Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1853-12-22

I tiidt SbohtN q NIIu
its mocha anism. she raised the portrait it
ortained with the point of her scissors.
and pointed TO a small circle filled up
with intricate lines, which were engrav-
ed in the centre # The thin plate of gold
that divided the locket in.o two compart-
partments said, Here il is"
These apparently unmeaning lines form
the initials of your brothers name and
miner. E. (Robert Evandale )and
NJ. w MARY Walters.) They were en-
graved by friend of mine. and made
purposeiy intricate. that they might not
be too readily mode out. But can trace
them exactly" And to Margaret Evan
dale's unu,terabe surprise. she did so
with the point of needle. bringing or
der out OF apparent confusion. and making
the letters appear quite distinct.
Mary Walters now entreated her friend
to inquire Of Captain Stanley without a
moments delay where he had purchased
the locket. and desiring at the same :ime.
leave to retain possession of it until some
account of il was obtained.
On being asked regarding the trinket.
Captain Stanley evinced good deal Of
surprise, and not a little discomposure.
1t was indeed. some seconds before he
could make any answer at all.
AT length he said. with an off hand air
Of indifference. which it was evident he
did not in reality feel
Why. what's all this about lockct?
! Do ,hey suppose stole 1t, eh? bought
it from Jew in London. and that's all
| can tell abeut it. Bought it and paid for
it. A good round sum, too. | needn't
say how ,nuch, and ! won't. But let's
see it. Margaret he said. for il was with
her this conversation took place. and
will find you another that shall be no
subject of impertinant inquiry and re-
mark.
Miss Evandale now informed him that
her friend Mary Walters had entreated TO
be allowed to keep the locket till she had
made the inquiries which he had just an
sweied. but promised tha, she would bring
it to him in the afternoon.
Nay, curse it: get it back instantly,
! Margaret exclaimed Ca pit ain Stanley i'm
patiently. and in state of perlurbatio
and excitement. which Miss Evandole
was greatly at less 10 understand. =
Run for it. ike good girl. Come, now.
do. and I'll give you something ten times
handsomer.
1t was not this promise. but desire
to obllge Captain Stanley that induced
Miss Evandale instantly 10 throw OH her
bonnet and shawl and hasten back to Ma
~ Walters, to request the locket from
ner. Two hours had not elapsed since
the latter had obtained possession of it;
yet she came too late. The locket had
already passed into other hands-into
hands that would not release their hold
OF it ill more satisfactory explanations
were given regarding il thsn those Cap
tain Stanley had yet vouchsafcd.
Mary Walters had mentioned The extra
ordinary circumstances OF the locket to "a
Mr.. EccleSford, who Glanced to call a
few minutes after Miss Evandale had Il fl
her.
This gentleman, who was all intimate
friend OF the family. and who had been
part proprietor of the unfortunate vessel
commanded BY Young Evandale. and join,
adventurer with him in the trading spec
ulation on which he had gone to the ives;
of Africa--tor it was 10 that quarter OF
the world he had sailed. and i, was there
he had met his fate, whatever that fate
was
Now. it SO happened that Mr.. Eccle ford
had. TWO or three days previously. read
in the London papers an account of the
trial there of two seamen for piracy. and
of the confession of one of them, after
having received sentence OF death, of hav.
ing been concerned in a piracy on the
west coast of Africa, on which occasion
the whole crew had been murdered nd
the vessel sunk.
From the description given in this ac.
count of the unfortunate ship. of the place
. where. and the time when the tragedy had
taken place. Mr.. Ecclesford had no doubt
that the vessel spoken OF was the Miner
va. and that the mystery in which her
fate had SO long been shrouded, was at
length dispeled.
In his confession the doomed wretch
stated also that the captain of the piarte
ship. whose person he strictly described;
was he had reason to believe in Britain,
although he knew not where.
From regard to the feelings Of the
friends and relation of young Evandale,
Mr.. Ecclesford had not mentioned to
them his suspicious of the fate of the lat
ter. thinking that the doing SO would
only give needless pain.
The story of the locket. however. had
given new turn to the affair, and such a
one as determined Mr.. Ecc!esford to fol-
low out certain suspicious which it had
excited. He. in short. suspected. and
very strongly. that Mrs. Evandales in
| mate was no other than The murle rer If