Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-11-29

kept such narrow watch upon me-
and saw that | diligently improved
all the time she paid for.
could not help noticing that Mrs
Lamont displayed singular rancor to.
wards poor Charley, and I could not
help feeling that she would prefer
having him condemned then acquit.
ted. ... a.ae..
One day Mrs. Lamont sent me to
her wardrobe to bring her a dress
that wanted altering. 1t was not
where she said, and in seeking it ex-
posed, hanging in dark corner, some
garments which | thought looked sad.
ly out of place among such number
Of fine lady's dresses, They were a
suit Of fine gentleman's clothes-her
husbands perhaps, hung there by mis-
take. But no; as had replaced the
dress that hung over them, saw that
there was broad gold straps upon the
shoulders of the coat, and Mr.. La,
mont had never been in the army
1t reminded me of what the teller ol
the bank had said about epaulettes
connection with the presenter of the
forged check; but | should have
thought no more Of it, if had not
met Mrs. Lamont at the door of her
apartment, coming to see what had
kept me. She eyed me narrowly and
asked why | was so long.
Il could not find the dress, | said
and she seemed satisfied ; but caught
her eyes fixed upon me with a curl
Gus expression several times that
day. 1t set me thinking. l wond
cred if Mrs. Lamont had a brother
in the army, and if that uniform be-
longed to him. | wondered What
was in long narrow box which
had observed in an inside pocket Of
the coat. The next time | went tC
Mrs. Lamont's wardrobe for her, the
lady was in her room: but | con
trived when her back was turned tC
slip the cover oft that box just enough
to peep inside. 1t contained a pail
of false whiskers so like Charley's ]
should have thought them his if
thought they would come off.
| thought harder than ever after
that, and one day when Mrs. Lamont
had gone out shopping, | tried the
door of her apartment. 1t was lock
ed of course | expected that, anC
taking from my pocket some keys
which | had procured for that pur
pose, | tried them one after another
until found one that would fit Hav
ing obtained on entrance, | did no
90 to the wardrobe, | had seen enough
Of that; | went to Madam's writing
desk-a dainty pearl and ebony af
fair, it was present from her hus
band before marriage.
had to search long time befor
| found what | wanted, and | wa
afraid every moment Mrs. Lamon
might return. But my search wa
rewarded at length, and replacing
, everything as | had found it, withou
, removing an article, | had turned t,
| 60.
Mr.. Lamont had returned hom
! unexpectedly, and came up to hi
t wife's apartment. He stood on tn
: threshold regarding me with a Stert
and amazed countenance. | caugh
: at the back of chair to sustain my
self, for the room began to whirl an
t my breath came in gasps.
Really, young lady, really bega
he
l rallied. Now or never though
: |. Its for Charley
Mr.. Lamont, said |, wait a Inc
} ment, and hear who | am before yo
judge me-. ..
! He looked at me inquiringly.
4 am Charley Stantord's promise
!, wife. My business in Mrs. Lamont
: apartment was to discover what
/ suspected should find here-proof
, of his innocence of the crime laid t
t his charge. | have found them.
= Mr.. Lamont stared at me in a mos
r uncomprehending manner.
Young woman are you aware whs
n you are saying?'
/ For answer | opened the writtin
r desk again, and showed him what
had found there. 1t was merely
q part of a sheet of paper traced ovC
q and over with his name.
;. you will find, l said, as | gave
> to him, that this part of a sheet &
Il paper has the same water mark al
n stamp as that which was found in y
d Stantord's apartment, and that all tt
n paper which bears also the same r
d markable specimens of calograpf
!. bears also the same water mark al
Il stamp as a Quantity in Mrs. Lamont
d writing desk. Perhaps you new
e knew, sir, that Mr.. Stanford once ga
3 Miss Ryerson instructions in pc
k manship.
s He had taken the bit of pap
IS from my hand. He was lookiI
n blankly enough at it as | went on.
;e You will find, sir, in that wardrot
e, the very suit Of clothes Mrs. Lamo
L wore when she presented that vic
IN ed check at the bank. The suit is
d gentleman's-a lieutenant's uniforl
IS it belonged to her brother, but it W
le fit her; and there are false whiske
1t and moustaches in a box i n t
5e pocket. That Mrs. Lamont is tt
,e author of that check, the contriv
e. of all this trouble, let her deny it
ly she dares."
s, [ addressed my last words to Nh
s. Lamont herself. | flung them at b
v with almost yindictiveness, as s.