The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-10-11

but l should have thought 40 more OF
it, if l had not met Mrs. Lamont at the
door of her apartment, coming to see
what kept me. She eyed me narrowly
and asked why l was SO long.
81 could not find the dress, l said,
and she seemed satisfied but | caught
her eyes fixed upon me with curious
expression several times that day. 1t
set me thinking. | wondered if Mrs.
Lamont had a brother in the army,
and if that uniform belonged to him.
1 wondered what was in a long narrow
box which l had observed in an inside
pocket of the coat The next time |
went to Mrs. Lamont's wardrobe for
her, the lady was in her room; but l
contrived when her back was turned to
slip the cover off that box just enough
to peep inside. 1t contained a pair of
false whiskers so like Charley's l should
have thought them his, if thought
they would come of.
thought harder than ever after that,
and one day when Mrs. Lamont had
gone out shopping l tried the door of
her apartment. It. was locked; OF
course expected that and taking from
my pocket some keys which had pro-
cured for that purpose, tried them one
after another until / found one that
would fit. Having obtained an entrance
l did not go to the wardrobe, l had
seen enough of that; 1 went to Madam's
writing desk-a dainty pearl and ebony
affair it was, present from her hus-
band before their marriage.
had to search long time before /
found what l wanted, and was afrrid
every moment Mrs. Lamont might re-
turn. But my search was rewarded at
length, and replacing everything as
had found it, without removing an
article had turned to go.
Mr.. Lamont had returned home un-
expectedly, and came up to his wife's
apartment. He stood on the threshold
regarding me with a stern and amazed
countenance. l caught at the back of
chair to sustain myself, for the room
began to whirl and my breath came in
gasps.
"Rsally, young lady, really" began
he.
1 rallied. "Now or never" thought
l, dts for Charley"
'Mr. Lamont" said l swat a
moment and hear who l am before you
Judge me-"
He looked at me inquiringly.
81 am Charley Stanford's promised
wife. Ny business in Mrs. Lamont's
apartment was to discover what / sus-
pected l should find here-proofs Of
his innocence of the crime laid to his
charge. / have found them"
Mr.. Lamont stared at me in most
uncomprehending manner.
"Young woman, are you aware what
you are sayingW
For answer l opened the writing desk
again, and showed him what l had
found there. 1t was merely a part of
a sheet Of paper traced over and over
with his name.
"Yon will fnd," L said, as l gave it
to him, "that this part Of the sheet Of
paper has the same water mark and
stamp as that which was found in Mr.
Stanford's apartment, and that all the
paper which bears also the same re-
msrkable specimens of cirography
bears also the same water mark and
stamp as a quantity in Mrs. Lamont's
writing desk. Perhaps you never
knew, sir, that Mr.. Stanford once gave
Miss Ryerson instructions in penman-
ship ts1
He had taken the bit of paper from
my hand. He was, looking blankly
enough at it as | went on.
"You will find, sir, in that wardrobe,
the very suit Of clothes Mrs. Lamont
wore when she presented that wicked
check at the bank. The suit is gentle
men's-a lieutenant's uniform. 1t be-
longed TO her brother, but it will fit
her; and there are false whiskers and
moustsches in a box in one of the
pockets. That Mrs. Lamont is the au-
thor of that check, the. eontriver of all
this trouble, let her deny if she dare.
addressed my last words to Mrs.
Lamont herself | flung them at her
with almost vindictiveness, as she rush
ed into the room, the picture of dismsy
and guilty CONSERVATION.
She made some attempt at defence,
but her husband stopped her. Open
ing the wardrobe he saw what was
there, and came back to her with face
that grew red and white alternately
with shame and horror.
They hdshed the matter up some
| how Inever knew the particulars, but
Charley came out of it with a clear
name, and Mr.. Lamont was very kind
to him; so kiEd that Charley and 1
were able to marry much sooner than
-, oyr, octad IN. and n Ero-vosE COM
fortably without my either taking in
sewing or going out any more. l didn't
feel quite right to give it up, but Char
lev took it into his head that little
cough and pain in the side which l had
got came from my sewing so much, and
insisted that / should not sew any