Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1869-07-31
THE MISSING JEWELS.

/
on the beach. But it was a gay party
assembled in the richly furnished par
lors of the Prospect House, and the
storm without troubled not the various
groups-boarders Mt the hotel-collected
here and there in different portions of
the spacious rooms.
was seated, as usual, in the most
obscure corner of the drawing room, oc-
cupying myself with watching one
group and another, through the evening.
But first L will introduce myself to the
reader as Hannah Atkins, a maiden la
day of uncertain age, worth few hun
dred thousands--and therefore not to be
slighted. At this time I was spending
the summer at Prospect House, in New
port, accompanied by Florence Arlynn,
ne Rfc9n c0rDhan IN Gapyea aaGEaAptyeeFa Of intended to
make my heiress, and her friend, Isa-
bel Maitland, a young lady, of her own
age with whom she had become ac-
quainted at boarding-school. Belle was
poor, but she had been well educated.
paying for her own tuition by teaching
the younger pupils in the same school.
Since we had been to the Prospect House
II young lawyer had been very attentive
to the young ladies, but knew not
which he preferred. Belle was more
snowy than Florrie, whose only beau
ties.we her exquisite figure, wonder
full eyes and profusion of bright brown
hair. She was small in figure, but the
| in ifc q
ite delicacy of outline and contour. 1t
was impossible not to love her, if to such
bea uties is added the generous and kind
heart she really possessed.
Upon this stormy eve, the young law
yer, Chauncy Bryant, had been particu-
; larly attentive to Florrie, who appeared
rather depressed, owing to what cause
knew not. They were together seated
: upon sofa, engaged in examining some
fine engravings, when suddenly Florrie
;, turned pale and sank back senseless.
u A gentleman standing near sprang for
ward, and raising her gently, bore hei
i !, from the warm room into q small ante
y chamber, followed by Bryant, Hellc ant
lHsaf At my request the gdntlemar
Fncn reCIirilcG' -----r nEexen
the crowd from following. Eelle re-
mained, gazing steadily at hey friend
with an indscribable eXpression-half
of curiosity, half of anger. was bath
f ing her head with ice water, when sud-
denly Belle spoke musingly:
"ITs very strange"
"What is stranger" exclaimed, in
} dignant'y; "that young and delicate
: girl should faint i'll a warm and close
room?"
"Well," said Belle, Il think it is very
singular that the sight of Ernest Hudson
should always cause Florence Arlynn
I so much trouble"
She turned hastily away, and entering
+ the parlors, left me alone with Florrie,
who soon recovered, bat did not enter
l the parlor again during the evening"
s But, in spite of all I could do, my
n thoughts would recur to the pale face
e flashing eyes and fine fignre of the
: stranger who had been near Florence
: when she fainted-the one Belle desig
e mated as Ernest Hudson. lie was {
a stranger to most of the boarders, having
been at the hotel only two days.
I, The next morning / arose early ant
II equipped myself for n stroll upon tn
o beach. L tapped at Florrie,s door, bu
If elicting no response, supposed he
1T asleep and went forth alone. l walked
r farther than usual and it was quite lat
r. when 1 returned. AS 1 entered th
| I,E Il re Of p, i'm
4 terrible took possession of me, and al
lg most ran up to our rooms. Belle stoo
e. at Florries door-her face was ghastl
le pale.
m "What is it?" gasped I.
IN "NIiss Atkins" she replied az hav
is been knockingat Florrie's door for som
IN time, but can hear no sound within,
Ii am afraid the dear girl is y
We "Florrie! Florrier y called.
n, No answer.
W. We sent for the proprietor of til
nd house, who soon came followed by man
of the inmates. After II few moment
n consultation it was decided to force Il
re lock of the door. 1t was soon opene
las and we pressed into tho room.
gh All me what sad sight met my gaz
There, upon the snowy bed, lay N
er, sweet Florrie, her bright hair dabblC
w, in blood, flowing from a ghastly wour
in her throat. Her loving eyes we
lrs peacefully closed--alas! closed foreve
her hands were resting carelessly up'
I've the draperies, and all led to the concl
ur sion that she had been stabbed in Ii
aid sleep and had passed away without
ne. struggle.
EN- Who had done this cruel deed? n
ne. an enemy, TO my knowledge, had n
ill poor girl, but at once my thoughts {
aid CURED to tho dark man that caused
1 so much emotion the night previous
the The room was searched, but nothi
TO was found to indicate the murderer.
ere was discovered, however, that Florri
md jewel case and its contents, and
portmonnie, containing several hu
of dred dollars were missing. Therefore
,at- was concluded that she had been mi
dered by some burglar in search
yer plumber. No trace of the perpetrator
and the foul deed could be discovered. Q
and of the windows was opened and he h
,ur. probably entered and escaped throu
that.