Year: 1873

book. 1t was easy to identity, and besides the
poor girl was in suspicious position, and said
II she would prove guilty my faith in human ma
ture was gone"


milne, too !" said Margaret Ann. at had come
to like her 80. And then poor Sam"


went home to tea with my sister-in-law, but
we had not much appetite She promised not
to come to the store until the closing h our, and
to be very merciful, and to give the girl every
chance.


And so we parted, ] arose to say good night
and came around the table to shake hands with
Margaret Ann, when being CLUMSY old bache-
lor not used to women's hxings, my coat caught
in little wicker work sewing haeket on long spi-
der legs and overset it. Out tumbled cotton.
buttons and tape, and stopped down to pick
them up, when among them saw key. brass
door-key with nick in it and long piece of pink
ribbon tied TO the handle. 1t was very little
thing, but it made my blood run cold.


IL that was the key Lilly had lost, what was IL
dong there | didn't dare to look at my sister,
in-law And walked the floor all night but
by morning my mind was made up.


At nine o'clock met that boy and girl at the
store, and told them should be gone all the
day. In ten minutes more l stole Lillys key
from under the counter, and went to the house
to her little room Oh the third aoor, and en-
tered 1t like thief 1t was very poor and very
bare, but very neat and clean and there was q
closet in it, with a few dresses hanging upon
pegs. and bonnet box on shelf Into this
closet went. and there sat down on an old
trunk aud waited. / heard queer old clock
ticking in the room. heard it count the hours,
ten, eleven, twelve And kept saving TO myself


"If you are a wicked suspicious old fool, Rich
ard Wood Lurl forgive you"
But waited still, and just as The long black
hands pointed at half past one, heard such a
knock as my sister-in-law always gave at the
Office door.


drew my closet door tight, and put my eyes
at a crevice in IL.


There was another knock-a pause and then
| heard tho key turn in the lock, and saw the
door open and my zister-in-law come in. She
looked about her, shut the door, relocked it and
stole across the room. Then-God forgive the
woman | suppose she was mad with jeaousy-
she lifted up the mattress of the neat little bed
in the corner, and taking red pocket book
thrust it under, pulling tue quilt well down about
the bed afterward.


II hardly think you'll marry Sam Spencer af-
ter ALL Miss Lilly" she said aloud, with wickod
toss of her head. 1--WE outwtted you.


mot quite" said Margaret Ann there are
two words to that matter"


i walked out of my closet and stood with my
back to the outer door She knew herself trap
ped. but her wicked tongue had its way still


so you're i'll the habit Of coming here !" she
said. Nice young lady certainly


II never came here before, said l. land you
know:it but I've been here all day waiting for
you, 1 saw Lilly's key in your basket last night,
and began to guess the truth. Bring me that
pocket-book."


Margaret ann ulu bno was hh palo a5
death aud almost as cold L looked at her and
felt sorry for her after all


You're my brothers widow" l said, "and a
poor, foolish. jealous creature. l haven't told
any one of my suspicious yet, and never Will
on two conditions


Name them" said she. 81 cannot help my
self"


You'll retire from the business" said l.


"Glad to do it" said she.


"And you'll give that thousand dollar bill to
Lilly AZ wedding present"


She looked at me and gave great gulp.


Nasty little cat !" said she, Il won't"


But she did and only ever knew why the
Widow Wood was 80 generous to Lilly Rathoone
on her wedding day, or why she started for Eu
rope on the very next steamer that sailed from
New York and still remains there.