Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-06-06
CHAPTER IN.

I was awakened in the morning by
my wife, and, to my surprise, fount
that l had been sleeping, fully dressed
on couch in our bedroom. l sa
up and passed my hand across my fore
head, in the endeavor to recall how i
was that l had entered the room, ant
without undressing, chosen the coucl
instead of the bed.
"Have been sleeping long?" I asked
II do not know, my dear" replied my
wife. "The opiate you gave me las
night had such an effect upon me thai
could scarcely have stirred until
opened my eyes half an hour ago."
"Then you have no recollection OF
my having come in, or at what time!
mot the slightest, Richard"
"Nor have l." said I, pondering.
"When l saw you sleeping on tine
COUCH" said my wife, tenderly, my
idea was that you would not come tt
bed for fear of disturbing me-"
"That may have been my motive FOL
sleeping here" | said, still in wonder
''Dut III Is SlTu1lSp tIdt IL siouiu ho w
gone clean out of my mind"
ut has occurred before, Richard"
"True; but this is n new phase ol
my wretched sleep walking
ut is easily accounted for, love. YOU
mind has been unusually disturbed
DO not let it distress you'
"And you have had a good nightT
"a wonderful night; / feel quite re
freshed; and were 1t not for what Is
before me, should feel perfectly
happy"
Now, it is singular fact that my
mind was also blank as to the danger
which threatened us. | had no recol
lection, not only of what had passed
between me and my uncle on the pre-
vious day, but even of his being in thu
house.
"Of what is before you" said
"What do you mean"
"Surely you have not forgotten th'
task I have set myself with your uncle
shall succeed, love-I shall succeed
The first sound l heard this morning
was the singing Of the birds. That II
nearly always so; but this morning
their sweet notes had peculiarly Joy
ful significance. Hope. hope, hope!
they sang. All will be we'll Eunic'
will be happy. Your home Is saved
The cloud has passed away My hear
sang the words in unison, and l nave
given thanks to the Giver of all good
Even these tender words did no'
mitigate the terrible oppression which
weighed me down. She failed to con
vince me that, within a few shor
hours, we should not be thrown upor
the world, without home.
Mamma" 1t was Eunlce's voice
outside.
Come In, dear child" called my
wife. "She is happy and hopeful
Richard. I have been talking to he'
quite wisely
"If love be WISDOM" thought, as
Eunice entered the room, ut would
count for much. But love must worb
n miracle in stony heart before hap
piness can be restored to me and
NINE"
kiss the clouds away from your
fathers face, my child" said my wife
"and make him smile again."
"Let be, let be-" I said, receiving
and returning Eunice's caress with
coldness.
Don't be disheartened, darling" said
my wife, drawing Eunice to her
"Your father is not himself this morn
ing"
"There Is nothing new, mamma?'
asked Eunice, anxiously.
mo, dear child" replied my wife
"Rely upon me-"
81 will, mamma, l WILL" murmured
Eunice, her face upon her mothers
breast.
1--WE will go down now, Richard
said my wife; "you will join us pres
entlyW
"Yes, presently" replied.
They left the room together, taking
proceeded to make my toilet. 1t was
soon completed, and / took my watch
from my pocket to ascertain the time,
AS put 1t back my fingers encountered
a ring. l took 1t out and gazed Mt 1t
in dumb astOnishment; it was the dia.
mond ring my uncle had placed upon
his finger on the first night Of his ar.
rival. BY what strange means had 1t
come unconsciously into my posses.
sion?
shook my head angrily and impa-
tiently and tried to think. My uncle
had not given me the ring, and could
scarcely have taken 1t without his
knowledge. But, with or without his
knowledge, l must have taken 1t. for
Ii lay in my trembling hand. How did
1t come into my pocket? Was l a
thief? 1t needed but question like
this to make my despair complete.
Little did 1 suspect what was yet to
be revealed to me and all of us. The
stone in the ring was. as have already
stated, not large, and could not, at the
utmost, haye been worth more than
twenty pounds. That l should have
been guilty of theft, and of theft
so paltry, shocked and overwhelmed
me.
What should I do with the ring?
dared not show it to my wife; the