Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-03-21
peared in the passage that led to his
own apartment.

P0ooS6S
own apartment.
Fhe young lady entered her room, and
sat down to reflect upon this very pecu-
liar occurrence Could it be that her
lover wanted to carry away the watch
and chain as a remembrance of her, or
that he merely wanted something that
was hers to put under his pillow that
night? Or was the proceeding intended
as joke, which would be explained and
laughed over in the morning? Surely,
it could be nothing worse than this, and
she resolutely dismissed the dark sus-
picion 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 as
sured herself that the affair 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 signs
of the watch and chain, nor even a note
from him to explain the disappearance
of the articles. This was unaccounta-
BILE. and the young 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 man
ner to indicate that anything unusual
had occurred. He treated Augusta pre-
cisely as he had treated her before his
strange declaration of love was spoken,
and made not the remotest allusion to
the affair of the watch and chain.
This was quite displeasing to Angus
ia, who determined to draw him out in
private as her questioning looks in pub
lie had failed to produce any effect upon
him. She asked him to walk with her,
and when they were entirely alone be-
gan to question him.
did you bring back my watch and
chain, Frank % she asked.
"Your watch and chain p was his
surprised reply.
"Yes, my watch and chain, which you
carried away the last time you spent
the night here
Il don't know what you mean. |
have not had your watch and chain.
| know nothing about them"
1t was then the young lady's turn to
show surprise and Indignation.
'.You surely cannot have forgotten, u
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, | assure YOU"
''You had taken off your coat and
boots. sir, and doubtless supposed that
you were not observed, but l saw yot
plainly in the moonlight.
''Miss Penhoyn, do you know wha
you are saying? You are accusing me O
stealing
Il did not believe that you meant t.
steal them," she said. half sobbipg. g.
supposed that you had only taken then
for joke, or perhaps for keepsake
and that you would bring them back o
make an explanation. But | neve
thought that you would deny taking
them"
"Miss Penohyn, this is unbearable
To be accused of theft, and by lady
as that is something new in my expert
ence, | declare upon my honor. that
did not take your watch and chain, an
that was not out of my room tina
night"
: ''Do you really think that you ca
face me down in this way?' she indig
| nantly demanded. 81 suppose you viii
also deny that you came down stair
e just before you took the watch and char
e and came to where | was sitting on tn
porch. and said
d "Some other crime," he SAID. perceiV
e ing that she besitated. IL am not i
$ the humor to listen to any more accus;
n tions. Either there has been some MOI
! strous mistake, or you are deliberatel
+ insulting me"
e "Or the honor, of which you ju'
d spoke does not exist"
o elf you can speak to me in tn;
n strain, Miss Penohyn, the sooner leay
e you the BETTER
'.Yes, indeed-before any more po
II table property is missing!"
e They parted in anger. and that par
d ing was final. Miss Penohyn told b.
'e mother and sister of her loss, and W;
at first disposed to complain to the Go
le onel of Coulter's regiment, but was pc
d suaded that such a course. might lie;
IS the family into trouble, and allowed t
ID matter to drop. The regiment was so'
< ordered away, and she saw no more