Year: 1878




owner and captain of a coasting vessel, l.,
doing a good trade; and we occupied
an old-fashioned and somewhat dreary
house at Stepney. Elijah liked the
place more than l did, and it was on
his account that we staid there so long.
thought that it could make very little
difference to him where we lived, for
he was at home only two or three
weeks out of every ten- | was often
alone two months at time; and lonely
enough it was sometimes.


Get some one whom you like to stay
with you, my dear" the captain said,
when | told him one day how unpleas-
ant | felt TO be alone so much. Get
any one you please, and before long |
hope | shall be able to stay at home
with you myself"


| took his advice, and after some in
quiry, found a woman who thought
would suit me. Her name was Emily
Sands, and she was pleasant-faced wo-
man of about forty. She told me she
had been left a widow with no means,
and had since earned her living by nee
dle-work; and although had intended
that the woman who came every MORN
ing to do my housework should still
come, [ found Emily so handy and so
willing, that | soon discontinued the
services OF the other. She was so
unable and so yirtuous, that | was sat
isfied that had done the best that |
could do in the matter


Il hope So" he said, doubtfully.


And don't you think so:" | asked.


''Well, no." he replied.


Now, I'd like to know why, Elijah.
Do you see anything wrong about herr


81 can't say that do: L presume it
is only a notion; but 1 have some way
conceived kind of distrust of her face.
can't explain it, and you had better
not be prejudiced by it,


"You may be very sure | shall not,
rejoined, ''if it has no more founda-
ton than this.'


And this is ali that was said between
us on the subject. | was too well ac-
quainted with the captains sudden
whims 10 attach much importance TO
this one.


The captain remained at home this
time barely two weeks. On the morn
ing that he left to take his vessel for
another trip, just after he had taken up
his hat to 90, he called me into his
chamber and shut the door.


Here is something, Fanny" he said
''that | want you to keep safe for me
till come back And he took pa
per package from his breast-pocket as
he spoke. There are tel fifty-dollar
notes n it-five hundred dollars i'm all.
[ will lock it up here in this bureau
drawer, and give you the key" And
he did so. ssNo one would think of
coming here for money"


''Do you think you had better leave
it here. Elijah ~ | asked. why not
put it in the bank? 2"


Il meant to; but | shall not have
time The money was only paid to me
last night. But no matter: the money
will be safe where it is, and there Will
be no danger about it; or if you don't
think so, you may deposit it yourself. !"


Ny husband took little thought OF
possibilities, and l presume that BE
never once thought of money from the
time he left the house until he returned.
As for myself, / was not Sd easily salts
fed. | had heard enough of house
plunderings and outrages of that kind
TO make me afraid to keep this large
amount with me. My uneasiness in
creased as the day wore on, and about
three o'clock the same afternoon, took
the money and went to the bank, deter
mined to deposit it. The bank was
closed; all the banks were closed, for
it was Saturday.


took the package home again, re-
placed it in the bureau drawer, locked
it, replaced the key in my pocket, and
resolved that | would not worry any
more about it. Emily called me to tea
in a little while, and though not hun
gry, L went into the dining-room and
sat with her while she d-ank her tea,
and laughed and ehatted in her viva
cious way.


The evening wore rather long, and
Emily and l sat together in the dining
room after the table was cleared, she
reading aloud, and l listening. as was
our custom. When the clock struck
ten, she laid down her book, and took
my lamp, and, bidding her goodnight,
went up to my room.


My chamber occupied the whole front
of the second story, and Emily had a
back room upon the same floor. A bell