Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-06-02

81 have searched everywhere 7
sheexclaimed. "Thejewel was left in
the room with you-with you, who
are known to be poor and with a
mother dependent on you! No
one came into the room-you were
left alone (! accuse you, Emily
Graham, of having stolen my
property; and If you refuse to re-
store-or at least confess what you
have done with it, l will give you
into the custody Of the officer as
a common theft
Then Emily, rising slowly to her
feet, turned her eyes upon the
man, whom she seemed until that
moment not to have observed, and
a despairing moan escaped her;
she clasped both hands convulsive-
lly above her heart, and hot flush
mounted for a minute to her face,
dying again as quickly and leav-
ing her ashen pale; then, as
the officer, at an imperous sign
from Di, advanced and tapped
her lightly on the shoulder, she
sbrank through all her frame,
as il a lightning flash had blasted
her and dropped, prone and sense
less, at his feet. Frantic with
grief, sprang to her side, and
pushed the man away.
al will never forgive you for
this" said I, to Di, "and if she
goes to prison l go, too"
But here Uncle Devlin interior
ed.
"There is not sufficient proof to
warrant our giving her into GUS
tody," said he. "Di, my darling,
don't he too hasty-she is your
cousins friend. Take her home,
Louisa the poor girl may be in
nocent after all |"
II would swear to t." cried !
Doctor Rutherford earnestly, lifting
her gently as he spoke. "Miss
Devliu will certainly regret the
harshness with which she has
made such a terrible charge !"
/ looked at him-coming for
ward to aid the stricken girl--and
he seemed to be a hero.
He was pale and grave, and he
glanced at Di with undisguised dis
pleasure.
Instantly the thought flashed
quickly through my mind:
"Di has lost something else, to-
day, besides her smelling-bottle :"
And so, indeed, it proved.
4
A month went by-a month Of
sickness for poor Emily,
Of unremitting kindness from
Rutherford who had installed him
self as her physician, protector and
friend.
Night and day he tended her,
with a devotion which even her
mothers care could scarce surpass
and when, at last, the poor, crush
ed Lily was raised from her weary
bed Of pain, and looking like a
broken flower, indeed, reclined in
an easy chair among a mass of pill
lows, he took her white and wasted |
hand within bis own and kissing
it fondly, implored her to become
his wife.
"For you are my guardian an
GEL" said be, sand | want to Sc
cure you for life. Bnt for You |
might have married that frivolous
girl, for whom felt an infatua-
ton, hut never love. Oh, my pale
darling, tell me, could you ever
care for me enough to marry me 2"
She looked at him with mourn
FIJI smile, and feebly shook her
head.
ut must never he. | am not so
ungrateful. could care for you
enough to die for you, dear friend.
] do care too much to marry you !"
At that he kissed her hand again,
and she, blushing deeply, drew it
gently away. He had received
his answer.
Which, like a man, and true
lover, be utterly refused to accept,
and at last she so far compromised
her refusal as to say that if Dis
bottle should ever be found, and
her innocence clearly proved, she
would marry him. That made
him downright angry.
"What do / care for the bottle n
said he, seven IL it never is found.
Do you suppose / should have