Daily Republican., 1888-12-06
vNoER A CLOUD.
ny ALICE DALE.

Erred said Mrs Arlington, twill
you please hold this skein Of wool for
Misc Stallordf"
"Certsinly," replied Fred Arlington,
who was Mrs. Arlington's pet brother.
in-law; az am always ready to make
myself useful"
And then he set himself opposite tile
pretty seSmstress, and held the skein
OF double zephyr In a model manner,
while from the far corner Of the sitting
room Charlotte Clyde watched the two
with envious eyes.
AS fully and deeply as il was posi-.
bic for her selfish nature to love, Char
lotte loved this handsome, good heart.
ed Fred, and Cnce she had thought
that he was all her own.
That was before Minnie Stafford
came to work for CharlOtte's sister,
Mrs. Arlington, and the young lady
felt nOta Il tile mortified over tho fact
that al insignificant sewing girl was
proving q successful rival.
"The artfui designing thiugl" muir
INJURED the young lady, obviously; "the
idea OF ncr presumiDg so far above herl
I will not yield to her. he shall DO
mine by fair means or by foul"
Meanwhile Fred and Minnie were
attending very soberly N the double
zephyr, STEALING contende1 and loving
| chances at each other; for, although no
words Of love had been spoken be-
tween them, these two young people
had come to understand one another
very well indeed.
Mrs. ArllngtDn's maple came flut.
tering through the open window, and,
true 10 his instincts, made greedy
clutch ct the bright wool he tailed to
wrest il from them, aud, with an angry
air, walked 10 the other end OF the
room.
Then they had to get their skein out
Of tangle, aud OF course Fred couldn't
help pressing the little white hand
when 1t accidentally came within his
OWE, could her
A few moments later Charlotte
crossed over to their eide OF the room
and bent for brief moment over the
Strengthened skein.
"a pretty shade" she said, and then
passed further on.
Mrs. Arlington had been absent
from the room for a short time, aud
she now came in and sat down ut her
work table.
'Have any Of you seen my gold
thimble2" she asked.
They all said that they had not seen
II, and search was Immediately COM
menced for the missing article of value;
now here could Il he found.
While The search was going on
Minnie drew her handkerchief from
her pocket, ana with II came the thin
bic, rolling over on the floor 10 A;s.
ArltGgton's feet.
I chow odd," said the hostess, and
cast a rather suspicious glance al the
seamstrees.
cit must have got rolled in my
handkerchief when II was in the WORK
basket" said Minnie, aud the poor
girl blushed fiery red under Mrs. Ar
lington's suspicious gaze.
II saw her her take 1t from your
} table," whispered Charlotte Clyde in
her sisters ear.
That was enough
: II shall not need your services ateI
to-day, Miss Stafford" said Minnie's
. employer.
; Minutes lips trembled little, bu
she held her head erect and answered
steadily:
avery well, madam"
She felt that she was under a cloud
and 1t was terrible 10 know that such
I suspicious were held against her with
Fred Arlington sitting by, She tried
hard to appear unconcerned, but thu
cloud made heavy impression upoT
her spirits, and she could not summon
the courage to lift her downcast eyes
l With a troubled expression ON hi
face, Fred aroae and left the room.
B YEARLY the moments dragged by L
poor Minnie, as she bent low over he
work, but there soon came STARTLING
change.
Miss Stafford" said the hostess
and her voice was hard and cold. IN,
porte monnais is missing; have yol
seen anything OF itr"
Minnie grew red and white by turns
and her heart seemed TO leap into he
throat, aud stop her. breath; the suspi
cion conveyed in the hard, cold word
terrified her, and for moment sh
was unable 10 speak.
Don't she look guilty all over2
asked Charlotte of her sister.
"Yesl" returned Mrs. Arlington
''Be kind enough to order James t
summon an officer.
Charlotte Clyde turned to leave tn
room, and then Minnie burst into tears
and threw herself sohbing at Mrs Ar
. lipgton's feet.
U MADAM, ! know nothing OF It'll
). she cried wildly, trying to keep dow
|. the choking sensation. ''Do not dis
,. grace me, for | swear to you that l an
!, Innocent have not seen your porte
q monnaie TO day."
" The door opened, and Fred Airing
ton stood on the threshold.
"And feel positive that she Is il
capable of such an action" said th
"a young man, striding forward and LIT
ing the seamstress from the ilool
''Look up, Minnie, straight into m
eyes, aud tell me that you are limit
cent"
~ The clear, truthful eyes were life
: bravely TO his, and the sobbing voic
said:
"By my hopes of salvation I am in
: noeentp'
Charlotte Clyde gave ven; to shor
bitter laugh.
/ "Fhen vino is tho guilty party2
she asked.
u Fred turned sternly round upon hel
and she qualled beneath his aecusiD
glance