Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-06-12

Il
you know. The goods will be put in
as soon as Sim Blake gets the new
shelves done. That will be in about Il
fortnight. Now, you wouldn't object
to waiting, would you, Lctty?n
mo, indeed, not Bit said Lefty,
stoutly. "Not II bit. | tell youth
wait until Thanksgiving; that won't be
too long. ! shall have my new crimson
bombazinc done, and I'll wear the
jewclry with it Thanksgiving day.
You're very kind, Mrs. Hartman. and
| am much obliged to you. I'll say
nothing at present, not word even to
grandma"
Days passed on. Sim. Blake. like
many other hard-puShcd men, proved
Il false prophet, and his fortnight
heightened into II month. But the
new shelves were at last up, and the
new goods delighted the eyes Of Green
plain.
"Susan,' shouted John Hartman.
as he came to dinner the other day
after the "opening'' there's set
gone out of that box of jcwclry."
You mean you've sold some" said
his wife.
Eyes, I've sold several; but there's
Il set missing; can't be accounted for;
twas gone when opened the box.
Now, ! know it came all right, for |
saw the things put up and counted
them myself. Somebody must have
been TO that north room and opened
that box while | was gone. Who went
in there besides you? Did you men
tion them TO anybody? You know |
charged YOU not TO say anything about
them? Did you mention them at all?"
She hcsitatcd one instant ONLY
John was one of those agreeable zen
tlcmcn who always calculate to be
master in their own house" and this
was not the first time his limid wife
had thought anything was better than
Il struggle with his strong will and
ovcrbcaring temper.
NO. said she.
'Wcll, somebody took that while it
was here in the house, and who ever
did will have to suffer for it.
An old provcrb tells us, "A lie has
no lcgs"-that is it can not stand alone
and Susan Hartman found herself
forced to prove the truth of the say
ing. Having once denied any knowl-
edge of the lost icwclry, she saw no
resource but to continue to deny it
and when, some days after Thanks
giving, Hartman triumphantly an
nounccd that he had seen Lefty Par
sons wearing the missing articles, she
had not courage to confess the truth.
She invented many theories to account
for the matter, she begged that no no.
ticc might be taken of it, but her
words were of no avail. The law
should take its course, said her hus-
band.
Grccnplain stood aghast. Lefty
ParsOn accused of theft. 1t seemed rs
if such Il charge must easily be dis
proved. But how? OF course Lefty
asserted that she had received the Jew
clry as present, and of course IIarri-
man refused to listen to hcrass 1rtions.
She repeatedly cndcavorcd to see Mrs.
Hartman, but was refused. The weak
woman had gone too far to rctract. II
was time of great excitement; little
else was talked of in every home.
Hartman clustered and sworc-hiS
wife secluded herself as much aS pos
siblc and maintained Il fearful silence
whenever the subject was mentioned
to her.
"Vcry NATURAL said everybody,
considering the old intimacy between
her and Lefty
The day of the trial came. All other
business was suspended. Such Il scene
was rare in Grcenplain's experience,
but that Lefty Parsons should he cul-
prit was enough TO stir the little village
to its very depths, Squire Lees Office,
where justice was usually administered,
was far too small, and the meeting.
house, Grccnplain's largest public
building, was required, 1t was over
flowing. Every eye WAS turned on
Lefty. How would she look?
pretty as ever" said everybody
but she bore the mark of anxious DAYS
and slccplcss nights. Still her air was
calm and her look firm. Her AGED
grandparents were with hcr-this had
been a sore trial for them, but nothing
would shake their faith in their dar-
ling's truth and honor. The feeling
was shared by those who knew her
bcst-but public opinion was divided,
for is not might right, the world over?
Great compassion was felt for Mrs.
Hartman, who was seated by her hus-
band. She had endeavored to absent
herself on the plea of illness which
her pale check and hollow eyes might
well make one believe, but Hartman
would take no excuse.
The work of the day commenced.
Hartman gave his testimony clearly.
He told of his visiting the city to buy
goods, of his arriving home at night,
and leaving his various packages in
room furnished but seldom occupied,
intending next morning to put them
away in large closet appropriated to
his own peculiar use. On arriving, he
found business lettcl awaiting him
which obliged him to leave home again
directly for two or three days, and he
left the articles as they were, charging
his wife neither to speak of them nor
show them to any one. On returning
again, he had carried all the goods to
their place of deposit, where they had
remained under lock and key until
they were taken to the store and
opened. Then, one set of jewelry was
missing. This was duly corroborated
by his wife and young man who as
sisted in the store. He had instantly
recognized the jewolry worn by Lefty
Parsons, whose assertions as to her
having received it as present, were,
of course, utterly contradicted by the
testimony of his wife.
Matters looked dark for Lefty. The
other side was very strong, and Let
TVS counsel, young man from u
neighboring town, was mild looking
youth, who had as yet won no laurels,
and who seemed to inspire but little
confidence. But he was very calm.
He asked u few questions of Hartman
and his witnesses, compelling them to
commit themselves as deeply as posi-
BILE, then stating that he had one wit
ness to call, he whispered u word to
the man sitting beside him which sent
him instantly from the room.
Perfect stiffness reigned.
The messenger returned, leading u
nh 1At Ii