Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-07-17
miscellaneous.
AN ACCOMPLISHED ROGUE.

AN ACCOmfLlSHED R0GUE.
She landed at the hotel of our quiet
village on Saturday morning. She
appeared to be n young lady of two or
three and twenty, slightly above the
medium height, of perfect form, with
large, piercing black eyes, and wealth
of raven tresses floating over her shout
ders. A large canvas-covered trunk fol-
lowed her into the hall, and, after she
had been shown into the parlor, the reg
lister, with pen and ink, was brought
for her signature. She nodded pleas
antly-nodded with smile that CON.
pletely captivated the impressble clerk
and then, in very pretty Italian hand,
she wrote her name-"Miss Clara Du-
bois, Philadelphia, Pa"
Later, as the landlord politely escorted
her to the supper room, she informed him
that she had heard of his house-that it
was quiet and we'll kept, and that she
had como for short rest and respite
from the din and turmoil of the great
city.
The good host was grateful and very
glad the young lady had honored his
house with her presence. He would do
what he could to make her stay COM
Portable and agreeable.
Very soon Miss Dubois got acquainted
with the guests of the house and proved
herself as intelligent and entertaining as
she was pretty. She played well upon
the piano-forte, but did not sing. She
played chess, too, though there was only
one person in the house to play with her.
Boarding at the hotel was Mr.. Aaron
lIuntley. He kept the principal store
in the village, and was our postmaster.
He was man Of forty-fve, rotund and
good looking, and bad been success
full trader, and had been careful of his
money, which he worshiped
And il was Mr.. Huntlcy who played
chess with Miss Dubois. lie was very
fair player, and she was skilled. Yes,
she was certainly fond of the company of
Mr.. Huntley, and it is not be wondered
at that he should become fond of her.
She was pretty, she was witty, she was
intelligent, and she had strong common
sense, and Furthermore, she was young
and buoyant What more could he ask
in Il wife ? II be thought Of dover, her
conversation Of herself had convinced
him that her father was wealthy,
One evening Aaron Huntley came
from the parlor where he had been play
ing chess, radiant He had proposed
and had been accepted. He managed to
keep the sweet, blessed secret four-and-
twenty hours, and then he let it out to
the landlord and was congratulated. The
storekecpcr was happy. lie walked as
one who treads on air. lie was smiling
and gracious to his customers, and even
generous.
After this Miss Dubois was much at
the store, and, in her playful way, she
assisted often in the postoilice, which
was a square room partitioned of in one
corner Of the building.
And so the days went on and Aaron
Huntley was certainly the happiest man
in the village But one morning a
thunder-clap fell upon him. He went
to the store finding the rear door ajar.
He went to his safe and found that it
had been opened and the money all
taken---the savings Of years Fully
$40, 900 had been stolen from the safe.
Miss Dubois was early at tho store and
when she heard Of her lovers loss she
endcavored TO console him.
."Don't worry, dearest" she said.
"When my father comes | can help
you. If this loss cripples you il shall
be only for n time"
"But, Clara, | would not have il APP
pear that ! married you for your"
Naughty man, hush Will you not
let me love you little 7"
What could he say more?
Whom the stage arrived that evening
an old gentleman, with white hair and
beard and wearing an enormous pair Of
green spectacIes, was helped out and,
leaning havily upon his stout oaken
staff, hobblod into the hall lie signed
bis name upon tho register in trcm.
bling, struggling hand CDR. Seth
Bumpus, N. Y"
When supper was finished Miss Dubois
took Mr. Huntley's arm and retired TO
the parlor, and presently tho white
haired man named DR.. Bumpus followed
them. The two had seated themselves
upon the sofa, and the latter took seat
on chair between them and the door,
and at the same time stout, dark-faced
man, In free-and-casy suit of dark
flannel, had stopped upon the threshold
and was standing ia the open doorway.
Miss Dubois saw these two men--saw
the position they had taken--and her
teeth came together with snap and
her lips were compressed and pale.
"Sir," said she, addressing the white
haired man, ''you stare me as though
you had met me before" And, as she
spoke, her right hand stole down by her
side toward the pocket Of her dress.
"Look, my dear, and SEQ il you don't
remember me-" With this the white
/ wig was lifted OF, tho green spectacles
and the white beard removed, revealing