Smyrna times., 1885-07-29

| buU, on second LnOuBnUS, ultOlC up my
mind that was noRsense-the afternoon
was warm, 1 was busy, and the money
would be safe enough in my own
drawer.
So counted the notes to be sure they
were right, locked them in n little
casket and locked them in my desk. As
I opened the door of my room to go
downstairs, 1 met Jeanette, who said
she was just going to knock. Mrs.
Graham was going to walk over to the
village-could she serve me in any way ?
! thanked her, said would be glad if
she would call at the post-office, and
went my way to zee about tea.
The next morning we all went to
church except our servant Emma, who
remained at home to have the dinner
ready.
In the afternoon, Emma wished to
go out, and as 1 did not like the house to
remain quite alone, l remained at home
myself. Having slight headache l
lay down upon the sofa in the cool
parlor and took Il quiet nap. l sprang
up as soon as 1 was awakened, and went
up stairs to arrange my hair, meeting
pretty Mrs Graham coming down.
Il did not know you were at home,
said 1.
Il have this moment come in and
taken off my hat, she said with a sweet
smile, "and was coming down for n
drink of ice-water
heard her &c into the parlor, where
she sat for long time playing grand,
old, church music, and singing softly in
tones so sweet that it made me think Of
heaven and Angels music.
Next morning as we were gathering at
the breakfast-table, Miss Burton came
in, pale and frightened, saying her
room had been entered during the night
by a burglar, and her watch and chain
and I'LL her valuable jewelry taken
We all sprang up i'll CONSERVATION, and
went to her room, where we found the
window which opened upon the roof of
a veranda partly raised and the shut
ters pushed open as if surely indicating
the way the burglar had entered.
Miss Burton had slept soundly and
heard nothing she said, but had noticed
! her window when she first woke, and
upon searching, found all her jewels
gone.
We might all have been murdered
i'll our beds cried Mrs Wootton, pale
and trembling, while pretty Mrs.
Graham fell to crying like child, de-
claring She would not dare to stay
another night under roof where there
was no man in the house.
" Did any Of the rest lose anything T"
| asked Bessie.
Il haven't noticed in my room" said
Mrs. Wootton; " let us all go and look"
And to our rooms we went, opening
my bureau with a sinking heart 1t was
rs l fcared-my casket which had only
contained the money, was really gone
Some unaccountable impulse prompt
ed me to conceal my loss from the rest
when l joined them again, and l hardly
noticed that Mrs. Graham stopped cry
ing and looked queerly at me when l
reported that my things were all right.
And then she fell to crying again,
saying hers were all right, too but she
never doubted that it would be her
turn next, and she dared not stay there
another night
Mrs. Wootton reported that every
article Of iewelry and all the money she
had i'll her purse were gone, and Bessie
said the same.
This was serious case and we were
at loss what to do. l said l should
inform the village inspector and then 90
up to town and consult Mr.. Fraser and
n lawyer and l begged them to do
nothing till L came back
They all promised but pretty Mrs
Graham said must come back before
night, for she knew she was dreadful
little coward, but she must 90 over to
the village and stay at the hotel for
few nights. She would only take
Jeanette and little satchel, and
when we got all quiet once again she
would come back
l was not willing she should go, but 1
thought she would get over her fright by
evening and stay, so only asked her if
l could do any eTands in the city for
her.
She said nO-then yes, if would be
so kind l might stop at Welling's and
match piece of lace for her-she wanted
five yards more and she gave me the
money TO pay for it.
1t seemed to me that trains went at
snails' PAGES that morning, but at last 1
was in Dicks office.
Um-um-yes, to be sure!" said
Dick, stroking his mustache with a
thoughtful air. VERY bad, Mary!
Very bad indeed! And your pretty
little widow Is the only one person who
wants to leave You say ?"
g Yes And don't want anv one to
leave with such a stain on our house.
Dick"
-" You must bv all means keen vonr
PACbtJ Abtlc WILLOW llll come down with
an officer and search her trunks"
Isprang to my feet
Why, Dick, are you mad ?" I cried.
Neither mad nor deluded my dear
little woman, said Dick, coolly. But
have little theory about this thing,
Mary, and if you will let me work it out
may help you. Got errands to do this
morning?"
l was too worried to attend to an.
shopping for myself, but 1 remembered
Mrs Graham's lace and answered.
"Yes, one"
Well, go and do it, and then come
back here, will you? 1 think I'll have
plan perfected by that time"
Iwcntto Wellings, stopped at the lace
counter, and held out the scrap pretty |
Mrs. Graham had given me.
Can you match this?" 1 asked of the
polite shopman who stepped up Il |
wish to purchase some more of it"
He took the bit of lace, and l noticed |
queer look come over his face also
saw two or three of the young men draw
near and eye me curiously, and began
to feel embarrassed.
IL