The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-26
MORNING, NOVEMBER 26, 1869.

M In town, My dear Franklin, You, In your way,
must initiate INV patiencc, and wait, ~ do. for .
litter time. The valuable assistance whleh you rem
as,S g "a 1ss e, the s . @
Rachels mind, Moving blindfold In this matter
you have added 70 the burden Of anxiety which she
has had 70 bcar by innocently threatening he, Sc
impossible for me 10 eIcuse the perversity which
holds you responsible for consequences which nei-
ther you nor could imagine or foresee. She y not
gricyed to have TO say t but, fSr the present you
and Rachel are better apart Tho only advice can
offer yopAs. 70 give her time I-r
handed the letter back, sincerely sorry for
Mr.. Franklin, for knew how fond he was Of
my young lady and saw that her mothers
account Other had cut him to the heart. 'You
know the proverb, Sir was all I said to him.
when things are at the worst, they're sure to
mend. Things can't be much worse, Mr.. Frank
lin. than they are now
Mr.. H,nklin folded up his sun,'s letter with
out appearing to be much comforted by the re-
mark which had yenturcd on addressing to
him.
'When came here from London with that
horrible Diamond he said, Il don't believe
there was happier household In England than
this. Look at the household now Scattered /,
disunited-the very air Of the place poisoned
with mystery and suspicion |! Do you remem-
+ Der that morning at the Shivering Sand, where
We talked about my uncle Hernoastle, and his
birthday gifti The Moonstone has served the
q Colonel's vengeance, Betteredge, by means
which the Colonel himself never dreamed Of?
With that he shook me by the hand, and
went out 10 tho pony-chaisc.i
followed him down the steps. II was very
miserable 70 see him leaving the old place,
where he hsd spent the happiest years Of his
life In this way. Penelope (sadly upset by all
that happened in the house e)came round crying,
to bid him good.by. Mr.. Franklin kissed her.
I waved my hand rs much as to say, YOU'RE
heartily welcome, Sir Some Of tho other fe-
male servants appeared, pccping after him
round the corner. He was one Of those men
whom the women al like. At the last moment
Istopped the pony-chaisc and begged as q favor
that he would let US hear from him by letter.
He didn't seem TO heed what said-he was
looking round from one thing to another, TAX
ing o sort Of farewell Of the old house and
grounds. Tell us where you are going to, Sir"
get at his future plans In that way. Mr..
Franklin pulled his hat down suddenly over his
eyes. 'Goingi' says he. cchoing the word after
me. lam going to the devil = The pony start
oil at the word as IL he felt Christian horror
oft God bless you, Sir, go where you may ?
was all had time TO say before he was out OF
sight and hearing. A sweet and pleasant gen.
tlemaf I! With all his faults and follies, sweet
and pleasant gentleman He LEFT = sad gap
behind him when he left my lady's house.
II was dull and drcary enough when the
long summer evening closed In on Saturday
night :
I kept my spirits from sinking by sticking
fast to my pipe and my Robinson Crusoe. The
women excepting Penelope) beguilcd the time
by talking Of Rosanna's suicide. They were
oil obstinately Of opinion that the poor girl had
stolen the Moonstone, and that she hal destroy
ed herself IN terror Of being found out. My
daughter, Of course. privately held fast to what
she had SAID all along. Her notion Of the mo-
tive which was really at the bottom Of the sui
eide failed, oddly enough, just where my young
lady's assertion Of her innocence failed also.
1t left RossnnA's secret journey to Frizinghall.
and Rosanna's proceedings In the matter OF the
night-gown, entirely unaccounte1 for. There
was no use In pointing this out 10 Penelope |;
the objection made about rs much impression
on her as shower Of rain on waterproof coat
The truth Is, my daughter inhcrits. my super
iority TO rcason-and, In respect 10 that accom-
plshment, has got along way ahead Of her own
father. ' '
On the next day Sunday, the close carriage,
which had been kept ut Mr.. Ablewhite's, came
back to us empty. The coachman brought q
message for my lsdy's own maid and for Pene-
lope. 80, Fai. .'"'.
The message informed me that my mistress
had determined to take Miss Rachel to her
house In London on the Monday. The writ
ten instructions informed the two maids Of the
clothing that was wanted, and directed them
10 meet their mistrcsscs In town at given hour
Most of the other servants were to follow. My
lady had found Miss Rachel 50 unwilling 10 re-
turn To the house, after what had happened In
Il, that she had decided on going to London d.
rect from Frizinghall. l was 10 remain in the
country, until further orders, 10 look after
things indoors and out. The servants lcft with
me were to put on board wages. Being remind-
cd by oil this of what Mr.. Franklin had said
about our being scattered and disunitod house.
hold, my mind was led naturally 10 Mr.. Frank
lin himself The more thought Of him the
more uneasy felt about his future proceedings.
II ended iR my Writing, by the Sundays post,
to his fathers valet, Mr.. -Jetico (whom had
known in former years), to beg he would let
me know what Mr.. Franklin had settled to do
ON arriving In London.
The Sunday evening was, II possible, dullcr
even than the Saturday evening. We ended
the day Of rest as hundreds Of thousands Of
people end II regularly, once week, in these
islands--that is to say, we oil anticipated bed
time, and fell asleep in our chairs. 4
How the Monday affected the rest Of the house
hold don't know. The Monday gave me
good shake up. The first Of Sergeant Cuffs
prophecies Of what was to happcn--namely,
that I should hear from the Yollands-camc true
on that day. .-...
I had seen Penelope and my lady's maid of
in the railway with the luggage for London,
and was potiering about tie grounds when
heard my name called. Turning round found
myself face to face with the 6sherman's daugh-
ter, Lmpng Lucy. Batting her lame foot and
her leanness (this last horrid drawback to .
woman In my opinion), the girl had some pleas
ing qualities in the eyeof q man. Adark, keen.
clever face, and nice clear voice, and beau
tifal brosn head Of hair counted among her
merits. A crutch appeared in the list Of her
misfortunes. And temper reckoned high in
the sum total Of her defects.
Well, my dear I said, what do you want
with nsr .-..
where's the man you call Franklin Blake =
ssys the girl. fixing me with q fierce look as
she rested herself on her crutch. ....