Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-17

ehtrry-scaret tTimmings?"
"Then You have seen herr" she inquired,
eyes. j have seen her. Naturalization is she to
the pemmings?"
"Nr. i, mining is her great-uucIe, and has
had the care of hereducation. She has been in
Europe for the last three years travelling with a
distinguished professor and his wife It seems
that Dir. Demming has had charge OF some lew
els 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
Cfhce, 10 see how she would like the Jewels reset
intending to have them ready for her at the e1-
Plraton OF the time, which was only three
months. For the last two DAYS they have an
betn consulting about it, apparently unable to
come TO any decision. was called on yesterday
10 give my opinion, and when told what they de-
sired OF me, this Is what Mr.. Demming said:
"Ncv, let's hear what little Lottie suggests -
He always called me " DOttie' from the nome MT
OF my entering the house laughed, and said
" Little LOttie thinks that II she owned these
jewels she should be very careful how she let
them lie around the house long"
80 That's So said grandpapa Demming.
. But lhaye got a little tuck-away corner where
they are safe enough in the daytime; OF course,
dom leave them down here nights.''
That's all | know about it, continued the
POOR child, with q fresh burst of tears HWe
talked a little while about the setting, and this
morning was told the diamonds were gone"
where we're you" asked, "while the family
were at tea?''
al was at tea, also" she replied. Gone OF
SuI servants was quite i'll, and went down long
before IL was time for the tea-bell 70 ring and
oasted 81 me bread Then Mrs. Demming had a
lamc wrist, and she asked me to pour the tea"
ibid you leave the dining-roOm," inquired,
'foT any reason, during the tea hour?''
Not for a moment"
What dress did you wear last EVENING""
This one" she replied. glancing down at her
dark alpaca and bursting into tears.
"Nhat is the name Of this niece?"
" Clara Mason"
"And You are sure those were her jewels?''
Positive
What would induce woman to steal her own
property, i wondered. There might be, L
lOsst ssiOn OF ii before the specified time. Some
lover in the case it might be--Or some debt OF
crime: which she must cancel or have exposed.
Just then Mr.. Cleaveland and young Mr.. Dem
ming were announced
q can not SEE him." groaned the heart-broken
child. " / can not see him"
But knew il was best she should; and 80 in
vited thom 10 our private sitting-room. found
that the grief was not all hers. The young mans
face bore traces of deep suffering, audit was
with the utmost effort that he could keep from
breaking down as he greeted her.
"LOttie," said he, ''you know do not believe
this horrid story; ] know yop as well as you
hut of course he doesn't know what to do with
Clara's story.
What !, her storyP" 1 inquired.
"Oh," he replied, wearily, /" Clara swears
that last evening about nine O'Clock, as she was
passing along the hall on her way to her room,
the hall door stealthily opened, and that Lottie
the night was very fair-and that she, Clara,
stepped back into passage-wsy, and as she did
so, Dottie removed her wrappings, and said in
hoarse whisper Thank Heaven! no one has
seen me-"
.,"were you ont last evening9"I inquired Of
the rror-stricken girl.
mo" she mOaned. al renamed in Frel's
room until he dropped asleep, and then read
until late, expecting TO have a chance Of bidding
Mr.. Demming goodnight" Here the child
blushed to the roots OF her hair, and the whole
story was told.
F" Could Clara have manufactured this terri
bic story, or did she see some one enter and
imagine it waa LOttie? 1t seems to me this ter
rible suspense will Kill me, !" said poor Demminy.
III you will come with me-both Of you
round to your house, Mr.. Demming think
can not only eXonerate this little girl, but can
place the crime whore it belongs In other
words, my dear sir, L know who stole those
jewels"
Had ! weighed the probable effect of nv words
before uttered them, should not have been
so abrupt; for Lottie tipped over az dead as a log
on the sofa, and Mr.. Demming, in his fright and
relief, came mighty near tipping in the same
manner.
An hour after, we entered the Demming man
sion. LOttie was now calm and self-possessed
while my coward hta art seemed inclined 70 walk
quite Out Of its surroundings.
We were shown into the front p2rlor. The old
gentleman entered.
Father have brought LOttie round" said
Che young man; "and am going TO have her
skirts cleared from this horrible suspicion bs-
fore another fifteen minutes rolls over my head"
- God grant ~" calculated the venerable gem
tinued, eve have all loved her 30 dearly from
the be ginning We must clear her-of course
sc must. Don't cry, little girl" a. she again
broke down under his caressing language. II
vas ovids ut that the governcss had made To-
hersC u a very warm and tender nest in the old
mans heart.
Father" said the Young man, I'thfs lady.
Mrs. -, las decided information in regard to
our trouble. Ma and Clara are in the library
let's 90 in there!"
He led the way, and we all followed the old
man bringing up the rear.
Fred tells me-" said the latter chat this
iady'-Fointing To Ine-''has something to say
on the subje under discussion"
Mr.. Demming couldn't help being parliament
taTy even at this critical time.
WAS the bag containing the jewels in this
desk" 1 asked, placing my hand on the article
" II vas" replied Mr.. Demming.
- Did any Of the members OF your family know
exactly where you did keep them?''
"NO,' he answered. !" never would lock
them ZIP until everybody had left the room"
That accounted Tor the rummaging.
Z" This Is all Ihave % say, - continued. LAST
evening, at precisely half-paSt six, saw lady
dressed in white, with scarlet sash and necH-
ribbon enter the apartment, open the different
drawers and doors OF these bookcases, and
thrr-"
'.IOu lie!" sereaned the girl IN white. "You
liel you lie! You know you lie! You bad wo-
man-you hend in humsn shape?"
:" And then" / continued, +" 1 saw her open.
this desk, search IL awhile, and finally take QUE
a bag, which she held aloft for a moment, and
then run out of the ROOM"
"You-yOu-you-" said the culprit, trying to
reach the place where sat Her uncle caught
her In his arms and held her on the sofa in a
perfect paroIySm Of rage and despair.
They then remembered that Clara was ten
minutes late at the tea table; and one part of the
story fitted into the other 20 perfectly, that
there was not the slightest loop-hole for her to
crawl out of.
LOttie did not 90 hack With me. left her
with li'te Fred in her lap, Grandpa Demming
beside her, and Fred's pa at her feet, and the
CID lady lowering near. have an invitation to
wedding this week.
1t was found ont Afterwards that Clara Mason
stole the Jewels, as l suspected, to enrich her
lover, who was Of course, scamp.-N. Y. SHn-
coy TtHJeE.