The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-10-22

: affected coolness.
"'This is sheer loss of time said Mr.
Chapman; we had better send her Off
"'Tm not mad, cried the girl. lie
knows he asked me TO meet him in the
garden; he promised to get off my poo,
brother, If | would
81 saw Josiah vince at her words.
It's base lie, interposcd my aunt.
'Mr. Josiah never went into the garden
the night you were found there
"' Wretched creature, this falsehood
won't serve you, exclaimed Mr.. Chap
man Indignantly.
"' But I've a Witness she retorted
boldly. we were overheard the nj eht
before
~ saw Josiah grow pale. Really,
aunt, said he, you won't believe this
nonsense
"' OF course not replied aunt; then
turning to tho girl, she told her to pro-
duce her witness.
Lucy few up to me, and with deter
mined energy drew me into the middle
Of the room. Speak for me she exclaimed
{" 1t was terrible moment; to speak,
was to criminatc Josiah
Z" You must speak, said the girl
6ercely; 'if you cont, it will be on your
conscience to your dying day
"' l shall never forget the terrible or
deal Of questioning and cross questioning
underwent. Lucy, now tha, the truth
was out, had grown quite reckless and
deatint, and she positively forced the
words out Of my mouth. My aunt, on
the other hand, was strangely calm and
composed, aud seized with eagerness on
every weak point in my narrative. I had
heard Josiah ask the girl to meet him.
Had | seen Josiah p epoured my aunt:
'that was the great point
"No, | had certainly not seen him
"'Then | might, after all, have mis-
taken the voice
Il was ready enough to confess that I
might have dore so.
"'But how had Lucy discovered my
knowledge of the AFFAIR." ?
." | related my conversation with the
cir! on the following morning.
at seems to me only to amount tothis,'
said my aunt: you have been all along
prejudlccd against your cousin. In the
first place, you faneied you heard his
voice; instead Of openly speaking to me.
and having the matter cleared up you
allow the idea to remain in your mind.
tnis wretched girl. cleverly enough, per.
eevs the nature of ,our vile suspc ions;
very likely, long ere this, has been the
conGdante in the feelings you entertain
toward your cousin; so she endeavors to
gain your favor by deba.ing his charac.
rand at the same time, for her own
advantage, she converts you into wit
ness in support of the most palpable lie
ever Invented.
"Mr. Chapman fully asscnted to my
aunt's view of the matter.
81 was in perfect agony at the course
things had taken. denied, with truth,
that | had ever spoken to Lucy about my
cousin.
"'No doubt, said Josiah, with a sneer,
my very charitable relation believes l
have stolen these dismouds"
"' No, no, JOSIAH | replied, 4 know
it can all be explained.
at shall be expla ned said he sullenly,
IN go down to town instantly, and
have the best man from Bow street to ex-
anime into the affair
MY aunt readily assented to this, and
Josiah left the room. She then ordered
Lucy to 20 down stairs, telling her she
would be strictly watched.
From the moment my aunt and Mr..
Chapman began to discredit my evil
dencc about Josiah, the girls boldness
had ebbed away, and utter despair again
took possession Of her. She begged and
prayed most pitcously not to be sent
down stairs; they might lock her up
where they liked, but she dare not face
the other servants.
my aunt, without noticing me in the
slightest degree, left the room with Mr..
Chapman. Lucy dragged her self with
effort to where was sitting.
"'Oh, miss, said she, i know you
don't think me guilty. But do say so;
the words would do me good; it's SO ter
rible TO bearnn
Il assured her that I fully believed
her innocent.
"Ah,' she continued, L know I've
got you into trouble, telling as | did,
about Mr.. Josiah. Any other way, they
might have burnt me before I'd have
told it; but to be accused of stealing those
dilmonds-I could no. hold my tongue
Il gave the poor girl what comfort
could, aud then hurried away to my own
room, for was afraid to encounter my
aunt. heard what was going on from
one of the servants, who came up to me
from time to time.
Josiah returned from London after
an absence of about three hours; Bow
street officer was to follow him immedi.
ately. From my bedroom window | saw
strange, forbidding- looking man, with
a slow, heavy step, come up the house
walk from the common. He was admit
ted into the house. listened anxious
" over the staircase to hear what was
going on below l heard them all-my
aunt. Mr.. Chapman and the mango to
the room where knew Lucy was. The
mans heavy tramp went ptpa with my
heart. I felt perfectly i'll with suspense.
Then heard the mans footsteps going
toward ny aun.'s bouaoir, tramp, tramp,
down the passage; all was silent. Pres
entity the footsteps returned down the
passage to the room where they we're all
assembled There was a suddan, loud
shriek-Lucy's voice. l sank down
clinging TO the banister. l don't know
what time had elapsed when one of the
servants rushed up. breathless.
"sThank God they're fouud' she
exclaimed.
"' The diamonds
"sYes, miss; they were all the time in