The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-05-30

10 terrible accusation Charged wi
he stealing, isn't she ?"
an "Good heavens! yes" he replied. "Ho
s. did you know | hadn't the slighte
h, idea that it had got to be common tai
~ | am afraid it will kill her !"
m 81 have not heard syllable" | al
r swered mot one. have simply CUES
d ed, that's all and | know she is innocen
g. and perhaps. my boy, can prove it,"
y "God grant r' said he ferventl,
k "But how did you suspect? Who coui
6 have hinted at such a thing?"
e 81 tell you again that have not hear
8 word-no one has hinted. Go for you
n friend, and | will do all that lies in m
n power to comfort and help her
o An hour after Miss Hastings-for tina
r was the name of the governess-sat in m
: room, the most abiect picture of misery
ever looked upon in my life. Her eye
were swollen with weeping; and when
! welcomed her to my home, and assured
her of sympathy and love, it seemed as i
the child's heart would break.
"Oh," she sobbed, | had such pleasau,
home until she came. Old Mr.. Demmnf
was so kind to me, and so thoughtful O.
me and Mrs. Demming, too, did every
thing in the world that woman could dc
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 they"
by degrees succeeded in getting at
the whole story.
Little Fred was Mr.. Demmings grand
son; and little Fred's papa was a widower
and Miss Hastings was employed to take
exclusive charge of the widowers little
son.
"But who is she ?" | asked, with a
shudder. 1.-The woman who always dresses
IN white, with cherry scarlet trimmings ?r
Then you have seen her ?" she inquir-
ed, looking up quickly.
"Yes, have seen her. What relation
is she to the Demmings ?"
',Mr. Demming is her great uncle, and
has had the care of her education. She
has been in Europe for the last three
years, travelling with distinguished pro.
lessor and his wife. II 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 ofthe 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 l.ottie" from the moment of nv
entering the house. | laughed, and said
"Little Lottie thinks that if she owned
these jewels she should be very careful
i~-o.
"That's so,' said grandpa Demmng
"But | have got little tuck-away corner
where they are safe enough in the day
time of course, don't leave them down
here nights"
That's all know about it," continued
the poor child, with fresh burst of tears.
"We talked little about the settings, and
this morning was told that the diamonds
were gone"
"Where were you," asked, "whie the
family were at tea ?"
II was at tea, also," she replied. "One
of our servants was quite i'll, and | went
down long before it was time for the tea
bell to ring and toasted some bread. Then
Mrs. Demming had a lame wrist and she
asked me to pour the tea"
"Did you leave the dining-room, in.
quired, "for any reason, during the tea
hour ?"
mot for moment"
"What dress did you wear last even
ing?'
This one," she replied, glancing down
at her dark alpaca and bursting into tears.
"What is the name OF this niece ?"
CLARA Mason"
"And you are sure those were her
jewels? 2"
positive"
What would induce IA woman TO steal
her own property, wondered. There
might be, | thought, some desperate
reason for obtaining possession of it be-
fore the specified time. Some lover in
the case il might be--or some debt, or
crime, which she must cancel or have ex-
posed. Just then Mr.. Cleaveland aud
young Mr.. Demming were announced.
IL can not see him" groansd the heart
broken child. III can not see him"
But knew it was best she should ;
and so invited them at our private Sit
ting-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 coui keep from
breaking down as he greeted her.
"Lottie," said he, "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"
"What is her story ?" inquired.
i Oh he replied YEARLY, "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 open
, ed, and that Lottie crept in, covered witt
her waterproof, although the night wa'
! very tair-and that she, Clara, stepped
back into passage-way, and as she die
so, Lottie removed her wrappings,and sale
in a hoarse whisper-"Thank Heaven nc
$ one has seen me"
"Were you out last EVENING" | in
quired of the terror-stricken girl.
NO. she moaned "I remained il
Fred's room until he fell asleep, and theI
| read till Interpreting to have chanc'
t OF bidding Mr.. Demming goodnight.
@ Here the child blushed to the roots Of he
, hair, and the whole story was told.
e Gould Clara have manifested this ter
b. rble story, or lid she see some ,ne ente