The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-23

friend, and l will do all that lies in my
power to comfort and help her."
An hour after Miss Hastings-for that
was the name of the goveness-sat in my
room, the most abject picture of misery
| ever looked upon in my life. Her eyes
were swollen with weeping ana when
welcomed her to my home, and assured her
of sympathy and love, it seemed as if the
child's heart would break.
"Oh," she sobbed, had such a pleasant
home until she came. Old Mr.. Demming
was so kind to me, and so thoughtful of
me and Mrs. Demming, too, did every
thing in the world that woman could do for
my comfort and, then, my darling little
Fred, and his papa. And now, just to
think they all think me thief ! and have
loved them so Merciful Father, how could
theyr
BY degrees I succeeded in getting at the
whole story.
Little Fred was Mr.. Demming's grand
son and little Fred $ papa was widower,
and Miss Hastings was employed to take
exclusive charge of the widower's little son.
''But who is sho?" l asked, with shud-
der. " The woman that always dresses in
white, with cheTy-scarlet trimmings
"Then you have seen her ?'' she inquir-
ed, looking up quickly.
eyes, | have seen her. What relation
is she to the Demmings?'
Mr.. Demming is her great-uncle, and
he had the care of her education. She has
been in Europe for the last three year,
travelling with a distinguished professor
and his wife. 1t seems that Mr.. Demming
has had charge of some jewels which were
left in trust for her until she should become
of age The day of her arrival he brought
them home from the safe at the Office, to
see how she would like the jewels reset,
intending to have them ready for her at the
expiration of the time, which was only
three months. For the last two days they
have been consulting about it, apparently
unable to come to any decision. / was
called on yesterday to give my opinion,
and when told what they desired of me,
this is what Mr.. Demming said ''Now,
let's hear what little Lottie suggests" He
always called me "little Lottie" from the
moment of my entering the house. laugh
ed, and said "little Lottie thinks that if
she owned thes jewels she should be very
careful how she let them lie round the
house long"
"' That's So said grandpa Demming,
'but l have got little tuck-away corner
where they are safe enough in the daytime
of course, don't leave them down here
nights
"That's all / know about it," continued
the poor child, with fresh burst of tears.
awe talked little about the settings,
and this morning was told the diamonds
were gone"
"Where were you," l asked, "while the
family were at tea?"
81 was at tea, also," she replied. Zone
of our servants was quite ill, and / went
down long before it was time for the tea
bell to ring and toasted bread. Then Mrs.
Demming had lame wrist, and she asked
me to pour the tea"
"Did You leave the dining in
quired, "for any reason, during the tea
hour?'
Not for moment"
"What dress did you wear last even
ingg"
"This one," she replied, glancing down
at her dark alpaca and bu rsting into tears.
"What is the name of this niece?''
"Clara Mason" 0.
"And you were sure those were her
jewels ?'
"Positive"
What would induce woman to steal her
own property, / wondered There might
be, thought, some desperate reason for
obtaining possession of it before the speci-
fled time. Some lover in the case it might
be-or some debt, or crime, which she
must cancel or have exposed. Just then
Mr.. Cleaveland and young Mr.. Dem
ming were announced
81 can not see him. groaned the heart
broken child. II can not see him."
But knew it was best she should and
so invited them to our private sitting
room. found that the grief was not all
hers. The young mans face bore traces of
deep suffering, and it was with the utmost
effort that he could keep from breaking
down as he greeted her, ar I.- 81. a..l
Lottie,' said ho, "you know do not
believe this horrid story. know you as
well as you know yourself. Father don't
believe it either but of course he doesn't
know what to do with Clara's story"