Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-01-18
A SILENT ACcUSER.

Ii was the loVeliest place for
many miles around, the little. red
farmhouse standing isolated in the
m DIST OF an orchard, half way up
the hillside, aud shut IN by astrip
of wood which concealed 1t from
the village below.
This latter defect might have
been remedied by judicious open
ings here and there; but Miss
Phoebe ROwel was OF the old FASH
ioned. conservatil kind, and oltsu
remarked that what had been good
enough for her father and grand
father was good enough for her.
Consequently, she was opposed To
all change and improvement on
her farm: and this, in truth, had
been the cause of Stephen Greer's
dismissal, who, being Of the pro-
gressive order, could not be brought
10 manage her place in the slow.
old way that she preferred
stephen was working now at
Farmer LawsOn's, five miles up
the valley, and he hoped to be
able soon to purchase a little place
Of his own, and 10 ask Bessie
Brown, Miss Phebe's cOmely. rosy.
checked mald, TO share his home
with him.
Whether or no Bessie would
consent, was IA question with the
gossips; fpr, though Stephen was
go0d-lOoking and clever, the girl
did not seem particularly TO fancy
him.
Some limited Mt a liking which
was supposed to have existed be-
tween Bessie and Miss Phebe's
nephew. : orphan boy whom she
had grudgingly drought up" aud
assisted 10 educate, and who had
disappointed her expectations bv
falling into idle and dissipated
habits, insteal OF working steali-
ly ON the farm
Three years ago she had given
hilh :; little money and sent him
away TO seek work Tor himself,
charging him never to return or
write TO her until he should be
settled in some steady employ
ment.
he had gone West, made some
money, and, as his aunt heard,
wasted it in unsu -cessiul specula.
ton. TnenceioFth she ''had given
hlm up, as she expressed il, con
WINGED that he would never come
10 any guOd.' .r.
But one bright, mild day in ear
ly Spring, about six months after
Stephen Greer had left Hillside1a
young man stopped at the Farm
er's Rest tavern, a few miles from
the village, and asked for frugal
supper.
He was poorlyclad. and evident
fy desired tOp pass as stranger: but
one Of the stablemen recognized
in him the long absent nephew oT
Miss Phoebe Rowel.
The man did not, however, be-
tray his knowledge; and the guest.
having partaken 0fthe meal be lad
ordered. went on his way, reply
ing, IN answer TO a question, that
lie should not pass through the
village, but would take a shorter
route 10 the main road.
About an hour after he had left.
Stephen Greer came riding past.
and seeing the landlady busted
about her flower borders, raking
the beds and planting seeds, stop.
ped for a few moments chat.
In the course of their talk, Mrs.
WinterbY mentioned their late
guest, and their suspicious of his
being Robert Steel, Miss Phoebe
Rowel's nephew.
That's not likely,n Stephen re-
marked, carelessly. "If he were
Robert Steel, what motive could
lie have for wishing to conceal il I
Or why should he 20 through the
neigaborhood, right through the
hillside farm, and not stop 10 see
his aunt ~
s'Or to see Bessie ~ suggested
the landlord, who was standing by
and not 10th to tease Stephen i
little. "Folks used to say there