Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-06-06

Good heavens, Maria, what is the
matter?' l gasped as o o as l could
catch my breath.
so. John, how can say it? But, o,
who had ever a chance to go into the
store safe besides you and me?'
Nobody but Mary Owen Of course
l said.
Are o sure, John?' asked she.
of course I am sure, You know it
as well as l do" said l,
All. well no doubt, then, you can
explain what has happened Perhaps
You have had occasion TO use that
money Of mine. Imean that L hum
dred dollar bill that l put in my red
po~eketbook and laid in the safe yester-
day
No. Maria, you know would have
asked YOU about il, for that was your
own private money, and none OF mine"
We'll, John, it is gone. Did you see
me look into the safe?" said she,
Yes" said l.
"Well, l missed it then, but l could
not bear TO speak of it. You know how
many temptations come to "A poor girl
and especially one WHO'S getting ready
to be married. John, we must not
have her arrested"
"yyhy, what upon earth doyou mean,
Maria? | know Mary Owen never
took that money. Don't be in such
haste to accuse her
II don't accuse her, but the facts
speak for themselves. l will not arrest
her, but she must leave the store, and
she must restore the money
How can you be so suspicious? Why
don't you suspect me? | am sure | am
much wickeder than Mary Owen
said |. But it was no use Maria
was determined to go at once to the
store, to charge poor Mary with the
theft and shame her before her lover.
All the while she cried and sobbed, and
| really felt that she was in great dis
tress. | went with her to the store,
and she searched very quietly in every
place where it was possible that the
money could have been dropped unno-
ticed. Maria had written down the
number of the note, and said that she
had also marked it with two red crosses,
that she might always identify it.
made her promise not to speak without
my consent, but my heart began tc
grow sad, for circumstances looked
black against poor Mary.
~ that girl is guilty, l shall never
trust a mortal on earth said |.
Il feel just as you do, brother john
said Maria, "and then how | pity poo
David"
| went home to tea with my brother
widow, but we did not feel like eating
She promised not to come down to tn
store until | sent for her next day, an
: seemed very mcrciful and tender towar
. the unhappy girl.
I had never liked Maria as well as
) did that evening. I couldn't help wan
ing to kiss her, so ! arose to say goo
, night and came around the tea tab,
. to take her hand, when my coat caugl
1 in a little willow work basket til;
{ stood by, all full of sewing, and,
course, it tumbled over Out rolf
e spools and thimbles and buttons al
d scissors, and as | stopped to gath
them up, | saw a small doorkey, ii,
,e with a narrow black ribbon, and wi
I a deep notch cut into the handle.
a l felt my heart stop beating, but HI
re presence of mind enough to catch
TO the key unseen and put it back in t
st basket.
IN Yes, it was Mary's doorkey. He
:" did it happen to be in Maria's baskt
d: l dared not linger any longer with l
is brothers widow, but went home a
k walked the floor all night. The IL
ment / had seen the key | remember
IS Mary saying they would leave the oil
n KEY under the door.mat, and from Il
| determined on my mode of action.
Nv In the morning | went to the ST.
and told them / shopld be absent
day. Then in a short time | was
tn Mary's home, where, as ] had expect
I found the key under the door-m
BY its aid l was soon inside, and, af
GU locking the door after me, | wall
re. about trying to find q hiding place.
,er felt like q thief as walked around
IN, small room that Mary had left in S,
order, with many a dainty touch h
wv and there to add to its attractiven,
lid In one corner was a closet, wher
lid few garments hung upon hooks. |
nS the place | went and sat down upon
3D. Hold trunk and waited.
we Ms | sat there | felt more than o
at Ikea mean, suspicious villain. ] as
nd myself is this the way you take c
nc. of your hwother's widow?" But all
Tor same | kept on waiting and whisper
lev MAY tile lord forgive me if l
wn wrong." Y
HEARD the town clock strike the he
The ten, eleven and \twelve-and S
me afterwaid | heard a noise at the d
n Quickly closing the closet, | left
hat enough room to watch what happier
she There was another tap-a pause
uld then the door opened slowly and M
i'm entered. Quickly she looked about
you room, then shut the door, locked it,
.aw hurried across the floor. AS quit
she lifted up the mattress of the 81
e?" white bed, and taking a redpockett
Kiss from out of a package, thrust it u
his and pulled the covers neatly about
gou bed again.
God forgive you, woman!
.yid have you done this?' | cried, burs
for sut of my hiding place. She tn
and faced me, looking white with
ire. and despair at being detected.
he she could not hold her venom
*" tongue
"Mell. | didn't know Miss