Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-03-17

crates Ill my cIllnt-ii crime you COll-
slider it--since I have told you, and ]
spoke the truth, that 1t was not for
gain, but simply to satisfy a passion
ate curiosity. 1t was as delicate and
as difficult an operation as any | ever
performed in the whole course of my
professional career"
There was peculiar quaintness OF
humor and action thrown into his
speech | could not refrain from laugh
ing. But, to my great satisfaction,
the illustrious pickpocket did not join
in the laugh. He regarded me with
a look of extreme humility, and main.
tanned respectable silence, which was
shortly broken by loud knocking at
the outer door. 1t was the Major,
who suddenly remembering his ap.
pointment with Darlington, had con
uived to make his escape from the
Government House, in order to keep
it. The Major seemed rather surpris.
ed to find Darlington in my drawing
room but he was in such a hurry,
and 50 anxious, that he said nothing
on the subject.
L Withdrew to the passage, whence
I could ovcrhcar all that there trans
spired.
"Now, look here, Darlington" said
MY husband impetuously, II will have
no more nonsense. As for a free par
don, or even conditional pardon at
present it is out of the question In
securing you ticket of leave l have
done all that | possibly can and as l
am living man / give you fair warn
ing that it you do not keep faith with
me | will undo what | have already
done. A free pardon !! What ? let
you loose upon the society Of England
again ? The colonial secretary would
scorn the idea, and severely censure
the governor Tor recommending such
a thing. You know, as well as | do
that if YOU returned to England to-
morrow, and had an income of five
thousand year, you would never be
able to keep those fingers Of yours
quiet"
"Well, I think you are right, Ma
jor," said the illustrious parsonage.
"Then You will write the letter at
once p
"l will But on one condition"
"Another condition ?"
"Yes."
"Well, what is that condition You
have so many conditions that I begin
to think the necklace will not be forth
coming after ALL And ii it be not,
Bly,
'Do not excite yourself to anger,
Major | give you my honor"
"Your honor Nonsense ! What /
want is the Jewel returned to its
owner"
"It shall be, on condition that you
shall not be offended, grievously Of
Tended, with me for what l have done
this day?'
"What Is that 2"
Summons your good wife, and let
her be witness for and against me-"
My husband opened the drawing
room door and called out -
Bessie y
When | made my appearance Bar
'ington stated the case--all that had
.ranspired-with minute accuracy
nay, more, he acted the entire scene
II such way that it became a little
comedy in itself; the characters being
himself, myself, and the children, all
If which characters he represented
i;,l such humor that my husband and
hyself were several times in fits of
aughter Darlington, however, did
not smile. He affected to regard the
title drama (and that made it the
more amusing) as very serious busi-
less.
This play over, my husband again
nut to Darlington the question: "Will
'ou write the letter at once?"
Yes, he replied, Il will; for see
hat | am forgiven the liberty that l
vas tempted to take" After seating
himself at the table he wrote:
'Alr Darlington presents his COM
'liments to Mr.. and requests
hat sealed packet marked D n. No.
y, be Immediately delivered to the
'earer of this note In the event of
his request not being complied with
'[r. Darlington will have an opportu-
ity ere long Of explaining to Nh.
n Sydney, New South Wales, that the
Mr.. - } has been guilty of an act
# egregious folly.
Fourteen months had passed away
When, one morning, my husband re-