The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-12-03
UNDER SUSPICION.

OF course everybody kuew-as every.
body knew everything in that delightful
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" said the miller.
shaking his dusty head solemnly, and
telling the circumstance for the fiftieth
time to his neighbor, Farmer Greene,
who had dropped in TO sympathize with
his old friend; nobody knew | had the
money but my daughter Jennie and
young Levoe, and / can't suspect Il
single soul. / put the money in a tin
box, and put that among lot of other
boxes in the cupboard, waitin till |
could go TO the bank with it. an 10 and
behold! when went to get it ont yes
terday there wasn't single sign of box
or money. can't understand it,.
Neither can |, neighbor. said Greene.
running a brawny hand over his shocl,
Of untidy hair; neither can l. But do
think ye set too much store by that
young man ye've took into your house.
an mebbe ye've mistook him. He's I,
deal too fine about his clothes an his
hands, an his hair, to be any too honest,
but cautiously, as he saw the flush
that stole over Jameson's face. "but
mebbe I'm tallSin too fast, but it's
mighty curious, and one don't know
what to think"
Zone might try to think nothin that
weren't charitable" said the miller
gravely, "an | don't suspect the lad.
It's more'n I'd like to lose, for it takes
time TO earn it. But young Leyoe
didn't have nothin to do with the stealth
no more'n you or mean ia rather
people wouldn't kinder hint he had"
Taint in nature not to think it seein
he's stranger, an nobody knows what
or who he is; an he has fine ways with
him an talks like schoolmaster." said
Greene stubbornly. Il don't like to see
y. took in, neighbor, and Tn mighty
much afraid you are by that mill hand
of yourn."
Then Greene held out his hand to the
miller, who was deep in Thought, and
babe him good day, and betook himself
to his duties on the farm near thefmill.
But the farmer had left a seed of
doubt behind him; and when has such a
seed not found soil to nurture it untilNits
fruit hung heavy ON the giant tree
which shadowed friendship or dark
ened forever soul immortal?
In Talmlev there was but one who
had not been born there and that one
was Dick Levoe, the stranger who had
crossed his threshold six months before
t to ask for employment.
Jameson wanted hand in the mill,
and hired Dick, taking him as a boarder.
The Young man had fine ways" as
Greene said.
He was not especially handsome, but
he was cheerful, courteous, and willing
to work, and yet, for all that, showed
unmistakable signs Of having had no oc-
casion to perform any labor, at some
time not far past. He was educated
even Jennie. who had spent year at
boarding school, could he instructed by
him.
'I'll just keep my eyes open an not let
ON for awhile thought the miller, ''but,
as Greene said, who else could have stolen
the money!"
He perceived no change in Dick, no
confusion, no sign Of guilt, but greatly
to the good mans CONSERVATION he dis.
covered something else. The young man
was in love with pretty Jennie, and she
was fully conscious of the fact.
There was now difficulty. and one
which the miller did not care to meet.
He was pondering over it one day,
three week after the robbery. when
Glayin Of the Hollow called and paid
him ten pounds which had been due
some time.
Il hear your house isn't very secure
place for money sail Glayin, with a
smile, "but hope nobody will walk of
with this while you're asleep"
I'm take care of that" answered the
miller, conscious that Dick could hear.
Il don't calc1ate on bein robbed twice
by the same person, and I've got over
thinkin everybody / meet is honest.
Good day, sir. Much obliged"
Glaven 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 word the old man passed
into his chamber, and there secreted the
ten pounds, frowning as he did so.
IN send that fellow pacldn soon
whether l find him stealth or not, he
muttered 1T amt none too comfort
| able feelin to know you've got to locb
mp every shilling you get, and not tel
| ANYBODY where YOU put il"
He ate his supper that evening in 81
| lence, Jennie and Dick chatteIing 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 employe,
belonged to a knave and scoundrel.
AN Jennie and him seemed 10 under
stand one another far too well, he so
lilOquized. Il used TO like the lad, but
I'd as lief see my girl care for old blind
/ Jack, the fiddler, as this fine gentleman
As Greene says, he's too fancy about
himself 10 be honest. I've often heari
the greater the rascal the more genteel
an l guess III load the rife.
He did load his rife and placed it neal
his bed, telling his wife that he ''warn't
| going to lose any more money, but the
first one that came for dishonest pur
poses would lose his life"
Mrs. Jameson was very nervous con
cerning the proximity Of the rife; she
begged her husband to put it farther
away, declaring he might touch it in hi'
sleep, IAN make the thing go of, =" and
probably kill her.
81 never move in my sleep, so yor
needn't be scared he told her. If
touch the gun, you can he sure IL vii
60 OFF, but III not touch it in my sleep
| sleep like an honest man, do"
So he went TO bed. and thought NOR,
Of his daughter than Of the money under
the carpet. However he did think Of
his money sometimes, and ina fact hii
thoughts ran from that 10 Jennie, as th'
thoughts of the money lender ran from
his ducats to his daughter,
At last NE slept but not any too
soundly; dreams visited him, and un
pleasant ones they were. Vision aftei
vision came and faded, and his wife wa
alarmed beyond measure 10 see his un
conscious hands go ont again and again
perilously near sometimes TO the loade'
rifle.
Il was midnight before she slept at all
but then her sleep was profound. !
was broken az last by the strangest an,
most thrilling Of sounds, no less star
Ting than a heavy fall, and a loud
harsh, reverherating report, as though
-cannon had been fired at her ear
No woman is ever too frightened d
scream, and Mrs. Jameson's shriek
were loud and shrill as she cowere'
among the hedclothes, and a scrambhni
In the darkness and muttered words sh
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