Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-11-10

chapman; we Dad Detter SenQ Ter on
'I'm not mad,' cried the girl. He know
he asked me TO meet him in the garden; h
promised to get off my poor brother, if
4 would
i Il saw Josiah vince at her words.
sIrs base lie, interposed my aunt. 'Mr
Josiah never went to the garden the nigh
you were found tnere.'
i 'Wretched creature, this falsehood won
serve you,' exclaimed Mr.. Chapman, indg
nsntly.
'But I've witness she retorted, boldly
we were overheard the night before
Il saw Josiah grow p1le. Really, aunt
said he, you won't believe this nonsense.
'Of course not returned my aunt; ther
turning to The girl, she told her to produce
! her witness.
Lucy flew up to me, and with determined
iehergy drew me into the middleof the room
Speak 70. me- she exclaimed.
! 1T was a terrible moment; to speak wa:
to crim:nate Josiah.
You must speak, said the girl, fiercely
! 'if you don't, it will be on your conscience
till your dying day.
Il shall never forget the terrible ordeal o
questioning and cross-questioning under
went. Lucy, now that the truth was out
/ had grown quite reckless and defiant, anc
she positively forced the words out of my
mouth.
Nv aunt, on the other hand, was strangely
calm and composed, and seized with eager
ness on every weak point in my narrative
had stated that had heard Josiah ask the
girl to meet him. 'Had seen Josiah!
inquired my aunt, that was the great point.
mo, | had certainly not seen him.
Then might, after all, have mistaken
the voice
Il was ready enough 10 confess that
might have done SO.
But how had Lucy discovered my knowl-
edge OF the affair!'
Il related my conversation with the girl
on the following morning.
81: seems to me only TO amount to this,
sa id my aunt: you have oeen all along pre-
JUDGED against your cousin. In the first
place, you fancied you heard his voice, and
instead Of openly speaking to me, and hav-
ing the natter cleared up, you allow the
| idea to remain in your mind. This wretched
girl, cleverly enough, perceives the nature
of your vile suspicious: very likely, long
ere this, has been the confdsn. in the feel.
ings you entertain towards your cousin; so
she endeavors to gain your favor by debasing
his character, and at the same time, for her
own advantage, she converts you into a
witness in support of the most palpable lie
ever invented
'Mr. Chapman fully assented to my aunt's
tview of the matter. -
J Il was in perfec: agony at. the course
things had taken. denied, with truth, that
had ever spoken TO Lucy about my cousin
mo doubt said Josiah, with sneer, my
very charitable relation believes | have
stolen these diamonds!'
No. no, JOSIAH replied, i know it can
al. be explained
1T shall be explained said he, sullenly.
'I'll go to town instantly, and have the bes,
man from Bow street to examine ihte the
affair."
My aunt readily assented to this, and 10.
siah left the room. She then ordered Lucy
to go down stairs, telling her that she wo'd
be strictly watched.
| From the moment my aunt and Mr.. C.
began to discredit my evidence about Jo-
sah, the girls boldness had ebbed away
and utter despair again took possession o.
her. She begged and prayed most piteous
| " not to be sent down stairs: they nigh,
lock her up where they liked, but she dare
not face the other servants.
MY aunt, without noticing her in the
slightest degree, left tie room with Mr.
Chapman. Lucy dragged herself with effort
to where was sitting.
'Ob, miss said she. Il know you do no
think me guilty But 90 say SO; the word;
would do me good; it's so terrible to bear!
q assured her that fully believed her in
nocent.
sAh,' she continued, i know I've got yot
into trouble, telling, as did, about Josiah
Any other way, they might have burnt mi
before I'd have told it; but to be accused .
stealing those diamonds--l could not holt
my tongue
i gave the poor girl What comfort could
and then hurried away to my own room, 70
| was afraid to encounter my aunt; hear
what was going on from one of the ser
wants, who came up to me from time to line
Josiah returned from London after a
i; absence of about three hours; Bow stree
officer was to follow him Immediately. -
From my bedroom window saw q strange
forbidding-looking man, with slow, heav
step, come up the nouse-walk from tn
common. He was admitted into the house
| listened anxiously over the staircase t
hear what was going on below. -i..
heard them ail-my aunt, Mr.. Chap
y man, and the mango to the room where
knew Lucy was. The mans heavy tram
:, went pit-pat with my heart. fel, perfect
, y i'll with suspense. Then l heard tn
mans footsteps going towards my aunt,
a b,udoir, tramp, tramp down the passage;-
!. all was silent. Presently the footsteps re
a turned down the passage TO the room wher
/, they were all assembled. There was
sudden, loud shriek--Lucy's voice. san
;. down. clineing TO the bannisters. | don
!. know what time had elapsed when one I
the servants rushed up breathless.
e THANK God they're lound' she exclain
!; ed.