Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-05-07

you. one started. quickly dFOuIlu, anu udue
an Inclination of her head to indicate her
readiness to listen, but she said not a word
The Sheriff left the cell and we were alone.
Conscious that every moment was precious,
| said:
Miss Montressor, we mnst throw aside
ceremony, and communicate frankly upon
this painful business. / believe you inno-
cent. The thing is to prove you so. This
pro mses to be difficult, but am not with
out hope. 1fyou will tell me frankly, what
your experience has been with the Wesleys,
my task may be lghtened.'
then put series of questions, and learn
ed she was fifteen years Old /; that she had
lived with Mrs. Wesley. who had been mar
ried about eight years; that she had lived
with kind old gentleman named Gregory
who had taught her to cal him grand pa;
the Mrs. Wesley. who was then called Miss
Naesmi.h, lived with Mr.. Gregory, also;
that he seemed afraid of Miss Naesmith; !;
that Miss Naesmith inherited all his proper
ty and married Mr.. Wesley about month
after he died; that she told her never to call
him grandpa any more, for be wasn't any
relation to her; that the day on which olt
Mr.. Gregory died he gave her sealed pack
age, and told her not to let Eunice see it;
but to give 1t to a certain lawyer when he
returned to town, for it would make her a
rich young ladv and then he cried and sa id
he had let EuDice have her own way too
much; that she fell asleep with the packet
in her lap. and when she awoke it was gone,
and she never dared ask and questions about
it: that Mrs. Wesley hated her, and beat
her, and treated her like slave, and that
she sometimes thought of drowning herself,
she was SO miserable; that Mr.. Wesley said
improper things 70 her. that he was bad
man, but weak sapd under his wife's
control; that the day on which her trunk
was searched, she was sens on an er-
rand to the ministers; was gone about an
hour and half, and on her fetprn was taken
up stairs to see ner trunk opened before she
had pulled off her bonaot and shawl; then she
was sure Mrs. Wesley had put thinga in
her trunk while she was out, because she
(Relen) had ovehauld it that morning, and
they were no, in it ther; but whether Mr..
Wesley knew about it she could not say
although she rather thought he did, because
he looked guilty when his wife was opening
her trunk.
Telling the poor girl to cheer up, went
to the sheriff's sitting room, where found
Mrs. Mace. | at once Informed her that in
my opinion Miss Montressor was persecut-
ed girl, and hoped she would try to cheer
her up. so that she could enter the court
room with good hear. on the morrow; this
the kind hearted woman promised to do, and
l hastened to my Office. My brain was in a
; whirl, Gregory grandpa-tte packet which
was to make her rich young lady-itS
mysterious Gisappearancel Was old MIR.
Gregory really Helan's grandfather Was
the packet his last will and testament, be-
queathing his property to her! And had
Eunce Naesmith. now Mrs. Wesley, stolen
it from the child as she slept that she nigh,
clutch the property by virtue of former
will which had been forced rom the old
mani "He cried, and said he had let Eunice
have her own way too much.'' Her own
way about what! felt certain that had
got on the track of grea: villany, and thought
] could understand The reason for Eunice
Weslev's hatred of Helen, aud her desire to
blast the poor girls character. After spend
ing a half hour in arranging my plans, or
dered carriage snd drove to Bedford.
1t was two when l reached the village -
| wished first to see Hannegan, Wesley s
serving man. By making a few cautious in
quiries at the tavern, and disbursing a halt
dollar to the hostler, Hannegan was soon
in my room. He was pleased to find | was
Helen's friend, and on my promising him
never to let what he said 60 to Mrs. Yves
ley's ear. he told me she treated the poor
girl like dog; that he had seen her strike
Helen, and heard her threaten to xii. hel
: and ruin her reputation; and that he BELIEF Y.
ed the breastpin and money had been put
into the trunk by the old calamaram her.
SELF
. He stated what Helen's behavior was
= when the articles were found in her trunk
: and described the breastpin and money
4 The latter consisting of four half eagles
+ one ot which had hole in it, that had beer
made by Murch, the jeweler, so Mrs
Wesley could string on a ribbon for birth
Sav present for the minister's little boy; ant
that was one way Mrs. Wesley knew th'
money was hers. He also gave me iette
signed "Eunice Gregory" that he hat
found in the yard that day, and which h,
y maintained was in Mrs. Wesley's hand
writing. That had made him suspect tina
her name wasn't Naesmith before she wa;
: married to Wesley; and he had thought tha
= she might have been some relation to oil
Mr.. Gregory, who died, and there must hav
!, bueH eoaasthing had to make her change he
:! name.
~ This information made deep impressio
- on my mind AIKEN in connection W ith wha
~ Helen Lad told me; besides, the name Eu
" nice Gregory seemed floating in my memo
ry as though had seen it connected wit
" some event VIII ich had faded from recollet
ton and was dimly recalled.
ri dismissed Hanuegan, and paid visit
Mr.. Murch, the jewcler, told him who wa
and for what called. He remembered tn
" half eagle business-in fact it was on b
~ record. He turned to see on what day I'll
hold was made in the half eagle 1t WI
'"' Wednesday, the 18th of March-the vel
day Helen's trunk was searched. | aske
at what hour the coin was delivered to Mr.
~ Wesley. He replied that she called for
,1 =, about ii in the forenoon, and that Mi
~ Montressor's trunk was searched about
=, the afternoon of the same day.
III "That looks very strange" said L.
Gu "WouId you have any objections to attel
}" the trial tomorrow, with your books, al
testify!"
no "NUne at all,' he replied.
IS l turned to depart. At that nome
en Wesley entered the shop and was accost
70 by the jeweler, who gave me wink to i
o' dicate who he was. We had never beio
al met, SO regarded him at my leisure. I
LII was an evil looking man. Over his left e,
was queer shaped scar which ran crooke
re- Iv across his forehead The instant | sa