no the
girl don't stay here. I'll have no sus-
pected thief in my house.
'There'l be nothing to suspect her
of if I find the wallet, rejoincd John,
dryly. Don't give the poor thing a
bad name till you know that she de-
serves it, Then he lett the room un-
of the look of gratitude that
,hone upon HIM from the blue eyes of t
The girl, who had dropped her apron.
and gazed after him till he was Cut of '
light.
His reflections were not as agreea. I
Die as he retraced his steps over the
lusty highway travelled but yesterday q
With go light heart. The loss OF
lis money meant great deal to John q
Boyd. The pressure OF anxiety SEEM '
ID to settle again upon his shoulders, s
IS he thought over the probabilities
If non-recovery. But I won't give Z
n without fight tor it, he thought :
,rimly as he urged on his horse.
Miles seemed doubly long to him .
when measured by heavy heart, and =
What with dust, heat, and continual t
fort TO clear his mental contusioa as n
o where and when he last had seen
lis wallet, the young farmer was fag- !,