Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-27
Whole No. 9 81.

of preparation, Mrs. Moore had sonetlIncs
been too much absorbed TO act as priestess of
the shrine, but had despatched various inferior
ministers whom she had confidence, always re-
quirng the key, and returning II safely to her
pocket after each successive exhibition.
But when the last moment arrived, the last
headless lady, pale and transparent as ghost,
was to be hung in the cabinet Of curosltles,
the preyiou, love was missing. The casket
had been l>it rulocled though the key had
been turned and taken away, and the airy
god had vanished like the films Of dawn be-
fore summer sun.
Now we need poet No prose can hope
90 describe the effect Of the announcement
Perhaps huge blank would be most express
i've, for certainly the universal face IN Mrs.
Moore's work room was blank enough, at least
for a while. BY and by very legible chsrec-
ters began 10 oappear--characters Of anger, fear,
suspicion; all painful enough
And now questions and answers began1o go
round, somewhat in the manner OF Cock hob
in funeral. who showed heaace last T.
. Not L. said Miss Dye, and Miss Nye and
Miss Pye. Il never showed il a, all, thank
fortune y
/ At last all agreed that il was Miss Moore
herself. and she was compelled TO believe that
in her haste she had turned the key, without
pressing down the lid sufficiently. The box
had stood in little room over the front door,
which opened into the entry.
Perhaps somebody came in out OF the
street and took It,, said Amelia, venturinR To
put in word while every body else was talk"
ing.
/ There was dead silence, and every eye
was turned upon poor Amelia. She looked con-
fused. and Miss Louisa, who had been very
active in the search, said at once
She has taken il horselir
I-I,--rnc. Miss ouisap y exclaimed the
girl. turning paler every moment, do YOU think
that ! would steal 2
; Il don't know, I'm sure, said Louisa, girls
like YOU have, done such things before.
All the clatcing tlrong now gathered
abou, the tr,obling Amelia, urging her 10
confess TO give up the lace and so form.
But she only booked wild, and appealed TO
Mrs, Moore. who, strongly suspectlng her'
cautioned her not To make bad worse by t1ihrg
a lie
AT these cruel words the unfortunate crI
fell on the noor in "A fainting f,. and being hi-
bi,ually unhappy, her na,ure sank under NE
trial and she was carried into the gairet, AID
laid in one of the servants beds.
Mrs Evelyn was now informed OF the loss, ,ard
her SON. Mr. Frank Evelyn, a sharp young law
yer. came imlnedtatelyto Mrs. Moores. Lc
requested her to collect her entire family, anf
in a few moments all but Amelia, who was ui-
able 10 rise, were assembled in the work roon.
Mr. Evelyn then introduced two men who had
been waiting outside, and asked II Mrs. Moore
was willing they should make an eXamlnabop
of the house, while the family should remain ~
they we're TO this she consented, aud chus"
10 accompany them herself While MIR. Etelyn
waited IN the work room, seeming unconccrnc',
hut watching nevertheless every cOuntcnah'"
there. As Mrs Moore and the officers were
leaving the room, Mr.. Evelyn observed that
one of the young women went behind curtain
which hung before the recess where ladies' us'-
ally tried ON their dresses. IL was but mo
men, before she again appeared, but the lawyer
asccrtaincd before be lett the room, that the
curtain concealed door leading TO the back
stairs. a fact which he noted as significant.
/ The search proved lrtiisss, and MIR. ENesn
now visited Amelia lie found her ~ a state
of the mcst terrible agitation, and could eieH
nothing beyond an incoherent denial, accomrn~
med by an entrca,y that he would not tell hr
mother. Penetrated with the deepest compass
sion, he left her, aud returning represented INC
case 10 his mother. Mrs Evelyn, tho, Ph in
the midst of preparations for a wedding, l'h 40
time IN has,cnmp 10 the bedside of the wrctch' Il
Girl. and reading in her white face, strained aLd
fearless eyes and irenzied pulse, conilmail"h
of her son s report sent AZ once for her own
physician. and requested Mrs. Mcore 10 say
nothing more of the lost lace.
The opinion dbl was very unia,orablc.
He thought mind and life IN imminent danger,
unless cfeciual relief could be found and 50
strong was MIR. ENclyn's conviction OF the glrl
innocence that he resolved TO make one dtsper-
ate effort to prove H. lie rccollec,cd the Give, NJ
a. ,,I ,tpr ia A.
around. he Gxed II on the Vhicst i'ce
there. Il was that Of the person who had
retired during the examination. She was net
only pale, but aciated, aud yet had an ;nr
!, which looked like defiance.
'What is that Young lady name = said Tie
hwycr. addressing Mis-. Muorv
THAT sir . that is my domghtu : said The
lady, rather haughtily.
, A scarce pcrcep,ible glance passed bc'we'"
Mr.. Evelyn and his mother, aud the latter re-
oucslcd to speak with Mrs. and Miss Moore ~
another room, 10 which we shall follow them,
leaving MIR. Frank in no light anxiety arii
! some little ucpida,ion. 10 await The result
, of thcr conference.
II Il have been To visit the poor rirl whtm We
" have suspected. Mrs Moore said MIS-. Evelyn
: aud find her in the greatest danger. Doctor
- thinks the only way 10 save her life VIII
be to relieve her uind, If possible
. n Mrs. Moore listened IN silence, wondering
what Was to ccmc next.
II. Il wish to ask you, Miss Louisa, continued
= Mrs. Evelyn, with pointed emphasis wh,lA- a.
: or YOU know anything that would be hkely 10
: cIcar Amclln. | would gladly give up nll
Thought of the loss. If that would answer 'he
purpose. but il u ihc accusation, which s hill-
- ing the girl
III over. :,
. oh Louisa. # you are able To save her, u YOU
t. amid clear her character and viii not, ih,nk
/, Nhat a dreadful SIN you are committing DO
! not sacrifice lhs poor iiieHdicss creature
to
Here Mrs Moore int,ricrcd, at d very angr-
.ly, not comprchendng upon WHIT Itc'rt,c
/, her daughter could be- distressed ~ tlis way
but Mrs Evelyn still addressed herself regard
p lees of the interruption
Yes, Miss Moore, said, think what vii 10
4 your feelings when you see Amelia carried
A 80, oT tIis hotss cofpse. aud yourself iU "