The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-17

traces OF superior workmanship.
When the pile was finally separated into
the sold and the unstable, there yet rem aim
ed six hundred dollars to be gained from some
quarter.
81 have already sold or pawned my jewel
ry," said the poor girl, with faltering voice,
''and have nothing left but diamond cross.
must not sell that, but l can pledge it.''
'.Permit me to see it," replied"
She produced it.
1t was very handsome. The stones We're
of good size, and were well set.
81 will loan you the necessary sum for this
as security" [ said.
'Ah, madame" she cried, in a trembling
voice, chow kind you are to me! l was afraid
of you. / thought this would be one of the
hardest moments of my life, but you have
ashamed that l ever dreamed that l was un-
dertaking sacrifice. Allan is safe. My
father will be left in peace. Madame, may
kiss you?'
She threw her arms about my neck, and
pressed her soft lips several times to mine
and the tears upon her cheeks left moisture
upon my face which seems to be there even
now.
Iproduced my wallet, and conscious til at
my beautiful girl was blushing red counted
out upon the little table the exact amount
that she required.
''When and where are you to deliver this
money!" inquired.
Sat noon tomorrow in one of the parl0rS
of he Albion" ia private hotel.
'To the President?"
eyes, to the President
'And he, then, is to assure you that pro-
ceedings against your brother will not be
taken, and to warn you that his immediate
flight to Canada will be necessary?"
Yes, madame"
And have you any property left ?"
'Very little-really very little; that is,
none that l can convert"
"You have given, then, all that it is posi-
BILE for you to give?"
'I-I-yes. That is, L"
81 understand" said I ''you have stripped
your wardrobe, your purse, your bank, your
jewel cases, your boxes of precious heirloOms,
to pay the way of your brother out of the
quandary in which he has placed himself.
He is ignorant of it. You do it under no
pressure but that of love for him and for
your father. Am 1 right?'
She hung her head, and in a nervous man.
ner tried to turn the rings which had been
upon her fingers. But there were now no
rings thereS
At this moment there came knock at the
DOR. The maid went to it, and returned
with message from some one who wished to
borrow the diamond cross for that night, as
hers 1.-THE would-be borrowers was being re-
paired.
My young lady caught her breath and
turned pale. Then she glanced toward me.
st is my brothers G6tdncee," said she
"she has worn the cross BEFORE"
Without the slightest hesitation, drew it
from my bosom, whittier had placed it for
safe keeping, and put it into her hands.
''You can bring it to me early in the morn
ing That will do equally as well:''
The act was very unbusiness-like, and I
never did similar one. I was compensa ted
ever, by watching the divine expression of
gratitude which transformed the young girls
face as she received the jewel.
She sent it TO the borrower with kind
message.
prepared to 60 away. With a delicacy
that was as pleasant as it was rare for ME to
experience, was relieved of the necessity of
bundliag up the clothing had purchased
the maid was directed to make parcel of it,
and to carry it down to the carriage which
was waiting for me.
took leave of my fair one with much
difficulty. She embraced me again and
again, and she, too, generously forgot the adj
vantages had obtained, in the advantage she
felt that had afforded her.
left her standing in the centre of the floor
of the apartment, with her face buried in her
white hands, and with the wild lights OF the
fire playing strange gambols on and about her
delicate figure.
Upon reaching the sidewalk again, I found
the conpe had been replaced by hired car
rage; the discretion of the change was APP
parent.
During the night which succeeded these
transactions, [ reflected upon what had been
told me, and made up my mind that all was
not quite as my young lady supposed.
had discovered, by-the-way, that her name
was KiDgsford, also that her parents were ex-
tremely wealthy, and that she and her broth
er were only children.
Early on the succeeding morning gentle
man entered my shop, and asked me TO pur
chase diamond cross, which he thought old
fashioned and out of date. He unrolled it
from some bits of paper and handed it to me-
l recognized it at glance as the one [ had
held on the previous night.
The mirrors are arranged in my showcases
In way that enables me, by looking down.
ward, apparently at what I hold in my hand,
to watch the features ard behavior of my Gus
toners.
While pretending, therefore, to examine the
cross, l quietly and thoroughly scrutinlzed
the person before me. detected enough in
his features to convince me that he was the
brother of Miss Kingsford.
With my foot L touched two springs, one of
which instantly caused a bolt to fasten the
door, while the other rang bell which sum-
mOned my brother from a rear room.
l then put the cross upon the shelf behind
me, and asked the young man to step to the
end OF the counter where there were two
chairs.
told him briefly that I knew him, and
that knew of his defalcation.
The effect of these announcements upon
him was unexpectedly severe and ulden.
His blood flowed back upon his heart, and
for moment he was paralyzed. He fell for
ward in his chair, anc would have slipped up
on the floor had l not caught him. He slow
ly aroused himself, but by the time he re-
gained his power of speech he seemed to have
grown ten years older. His eyes were large
and wandering, lines appeared in his cheeks,
and his head settled down between his Shout
ders. did not think he was cowardly, but
that he was not so callous and wicked as /
had supposed.
He was totally undone; he tremb,ed from
his head to his feet, and his knees shook as if
he were shuddering with the cold.
| asked him the name of his confederate.
He replied that it was Marshall.
s'Please describe him."
After moment he replied:
'He is pretty tall, and he has white hair
and beard, and broad forehead.'
SIS he not pleasing in his manners? Has
he not fine addres5?'
"Y-yes, he talks like an angelo
"What we've you about to do with the mon
ey that you hoped to get for that cross p"
II was about to leave town. Tie affair
will be known all over the city this evening.
But you will return the cross to me?'
This inquiry was excited and startlingly
earnest.
L shook my head. He burst into torrent
OF prayers and entreaties, which / checked as
soon as possible. l advised him to return to
his office.
Return to my ofiicep'
Yes. But leave it just before noon and
go to the Albion, and sit in the parlor until |
send for YOU"
Until you send for mer'
eyes. And be sure that you do NOT at
tempt to run away meantime. You have
stolen eighteen thousand dollars, have you
not?"
"I-I-perhaps."
81 suppose you have converted the COM
pany's bonds. Are the bonds to be had at a
moments notice? '