The Union and journal., 1869-12-10

I could see their faces. know nothing what
ever Of the matter. How can I otser and opin'
lon on itr
'Iwsnt 10 know something about Mr.. Laker
Godfrey H--...~ T. "... s
u am again unfortunate, Rachel. No mar
knows less Of Mr.. Luker than do -r,t
You never saw him before you and he met
accidentally nj the bsnkr' .rf - f-
Never ...
'You have seen him sincei' r' . b.
Yes. We have been examined together, a
well as separately, To assist the police
MIR. Laker Was robbed Of q receipt which he
had got frvm his bsnker's-was he notl What
was the receipt fori'
For valuable gem which he had placed in
the sAfe-keeping CT the bank
That's what the newspapers say. ID may Be
enough for the general reader but il IL not
enough for me. The bankers receipt must
have mentioned what the gem wasp
the bankers receipt, Rachel--as 1 have
heard il describei-mcntiOned nothing OF the
kind. A valuable gem, belonging to Mr.. LINK
er deposited by Mr.. Luker; scaled with Mr..
Luker's seal and only to be given up on Mr..
Luker's personal application. That was the
She waitei a moment after she had said that.
She lOokel at her mother and sighcl. She look
ell ba.ik again at Mr.. Golfrey, and went on.
.Some Of our private affairs, at home.' she
said, 'secm TO have got into the newspapersr
Il grieye To say, il is So 4.
And some idle people, perfect strangers TO
Us. are trying TO trace connection between
what happened at our honse in Yorkshire and
what has happened since here in LOndcnr
The pubic curiosity, in certain quarters. Is,
fear. taking that turn
The people who say that the three Indians,
also say that the valuable GEM
There she stopped. She had become gradual
ly. within the last few moments, whittier and
whittier in the face. The extraordinary black
ness Of her hair male this pileness, by contrast
- CHASTITY TO look at that we all thought she
woud faint at that moment when she checked
herself in the middle OF her question. Dear Mr..
Godfrey make q second attempt TO leave his
chair. My amt entreatei her 10 say no more.
I followed my aunt with malest medicinal
peacc-Oreriug in the shape OF bottle Of salts.
We none Of US produced the slightest eject on
her. Godfrey, stay where you are. Mamma,
there is not the least reason To be alarmed abont
me. Clack, you're dying TO hear the end OF 1t
Il won't faint, expressly TO oblige you.'
Those were the exact words she nscl-taken
down in my diary ths momentl got home. But
OH, dou't let us judge.
| She turned once more 10 Mr.. Godfrey. With
an Obstinacy dreadful to ste she went back
again 10 the place where she had checked her
self, and completed her question in these words: /:
IL spoke 10 you q minute since about what
people were saying in certain quarters. Tell
me plainly, Godfrey, do they any of them say
that Mr.. Luker's valuable gem is-rhe Moon
stonei''
As the name Of the Indian Diamond passed
her lips SAW n change come over my aduir-
able friend His complexion deepcned. lie
lost the genial suayity Of manner which Is one
Of his greatest charms. A noble indignation
inspired his reply.
.'They DO say it." he answered. 'There are
people who don't hesitate to accuse Mr.. Luker
Of tellnga f,lsehooj 10 serve some private inter-
cmnly declared that, until this scandal aSsail-
ed him, he had never even heard Of The Moon
stone. And these sile people reply. without q
shadow OF proof 10 justify them, lie has his rea-
sons Tor concealment ; we decline 10 believe him
on his oath. Shameful shameful -
Rachel looked st him very strangely-l can't
we'll describe how-whle he was speaking.
When he had done, she said:
"Considering that Mr.. Luker Is onlya chance
acquaintance Of yours, you take up hS cause,
Godfrey, rather warmly
! My CITED friend made her one Of the most
truly evangelical answers ever heard in my
/ life.
81 hope, Miss Rachel, take up the cause OF
all Oppressed people rather warmly" he said.
"Reep your beautiful language for your La
dies Committees, Godfrey. am certain that
the scandal which has assailed Mr.. Luker has
not spared You."
Even my aunt's torpOr was reused by those
words.
"My dear Rachel" she demonstrated, "you
have really no right 10 say that -
81 mean no harm, msmma-l mean good.
Have moments patience with me. and you
will See"
She lcokei back at Mr. Godfrey with what ap-
pearcl to DO sudden pity for him. She went
the length-the very unladylke length-of
taking him by the hand. -
! Il am CERTAIN she said, that have found
out the true reason Of your unwillingness TO
speak Of this matter before me. An unlucky
accident has associated YOU in peoples minds
with Mr.. Luker. You have told me what scan
DIAL saysof him. What does scandal say Of you !"
| Even at the eleventh hour, dear MIR. Godfrey
always really to return good for eyil-tried to
spare her.
Don't ask me = he said It's better forgot
ten, Rachel--it Is indeel'
Il tciH hes- IL = she cried out, hercely, at the
top of her voice.
TELL her. Godfrey y entreated my aunt.
Nothing can 10 her such harm as your silence
is doing now =
Mr.. GClicy's 6ne eyes 6llei with tears. lie
cast one long appealing look at her-and then
he spoke the fatal words
III you win have II, Rachel-scandal says
that the Moonstone Is in plelge TO Mr.. Luker,
and that am the man who has pawncd it,
She started to her feet with q scream. She
looked backward and forward from Mr. Cod
frey to my aunt, AMI FROM my aunt to Mr.. God
frey. in such a frantic manner that really
thought she had gone mad.
Don't speak TO me {! Don't touch me = she
exclaimed, shrinking hack from all Of us Il de-
clare like some haunted animal ~ into q corn
er Of the rom. This Is my fault | must set
il right. have sacrificed myself had
right 10 do that II liked But TO let an in
nocent man be ruinci 10 keep secret which
destroys his character for life-0h, good God,
it's too horrible can't bear itr
Wv aunt half rose from her chair, then sud-
denly sat down again. She called 10 me faint
ly. aul pointed To little vial in her work. box.
Quick ? she whispered Six drops, in wa
ter. Don't let Rachel see
Under other circumstances | should have
thought this strange. There was no time now
to think-therc was only time to give the mcii-
cine. Dear Mr.. Gclfrry unconsciously assisted
me In conccaling what was about from Rach-