The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-12


edge, didn't speak unkindly The poor girl
can't help being ugly-l felt that at the time.
The cue was stu in my hand, and l went on
knocking the balls about, to take OF the swk-
ness Of the thing. As 1t turned out I only made
matters worse still. I'm afraid mortified her
without meaning Il She suddenly turned away.
'He looks at the billiard-balls,' heard her say.
ANY thing rather than look at me y Before I
could stop her she had left the hall. I am not
quite easy about ii, Betteredge. wonld you
mind telling Rosanna that meant no unkind-
nessl have been little hard on her, perhaps,
In my own thoughts-I have almost hoped that
the loss Of the Diamond might be traced 10 her.
Not from any ill-will to the poor girl but
He stopped there, and, going back to the bill
liard-table, began to knock the balls about once
more.
and me knew what II was that he had left un-
spoken as well as he knew IL himself.
Nothing but the tracing Of the Moonstone to
our second house-maid could now raise Miss Ra-
chel above the infamous suspicion that rested on
her in the mind Of Sergeant Cuff. II was no
longer question Of quieting my young lady's
nervous excitement Il was question OF prov
ING her innocence. If Rosanpa had done nothing
10 compromise herself the hone which Mr..
Franklin confessed 10 having felt would have
been hard enough ON her in All conscience. But
this WA, not the case. She had pretended to be
IN, AMI had gone secretly TO Friringhall. She
had been up all night, making something, or
DESTROYING something. in private. And she had
been AT the Shiyering Sand that evening under
circumstances which were highly suspicious, TO
say the least of them. For ali these reasons
(sorry as l was for Rosanna) I could not but
think that Mr.. Franklin's way of looking at the
matter was neither unnatural nor unreasonable,
in Mr.. Franklin's position. I said a word to
him 10 that effect
.Yes. YES he said In return. sBut there Is
lust n chance very poor one, ccrtainly-that
Rosanua,s conduct NAV admir- Of some explana-
tion which we don't see AZ present hate hurt
In, , wom,n,s feelings Bct,ereJve Tell the
Moor -r,,tur, what toId Won n tell her And
ir abe wants 10 sneak 20 mel don't care whether
I Get into A scrape or pot-send her 10 me In the
I;br,rv, With ,bose hind vorls no laid down
an. en-. AMI ,ss, m.
Inouiry at the servants, Offices informed me
that Rosinna had retired TO her own room. She
b.d d,cIi,eI all ofg.r. ~ ,sv;st.,co v;,b thanh.
and hal only sskej 70 be lefs N rest In ouiet'
Here, therefore. was an end of any confession
ON her mart (supposipr she really had a confess
sion to make) for that night. [ reported the
result 10 MIR. Franklin. who. tbercupon. left the
library. and went up 10 bed
I was putting the lights out. and making the
windows fast, when Samuel came in with news
Of the two guests whom I had left in my room.
The argument about the white moss-rose had
apparently come to an end at last. The gar'ien-
er had gone home, and Sergeant Cuff was
nowhere to be found in the lower regions OF the
house.
looked into my room. Quite true-nothing
was TO be discovered there but couple OF empty
tumblcrs and a strong smell Of hot grog. Had
the Sergeant gone of his own accord to the bed
chamber that was prepared for him! went up
stairs to see. .' .
After reaching the second landing thought
heard sound of quiet and regular breathing
on my left-hand side. My left-hand side led to
the corridor which communicated with Miss Ia
chel's room. ! looked H., aud there, ooled up
ON three chairs placed right across the passage
there, with n rel handkerchief tied round his
grirzled head, and his respectable black coat
rolled up for pillow. lay and slept Sergeant
Cuff
He woke, instantly and quietly, like dog,
the moment approached him.