The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-29
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY

maid. "You shall speak to the servants" she
said. with the keys Of my wardrobe in you'
hand" -lr-.. a ID.
Sergeant Cutf stopped her by very une1'
pected question. -,
"Hadn't We better make sure first. ;" he ssket
"that the other ladies and gentlemen In thu
house win consent. tool"
"Tbe only other lady in the house Is Mis-
Verinder," answered my mistress, with lool
Of surprise. ''The only gentlemen are my
nephews, Mr.. Blake and Mr.. Ablewhite. There
is not the least fear Of . refasa! from any oi
the three"
reminded my lady here that Mr.. Godfrey
was going away. As said the words Mr..
Godfrey himself knocked at the door to say
good-by, and was followed in by Mr.. franklin,
who was going with him to the station. My
lady explained the difficulty. Mr.. Godfrey set
tied II directly. He called to Samuel, through
the window, to take his portmanteau up stairs
again, and he then put the key himself into
Sergeant Cuffs hand. .,-..-.
.'My luggage can follow me to London" be
said, "when the inquiry is over"
lue CcrBeAnt fVSSNu eho ASy Wisn eSSSA~>
ing apology. lr
81 am sorry to put you to any inconvenience,
sir, for mere formality; but the example Of
their bctters will do wonders in reconciling the
servants to this inquiry"
Mr.. Godfrey, after taking leave Of my lady,
in most sympathiring manner. left farewell
message for Miss Rachel, the terms Of which
made Il clear to my mind that he had taken No
for an answer. and that he meant to put the
marriage question to her once more, at the
next opportunity. Il.
Mr.. Franklin, on following his cousin out.
informed the Sergeant that all his clothes were
open to examination, and that nothing he pos
scssed was kept under lock and key. Sergeant
Cuff made his best Acknowledgements. His
views. you will observe, had been met with the
utmost readiness by my lady, Mr.. Godfrey, and
Mr.. Franklin. There was only Miss Rachel
now wanting to follow their lead. before We
called the servants together, and began the
search for the stained dress.
My lady's unaccountable objection to the Ser
gcant seemed to make our conference more dis
tasteful TO her than ever, as soon rs We were
left alone again.
"If send you down Miss Verinder's keys,
she said to him, 81 presume I shall have done
all you want Of me for the present." ...
"I beg your ladyship's PARDON" said Ser
geant Cuff. "Before we begin, should like, If
to have the washing-book. The
stained article Of dress may be an article OF lin
en-. II the search leads to nothing, / want to
be able TO account next for all the linen in the
house, and for all the linen sent to wash. If
there Is an article missing, there will be at least
hat hap tha nj M
il, and that it has been purposely made away
ing it. Superintendent Seegraye," added the
turning to me, "pOinted the attention
Of the women-servants to the smear. when they
all crowded into the room on Thursday morn
ing. That may turn out, Mr.. Betteredge, to
have been one moreof Superintendent SeeSraves
many mistakes" rIli
My lady desired me to ring the bell and order
the washing-book. She remained with US until
II was produced, In case Sergeant Cuff had any
further request to make Of her after looking 1t
IT, I.s.-......f ... .r-..--. ...r
The washing-book was brought in by Rosanna
Spearman. The girl had come down TO break
fast that morning miserably pale and baggari,
but sufficiently recovered from her illness OF the
previous day to do her usual work. Sergeant
Cuff looked attentively at our second house
maid-at her face, when she came in, at her
crooked shoulder when she went out.
"Havc you anything more to say to mel"
asked my lady, still as eager rs ever to be out
Of the sergeant's society.
The great Cuff opened the washing book, un-
derstood Il perfectly In half minute, and shut
II up again. 'I venture to still trouble your
ladyship with one last question" he said. "fias
the young woman who brought us this book
been in your employment as long rs the other
seryantsi"
"why do you ask 7" she said.
.'The last time saw her." answered. the ser
sergeant, .'she was In prison for theit."
After that there was no help for II but to tell
him the truth. My mistress dwelt strongly on
good conduct in her service, and on
the high opinion entertained Of her by the mat
ron at the Rsformatory. "You don't suspect
her, hopef" my lady added, in conclusion.
very earnestly.
81 have already told your ladyship that
don't suspect any person In the house Of thiey-
ing, up to the present time"
After that answer, my lady rose to 70 up
stairs, aud ask for Miss Rschel's keys. The
sergeant was beforehand with me in opening the
door for her. He made very low bow. My
lady shuddered as she passed him. ~ 8. rHi
We waited, and waited. and no keys appear
cd. Sergeant Cuff made no remark TO me. He
turned his melancholy face to the window; he
put his lanky hands into his pockets, and he
whistled The Last Rose Of Summer drcarily to
himself
At last Samuel came in, not with the keys.
but with morsel Of paper for me. got ut
my spectacles, with some fumbling and dificul-
ty, feeling the sergeant's dismal eyes fixed on
me all the time. There were two or three lihes
on the paper, written In pencil by my lady.
They informed me that Miss Rachel fatty TO
fused to have her wardrobe examined. Asked
for her reasons, she had burst out CRYING.
Asked again, she had said "I won't, because
won't. I must yield to force II you use 1t,
but will yield to nothing else" understood
my lady's disinclinstion to face Sergeant
Cuff with such an answer from her daughter
as that. III had not been too old for the
amiable weaknesses Of youth, believe should
have blushed at the notion Of facing him my
SELF
"Any news Of Miss verinder's keys" asked
the sergeant.
"My young lady refuses to have her ward
robe examined. -. --=--
"Ah - said the sergeant. -yg.a
His voice was not in quite so perfect . state
Of discipline as his face When he said "ah!'
be said Il In the tone Of man who had heard
which he expected to hear. He half.
angefed and half-fightened me--why, could
not tell. but he did Il. Lrs.
'.Must the search be given upi" I asked.
"Yes," said the sergeant, "the search must
be given up, because your young lady refuses to
submit to Il like the rest We must examine
all the warirobes in the house or none. Send
Mr.. Ablewhite's portmsutcau to London by the
next train, and rcturn the washing book, with
my compliments and thanks, 10 the young wo-
man who brought II in" .... .. =. I.,..
He laid the washing.book on the table, and,
taking out his penknife, began to trim his
pals. 500 TEs- ..-f. -..r
"You don't seem to be much disappointed"
I said. ....r, -. .. e..
"No." said he; "I'm not much diappoins-
cd"
Itricd to make him explain himself.
"why shouh Miss Rachel put an obstacle In
your way ~ inquired. "Isn't II her interest
to help your
swat little, Mr.. Betteredge-wait little
Cleverer heads than mine MIGHT have ven