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

"What a night for you, 1over' says Mrs
Edwards, brushing the raindrops from her
husbands bushy whiskers and kissing
him compassionately. "And how late you
areI'
Edwards looks up ut the clock as he
struggles out of his dripping coat. II am
late indeed" he answers, but Mr.. Plead
we'll started on his trip 70 the south of
France this afternoon, and there were a
great many things to attend to before he
went. And, look here, Fanny-this packet
contains some valuable deeds and securi
ties, which will be called for by the owner
in few days. In the meanwhile l have
to copy one of them, but don't feel in
clined to begin tonight. Where can place
them with safety"
Fanny suggests his desk but that is the
first article burglar would be likely to
NEEDLE with. The wife's cheek pales at
the idea of such visitor, and she consid-
ers. "That old escritoire i'll the spare bed
room, will not that do?"
Mark still hesitates. II had so many
injunctions to be careful and not let them
go out of my own possession that am
afraid of that even. "
Fanny reminds him that there is secret
drawer IN it. Don't you remember" she
asks, what trouble we had to find it,"
'Ha, the very placer'
So his wife carries the candle for him,
and the valuable packet is deposited in this
hidden receptacle. Its only contents arc
few highly scented letters, tied together
with piece OF ribbon, which Fanny,
laughing and blushing, confesses are Mr.
Il ri g lNN-n afr, hnfnrn mr.
riage, carefully preserved to bear witness
against him when he becomes cold and
cross.
Perhaps it was restless night and I'M
pleasant dreams which made the clerk so
uneasy, even III the hurry of the next days
work, knowing that he had not visited the
escritoire before leaving home in the
morning to ascertain with his own eyes
the safety of the papers in his charge. He
poohpoohs the idea as it presents itself,
remembering that one key is in his own
possession and the other on his wife's
housekeeping bunch, but it returns so Of
ten that it is with n feeling of relief that
he hears the signal for closing and feels
he is ut liberty to return home
How is it his welcome is not such
smiling one as it usually is? Fanny'S
spirits seem depressed, and her eyes look
az if they had been clouded in tears
Have you had any visitors today" her
husband carelcssly inquiries as he sips his
tea.
The hesitating "No" is SO family pro-
nounced that the young man, hitherto pre-
occupied with business, looks up.
THAT mo- sounded like yes Who has
been here"
"Only my brother George" Fanny an
swcrs in n low voice, and Mark, frowning,
turns away and takes up Il book.
My brother George is his aversion
and the torment and trouble of his wife's
family-always in difficulties, no sooner
rescued from one scrape than rushing
headlong into another sometimes invisi-
BILE for months and suddenly reappearing
to levy contributions on any relatives able
or willing to assist him. Mark has seri-
ously contemplated forbidding his visits,
but then Fanny is so tender hearted and
cherished such kindly belief i'll the prod
igals ultimate reformation that her hus-
band has not yet mustered sufficient firm
ness to enforce his wishes, although he
knows where his wife's brooch went and
why she wears that old velvet bonnet.
Fanny seems to guess what is passing in
his mind by her coming SO softly to his
blQG AlA bGIOhl-lB lltt4I tallN PAS5SA1lS
her lips to his forehead, but neither of
them says anything, and Mark leisurely
prepares for his task of copying. While he
has gone up stairs to fetch his papers she
lights an extra candle and ensconces her
self In a corner with her work table, re-
GREETING as she does so that her poor
boy" must be bored with his odious writ.
ing when he ought to be resting. How
ever, Mark soon comes down the stairs,
three at time, to ask rather angrtly why
she has moved his packet without men
tioning 1t. With establishment in her
looks, his wife denies having done SO and
hurries with him to the spare bedroom,
asserting her belief that he has overlooked
the parcel Not thing Is out Of place.
The old escritoire stands exactly as they
left it, the lock had not been tempered
with nor was the secret drawer open, and
there undisturbed lie the love letters, but
the small brown paper parcel, tied with
pink tape and sealed with the office seal,
is gone.
The husband, suspecting he knows not
what, looks almost sternly at his wife,
whose answering glance is confused and
full of terror
"Ten me the truth, Fanny, my dear
Fanny. Are you playing q trick to tease
me? Remember If cannot produce these
papers l am q ruined man. 1t would BIO
worse than the loss of money-that l
might replace these l cannot. Tell me at
once where they are"
Indeed, Mark, 1 know no more about
them than you do yourself. They must
be here. Perhaps they have slipped be-
hind the drawer"
Although next to impossible, the chance