Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-13
LOST, STOLEN, OR SrRAYED.n
From the Notebook Of Medical Student 7
lcoNrINUEp.

LOST, STOLEN, OR srRAYED.n
lFrom the Notebook Of a Medical Student
CONTINUED
Many Of the servants left their places
such constant attacks Of suspicion were too
much; but they gained nothing by that, only
the remark that perhaps they dreaded dis
coyery. As for me, though / spoke my mind
freely enough, stayed had been preferred
by my lady, because had been brought I'D in
model school Of hers, where had carried of
the prizes for household work from all compet-
itOrs. 1 bad not been in my lords service two
years, when, the upper housemaid dying, was
promoted to her situatiOn-a rare thing-for
upper servants In great house must perfectly
know their business. / had worked hard to
learn mine thoroughly and, moreover, knew
all the ways Of the house, which q stranger
might have been slow in acquiring. So nv
pertness was reprimanded, and my services
retained
And the cOmmotion died away again, and
six months passed away in peace and Quietness
Lady Mosshill, on leaving Lady Cornberry's
house, went to Paris for the winter
We saw nothing Of her ladyship, who had
been loud in her remarks about the missing
jewels, till the ensuing spring, when she arrived
on another visit, intended to be q heightened
one
''She remained about month: and, at length
to the great joy of the servants, who hated her,
gave notice that she would depart next day
On this one, she kept her own room all the
morning; superintended the packing by Madle
Therese; and finally, with her own hands
packed a small valise with few necessaries
for she was to spend day on her way home
with some peer, whose name I forget now. All
this Therese told us. when she came to take nm
hot water for Lady MOsshills toilette.
II wish she would leave her room,' said I,
not in very good humor; all my work is
thrown back by these ladies keeping their
rooms so late
'''Neyare you mind, Anne, said Therese;
my ledi, she will dress herself directly. She
IL going to my LOr' Varden's to dinner. and
you sail go to her room den.'
"I grumbled a good deal; but had to wait
Lady MosshilPs pleasure, for all that; il was
SIX o'clock that evening before got into the
room to clean it.
Therese was gone down to tea; I looked
round; Lady MOsshill's things were all cleared
away, and packed ready for departure. The
yallse stood on chair close to the toilette:
and 1 noticed that, though the key was in the
paddock, yet 1t was not locked. / stood, broom
in hand; and strange thoughts, for which l
could never account, came over me. To this
day hardly can tell what prompted me TO
look in Lady MOsshills valise cannot ex-
euse the action; but an impulse uncomfortable
and unaecountable, prompted me 80 powerfully
that | could not resist the temptation. /
placed my hand on the top-Lady Mosshill's
night-robe came first; then a small basket; and
further down, case of morocco. How nv
heart beat ss / took it in my hand: how
stealthily looked round the room, as if were
about to become thief, instead Of to detect
one.
Il opened that case, which had found in
Lady MOsshills yalise; and there, on bed of
snowy quilted satin, repOsed two of nv lady's
most valued JEWELS brooch of diamonds and
bracelet of emeralds and diamonds mixed. /
had seen them on Lady Cornberry's toilette
but the day previously; and Miss Dormer her
self had pointed them out to me as unm atched
for beauty and value They had been present
ed to my lady by her own father, the Marquis
of -.
Ill doubt for q moment disturbed nv mind
il was soon dispelled; knew those Jewel. too
well to be deceived; / did not doubt long.
Now, after the lapse Of years, perhaps the
wish that had acted otherwise comes across
Inc now and then; but at that time / was
young, somewhat vindictive, and fercely sem
sitive about the honesty Of the poor threw
down my broom, and replacing the Jewel case
where L had found it. / went out of the room.
locked the door, and few down the great stair
case, regardless OF the servants who were pass
ing to and from. The family were all assem-
bIed IN the drawing room for the half hour
previous to dinner; not knowing or needing if
visitors were present, opened the door and
walked boldly in. 1t is more than possible
that such bresch of duty would have been
for my pale face, wild look and excited man
ner. There were present, my lord and lady.
my lady's two brothers, and two or three
strange visitors.
MY lady rose from her chair,
What does this mean, Anne?' she said.
81 was too eager to eIonerats myself and
my fellOw-servants at that minute TO much
regard for their noble presence had intruded
on, not being at any time overawed by contact
with great folks, from whom had seen q good
many little actions; therefore said
Please, my Lady, will you listen to what
have 10 sayl'
Good Heaven - said her ladyship. hold.
Ing her scent-bOttle to her nose, and turning
To my lord, who stood on the hearth, lis she
deranged. do you think
No, my lady said I, Il am not mad. if
you mean that; but you accused us. nv lady,
IN the servants hall, Of stealing your dis-
mOnds. said then, my lady, as I saw now. II
isn't always poor folks who steal. Ifyou' INV
lady, or my lord, or any lady or gentleman,
VIII please cOme with me to Lady Moshilrs
room, l III show You, my lady, who's the real
thief, and the true cause Of your servants, my
lady, being wrOnged.'
When L said diamonds my lady jumped I'D
quite alert though she had been fainting a fe
minutes before IN the fear that was lunatic
Ny diamonds " said she. Lead on girl;
I'll follow yOu,'
Il wanted no more. Turning round, I ran
up stAirs' followed by my lord, my lady. my
ladys brothers, and even one or two of the
visitors. Curiosity is rs great in ine people as
In poor servants. We never stopped until we
got to Lady Mosshill's apartments I unlocked
the bed, room door, brought my lady to the va
iise, took the ease out, acknowledging had
looked into it, opened il, and asked my lady
II those were her jewels. She was silent for q
moment with amazement, and believe hor-
ror' Tor, though Lady Cornberry never scrupled
10 oelleve III OF poor servant, she was dread
fully shocked to find a countess could be
thief. when every one had become quite con.
vinced, however, that Lady Mosshilf was the
eulprit, 1 was dismissed; and my lord and nv
lady, with their guests. descended 10 the draw.
ing-roOm. Dinner had been waiting some time
and. after some talk, they all went to the di,
ning-roOm, with the exception Of my lord, and
Lord John, my lady's eldest brother; those
gentlemen retired into the library, and had
tray taken there to them
The fruit Of their resolves was soon known:
James was summoned, and came down to tell
US that one Of the grooms was to take horse
and ride directly to Milberry Castle, the place
TO which Lady Mosshill had gone on q visit
This groom We found was bearer of 4 letter to