Year: 1872

MIHe GOo, Sdiu 1hdl Sol0e ALL.
have come to like her so. And then
poor Sam


I 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 hour, and to be very merci-
full, and 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 but a clumsy old bachelor, not
used to woman's ixings, my coat caught
in little wicker-work sewing basket,
on long spider legs, and overset it. Out
tumbled cotton and buttons and tape,
and l stopped down to pick them up,
when among the litter / saw key,
brass door-key, with nick in it and a
long piece of pink ribbon tied to the han
die. 1t was very little thing, but it
made my blood run cold.


If that was the key Lilly had lost,
what was it doing there [ didn't dare
look at my sister-inl law And [ walk
ed the floor all night, but by morning
my mind was made up.


At nine o'clock l met the boy and
girl at the store and told them l should
be gone all day. Then | stole Lilly's
key from under the counter and went to
her house-to her little room on the
third floor and entered like thief 1t
was very poor and very bare, but very
neat and clean; and there was a closet
in it with few dresses hanging upon
pegs and bonnet box on shelf.


Into this closet went and there sat
down on an old trunk and waited. l
heard queer old clock ticking in the
room; heard it count the hours, ten,
eleven, and twelve. And l kept saying
to myself;


''If you are wicked, suspicious old
fool, Richard Wood, the Lord forgive
you


But waited still, and just as the long
black hands pointed at half-past one, I
heard just such knock as my sister-in
law always gave at the Office door.


| drew my closet door tight shut and
put my eye at a crevice in it.


There was another knock-a pause
and then | heard the key turn i'll the
lock, and saw the door open and my sis
ter-in-law come in. She looked about
her, shut the door, relocked it and stole
across the room. Then-God forgive
the woman; l suppose she was mad with
jealousy-she lifted up the mattress Of
the neat little bed in the corner, and
taking red pocket book from her bosom
thrust it under, pulling the quilt well
down about the bed afterward.


Il hardly think you'll marry Sam
Spencer after all, Miss Lilly" she said
aloud, with wicked toss of her head
I've outwltted you"


'.Not quite" said l. Margaret Ann
there are two words to that matter"


| walked out of the closet and stood
with my back to the outer door. Sh,
knew herself trapped, but her wicked
tongue had its way still.
$50 you're in the habit of comm.
here p she said ''Nice young ladies
certainly"


never came here before, and yol
know it; but I've been here all da,
waiting for you. I saw Lilly's key il
your basket last night and 1 began t
guess the truth. Bring me that pocket
book


Margaret Ann did it. She was pal
as death. [ looked at her and felt sorr,
. for her after all.


you're my brothers widow l said


and poor, foolish, jealous creature.
e haven't told any one of my suspicion
3 yet, and never will on two conditions.
. Name them,' said she; II canno
help myself"


< you'll retire from business" said ]


"Glad to do it, said she.
"And you'll give that thousand dol
lar note to Lilly as wedding present


She looked at me and gave grea
u gulp.


NASTY little cat, won't!'' said she


But she did, and only I ever kne'
!. why the Widow Wood was so generou
!. to Lilly Rathbone on her wedding day
y or why she started for Europe on th
!. very next steamer tt at sailed from Ne
e York, and still remains there.
S A SAD CAsE.-A hard working an
; honest being who was gifted beyond h


kind in the matter of leanness, game
II for some years an excellent and honor
e BILE living by adopting an attire consis