The Union and journal., 1870-01-21

pie are born-boasters, and they never ge
over ii to their dying day. I'm one oI
them.' .......
There was only one way 10 take him
| appealed 10 his interest in Rachel ant
his interest in me. -r.. I..,.r.- --.,
.Betteredge. would you be glad to heal
that Rachel and i were good friends
againr
Il have served your family to mighty
little purpose, Sir, IL you doubt itr
DO you remember how Rachel treated
me before left England?'
AS well rs If II was yesterday! My
lady herself wrote you letter about it;
and you were 80 good rs 10 show the let
ter 10 me. II said that Miss Rachel wa,
mortally offended with you for the par,
you had taken in trying TO recover her
Jewel. And neither my lady, nor you,
nor any body else could guess Why "
Quite true. Bettcredge! And come
back from my travels, and find her mort
ally offended with me still, / knew that
the Diamond was nj the bottom OF II
last year; and know that the Diamond
Is nj the bottom Of il now. / have tried
TO speak to her. and she won't see me.
/ have tried to write to her, and she won't
answer me. How, in Heavens name, am
to clear the matter up? The chance OF
searching into the loss Of the Moonstone
is the one chance of inquiry that Rachel
herself has left mor ... r..
Those words evidently put the case be-
fore him rs he had not seen it yet. He
asked n question which satisfied me that
had shaken him.
There Is no ill-fecling in this on your
side-is therer
There was some anger I answered,
when / LEFT London, But that is all
worn ont now. ] want to make Rachel
come to an understanding with me-and
l want nothing more ..--r.
You don't feel any fear, Sir--supposins
YOU make any discoveries-in regard 10
what you may find out about Miss Rach-
el?'
I understood the jealous belief in his
young mistress which prompted those
words.
Il am rs certain Of her rs you are
answered. The fullest disclosure OF her
secret will reveal nothing that can alter
her place in your estimation, or in mine..
BetteredSe's last-left scruplcs vanished
at that.
If | am doing wrong to help you, Mr.
Franklin he exclaimed. all can say is
II am rs innocent Of seeing ii rs the
babe unborn! can put you on the road
to discovery. il you oau- only so on by
Yourself, You remember that poor girl
Of ours-Rosanna SpearmanP
OF courser
You always thought she had some sort
of confession, in regard to this matter
of the MOonstone, which she wanted to
make to your
.Icertainly conld account for her strange
conduct In no other way
You may set that doubt Mt rest, Mr..
Franklin, whenever you please -
1t was my turn 10 come to u stand-still
now. I tried. i'm the gathering darkness,
To see his face. In the surprise of the mo-
ment. / asked impatiently what he meant.
Steady, Sirr said Betteredge. Il mean
what I say. Rosanna Spearman LEFT n
sealed letter behind her-a letter address
oil to you.'
Where Is it''
In the possession Of n friend Of hers Mt
Cobb's Hole. You must have heard tell,
when you were here last, Sir, of Limping
Lucy-a lame girl, with crutch.'
The fisherman's daughterT
The same. Mr.. Franklin
why wasn't ths letter forwarded to
me?'
.Limping Lucy has will of her own,
Sir. She wouldn't givo'it into any hands
but yours. And you had left England be-
fore could write TO you
Lets 90 back. Betteredge. and get 1t nj
oncer
Too late, Sir. tonight. They're great
savers of candles along our coast; and they
90 to bed early Mt Cobb's Hole
Nonsense! We might get there in hall
an honr.'
You might, Sir. And when you did get
there YOU would find tho door locked.
He pointed to light, glimmering below
ms: and, nj the same moment, heard
through the stiffness OF the evening the
bubbling of n stream. There's the Farm
Mr.. Franklin! Make yourself comfortable
for tonight. and come to me tomorrow
morning-if you'll be so kind"
You viii go with me to tho iisherman''
cottagcr
Yes. SIR
Early?
AS early, Mr.. Franklin, rs You like
We descended the path that led to the
Farm.