Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-03-21


place to go to. and perhaps he would
not have made another choice if he had
the chance, as he was neither physi
cal or moral coward.
Augusta Penohyn had told her broth
er the story of the loss Of her watch and
chain. Henry informed her of Coulter's
arrival, and she satisfied herself, with
out being seen by him. that he was the
same man who had been so strangely
proven unworthy of her love.
Then they consulted together to de-
eide upon what should be done. Henry
was for his immediate arrest, saying
that he should be punished for his crime
as he ought to be. under the laws of
Virginia, but Augusta, who had not
quite lost her love for the recreant, was
unwilling to go to that extreme. Hen
ry finally resolved that he would have
an interview with Coulter in the morn
ing, and press him closely on the matter.
The brother and sister were still seat
ed on the porch, discussing this ques-
ton, when the man of whom they had
been speaking came down stairs. He
has retired to his room at an early hour
and now he came down bare-headed, in
his shirt-sleeves and his stocking-feet,
just as he had done on the night which
witnessed the episode of the watch and
chain. The moon shone as it did then,
its light filtered through the vines that
nearly enclosed the porch.
This is strange" said Henry, as Coul-
ter stepped off the porch. "Stay where
you are, Augusta, and | will follow
him."
Looking straight ahead, as if staring
at vacancy, Frank Coulter walked out
into the road and turned down a lane
that led to the stable. cautiously follow
ed by Henry Penohyn.
AT the stable he stopped, and dug un-
der corner. Then he returned to the
house closely followed by Henry. AS
he stepped up on the porch watch was
plainly visible in his hand.
Henry held up his hand warningly to
Augusta as she was about to rise from
her chair.
.Be quiet" he said, II understand
it now"
Then he quietly followed Coulter up
stairs.
The next morning Henry Penohyn
contrived that Frank Coulter should be
alone with him in the parlor, and his
sister Augusta came in smiling. Hel
chain was around her neck, and hel
watch was visible in her belt.
81 find that | did you great injus
tice, Mr. Coulter, when last saw you,
she said.
"You accused me of stealing you
watch and chain," he replied, as hi
face flushed. ii see that you have then
now. Had you mislaid them ?''
II had not mislaid them"
"Who, then, was the culprit %
''Nobody but yourself"
Indeed ! And yet you say that yo'
did me an injustice in accusing me o
the theft. | don't understand this"
"You took them just as | said yor
did" persisted Augusta, still smiling.
"How then did you recover them ?"
"You brought them back last night
and put them on the bureau from whic
you had taken them
impossible !" exclaimed the youn
r man, This is outrageous"
mot in the least. Were you nc
aware, Mr.. Coulter, that you we're
sleep-walker p
, "a sleep-walker If am, L neve
had any cause to suspect it,
The entire story was then told,
! Coulter's great bewilderment, but ais
t to his great satisfaction, and be col
cluded that his business would oblig
d him to remain several days at the PEN
: byn hotel.
| That evening he was walking in tt
S moonlight with Augusta.
"When we parted she said, II W;
e about to tell you of something else yo
had stolen when you took my watch or
= chain, but you would not allow me
n fnish''
: 81 remember" he replied ''that yc
i were going to accuse me of anoth
crime. What was it ?"
Mot crime at all. You came dow
IL on the porch, took my hand, and to
me that whatever happened, must l
u member that you loved me. You ste
G my heart before you went up stairs
steal my trinkets."
+ "Now you must give me your han
Augusta, and if should ever aga
T. get up in my sleep to steal your wat
'r and chain, we will at least have t
$ consolation of knowing that the act
/ not a criminal one
+ IL shall watch you. SIR she blus
ID ingly replied.
ne The law and the church gave her
~ right to watch him.
of