The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-09-23

riIrI1y rLoc9r-S- Dr0Tncr 6nU reSSTS--s
| ed, even in his hearing, that a respectable
| young man like Mr.. Edwards should low
er himself by such connection are sud-
| denly remembered and dwelt upon. He
| pauses before his wife and sternly demands
what errand had brought that brother of
| hers to his house That brother of hers
What speechl All Fanny's sisterly feel
ings are in arms, and yet her voice falters,
| for she is forced to own that it was the
| want of money. "And you told him had
those papers in the house" Mark cries ac-
cusingly. With crimson face she angrily
| denies it. She did not mention Mark S
affairs during their short interview. Is it
likely she would do SOP Or if she did,
| would George, poor, foolish fellow that he
is, steal up stairs and rob his sisters
house? Ridiculousl ImpossibleI
Impossible, Mark rcJorts, ''unless he
possessed the key"
! sobs Fanny.
Then where" asks Mark, care tho
missing papers?" Their little servant maid
away for holiday-no one in the house,
according to Fanny's own confession, but
this young man. Where are the papers,"
Receiving for reply torrent of tears
| and protestations, he filings himself on the
sofa and tries to steady his nerves to the
consequences Of this extraordinary loss.
Meanwhile Fanny goes and institutes an
unavailing search in every box. and cup
board and drawer where it could be posi-
bic TO Gnd such parcel, although it would
puzzle her to explain how it could have
withdrawn itself from the secret drawer to
take refuge elsewhere. At last she returns
to the parlor in despair. The packet must
have been stolen. But how? When? by
whom? Getting frightened at Mark 5
gloomy looks, she Is delighted when a tap
at the door announces q visitor and that
visitor proves to be her father.
To him the affair is Enthusiastically de-
tailed, and Mark points out the inevitable
loss of his situation and good name if he
should be unable to produce the papers or
give any clew which might lead to their
recovery. To Fanny's dismay he particlI-
larry dwells upon her brothers visit and
her half made endeavor to conceal it, con-
Guiding by an entreaty that she will, if
retaining any affection for her husband,
tell all she knows.
But now the father interposes To
talnely hear both his children accused of
such crime is moro than his rather iras-
chile temper will endure, and he enters q
counter accusation that Mark has for some
unworthy end removed the parcel himself.
Words now become SO hot and bitter that
Fanny's distress IS increased, not lessened
by this championship, and she weeps so
bitterly and pleads so earnestly with both
that Mark, more touched than he would
like to confess, abruptly leaves them to
shut himself i'll his chamber. After some
hours, the sound of his footsteps ccasing,
and is relieved to find him lying on the
bed in an uneasy slumber. Her father per-
suadcS her to rest, too, but poor Fanny
shakes her head and still sits by his side,
leaning her head on his shoulder and feel
ing more forlorn and miserable than it
had ever hCen her lot to feel before What
will poor Mark do? And what will be-
come of her if he persists in believing her
guilty?
Equally bewildercd and almost as I'M
happy us his daughter, Mr.. Roberts tries
to soothe her with promises, not only to
seek George and bring him to exculpate
himself, but to forgive Mark 5 hasty
speeches and assis. him in investigating
this mysterious affair. So at last Fanny
begins to feel more comforted and TO wish
her father to leave her; but, tired as he
confesscs himself, he cannot quit her in
such trouble, and they continue to occupy
the same position by the fire till night has
long given place to morning, and Mr..
Roberts eyes close involuntarily.
A footstcp overhead startles them. 1T
is only Mark, " says Fanny after a mo-
mcnt'S listening Poor fellowl I wish
he had slept longer"
In the modern six roomed house every
sound is distinctly audible, and they hear
him enter the chamber where stands the
now shattered escritoire. After short
pause he is heard slowly descending the
stairs, and his wife raises herself from her
reclining position and smooths her disor-
dcIed hair
As he enters the room Mr.. Roberts lays
his hand on his daughters arm. Look,
child, look! !" he whispers, and Fanny secs
with astoniShnient that her husband is
fast asleep and holds in one hand the bun
die of old love letters.
Setting down his candle, Mark unlocks
the front of his large and well filled book
case and draws out n number of loose
magazines, hidden away because of their
untidy appearance, lays the old love letters
quite at the back Of all, replaces tho odd
numbers, locks the glass doors and is
stalking away, when Fanny, with u cry
which awakens him, snatches the key
from his hand. Rubbing his eyes and
wondering, he sees her eager fingers drag
ging the highly priced love letters from
their hiding place, and then from behind
all the rest Fanny triumphantly takes out
the small brown paper parcel, tied with
pink tape and sealed with the office seal.
Crying and laughing i'll one, the happy
little wife is the next moment in her hus-
bands arms, kissing and being kissed
without any stopping.-Cincinnati Trib-
unc.