Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-08-26
UNDER SUSPICION.


OF course everybody knew, as every
body knew everything in that delight
full place, where each neighbor was a
friend, each friend a brother; and what
the village folk knew was this-the
miller, old Harvey Jameson. had been
robbed.
"a queer business. neighbor Greene, -
said the miller, shaking his dusty head
solemnly, and telling the circumstance
for the fiftieth time; nobody knew
had the money but my daughter Jennie
and young Leyoe, and can't suspect a
single soul. | put the money in tin
box, and put that among a lot of other
boxes in the cupboard, waitin' till |
could 60 to the bank with it, an 10 an
behold! when | went 10 get it out yes
terday, there warn't single sign of
box or money. / can't understand it. y
Neither do /, neighbor, said Greene,
running brawny hand over his shock
of untidy hair; neither can !. But |
do think We set too much store by that
young man ye'vc took into your house,
an mebbe ye're mistook in him. He's
deal too fine about his clothes an his
hands, an his hair, to be any too hon.
est; but" cautiously, as he saw the
flush that stole over Jamesons face,
"but mebbe Pm talkin' too fast; but it's
mighty curious, an one don't know
what to think"
lone might try to think nothin' that
weren't charitable" said the miller
gravely; '.an' don't suspect the lad.
1t is more'n I'd like to lose, for it takes
a time to earn it. But young Levoe
didn't have nothin' TO do with the steal
in'-no more than you or mean I'd
ruther people wouldn't kinder hint he
had"
faint in nature not to think it, see
in he's a stranger, an nobody knows
what or who he is; an he has fine ways
with him, an talks like schoolmas-
ter" said Greene stubbornly. Il don't
like to see you took in, neighbor, an
Pm mighty much afraid We are by that
millhand of yourn."
Then Greene babe the miller good
day, and betook himself to his duties on
the farm HARDLY the mill.
But that grizzled old man left a seed
of doubt behind him; and when has
such seed not found soil to nurture it,
until its fruit hung heavy on the giant
tree which Swallowed friendship, or
darkened forever soul immortal?
1t was not without many struggle
against the suspicion that ut last Har-
vey Jameson admitted it with sigh.
Who would have robbed him OF his
hard earnings save some stranger? for
his neighbors were his friends, and hon.
est, as he knew
In Talmley there was but ono who
had not been born there, and that one
was Dick Levoe. the stranger who bad
crossed his threshold six months before
to ask for employment.
Jameson wanted hand in the mill,
and hired Dick. taking him as boarder.
The young man had ''iine ways" as
Greene said.
He vas not especially handsome, but
he was cheerful, courteous, willing to
work, and vet, for all that, showed UNI
mistakable signs of having had no oc-
casion to perform any labor, mt some
time not far past He was educated
even Jennie, who had spent wear at
boarding-school, could be instructed by
him.
IN just keep my eyes open, an not
let on for a WHILE" thought the miller:
but, as Greene said, who else could
have stole the money!
He perceived no change in Dick, no
confusion, no sign of guilt; but, greatly
to the good mans CONSERVATION, he
discovered something else. The young
man was in love with pretty Jennie,
and she was fully conscious of the fact.
Here was new difficulty. and one
which the miller did not care to meet
He was bordering on it one day.
three weeks after the robbery. when
Glavin of the Hollow called and paid
him ten pounds which had been due
some time.
Il hear your house isn't a very Sc
cure place for money" said Gfayin with
smile; but hope nobody will walk
off with this while you're asleep
''Ill take care of that" answered
the miller, conscious that Dick could
hear. Il don't calc'late on bcin' robbed
twice by the same person; an I've got
over thinkin' everybody meet is
honest. Good-day. sir. Much obliged
Glavin departed, and the miller went
into the house.
Jennie WAS singing softly as she
sewed at window; Mrs. Jameson was
not in, having gone TO visit a sick
neighbor.
Without a word the old man passed
into his chamber. and there secreted
the ten pounds, frowning as he did so.
"Ill send that fellow packin' soon,
whether find him stcalin' or not" he
muttered. ut amt none too comfort
able a feelin' to know you've got to
lock up every shilling you get. an not
tell anybody where You put it,"
he ate his supper that evening in
silence; Jennie and Dick chattering in
cessantly, and Mrs. Jameson told about
every ache and pain that racked the
woman she had been to visit.
But the miller could only wonder
whether or not that frank, manly face
and those CHEEKY tones Of his employee
belonged to knaye and scoundrel
can Jennie and him seem to under
stand one another far too WELL" he
soliloquised; 81 used to like the lad, but
now I'd as lief see my girl care for old
blind Jack. the fiddler. as this fine gem
tleman- As Greene says. he's too fancy
about himself to be honest. I've often
heard the greater the rascal the more
genteel, an guess I'll load the rifle. !"
He did load the rifle, and placed 1t
near his bed, telling his wife that he
"warn't goin' to lose any more money,
but the first one that came for dishon-
est purposes Yould lose his life
Mrs. Jameson was very nervous con-
corning the proximity of the rifle; she
begged her husband to put it farther
away, declaring he might touch it in
his sleep, IAN make the thing 90 of, :"
and probably kill her
Il never move in my sleep, so you
needn't be scared" he told her IF
touch the gun. you can be sure it will
60 off; but I'll not touch it in my sleep;
| sleep like an honest man, do
So he went to bed, and thought more
of his daughter than of the money under
the carpet. However, he did think of
his money sometimes, and, in fact, his
thoughts ran from that to Jennie, as
the thoughts of the money-lender ran
from his ducats 10 his daughter.
At last he slept. but not any too
soundly; dreams visited MIN. and I'M
pleasant ones they were. Vision after
vision came and faded, and his wife
was alarmed beyond measure to see his