The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-12-15

1 A4adC-
4 Days, weeks, months passed away
4 but the mystery of the theft appeared
as insoluble as ever.
: CHAPTER II.
:, THE JEwRLs COME HOME.
: The leaves were falling. They
were green when the theft which had
thrown the community into a wild
fever was committed.
Catherine knight had not forget
ten her lost jewels, though she had
ceseed to look for them. She beIiey-
ed that the mystery would never be
solved, though she was not without
suspicious.
Gortyn Randolph still dwelt in the
country. but Lionel Lsre lad disap-
peared- A month after the robbery
he bad received ali appointment to
the staff of the American legation at
Paris, and lie was living among tie
gaities Of the French capital. The
long letters that he sent to Catherine
Knight were not shown TO Jessie
March. The heiress gloated over them
as a ruiser gloats over his golden
boards. 70 her they were Joy, and
the sunbearns of future which prom
ised to overflow with happiness. She
schemed in her heart through the day,
and dreamed on conquest during the
night. A victory over Jessie March
was a prize worth winning. She
would win the secretary of the leea-
ton upon his return to America, and
bis lengthy epistles from France
buoyed her heart up with hopes unut-
terable.
Woman loves to triumph over
woman. For such triumph she will
toll, to the exclusion of happiness.
She brings her finer powers into play
in the conquest over one OF her own
sex.
Tie winning of Lionel Lare to her
self, Catherine Knight believed would
prove the greatest triumph of her life.
She wondered if he wrote Jessie long
letters from Paris, but she was afraid
to question her rival concerning them.
The new Randolph went often to
the northern girls Virginia house. He
drove her along the banks of tie
Roanoke, walked with her through
the golden leaved groves, and was her
escort to fashionable gatherings of
the Old Dominion's gallantry and
beauty.
All this was joy to Catherine
Knight; but her father almost dissi-
pated her hopes, her happiness in an
instant.
He came into his daughters pres
ence one autumn evening.
Catherine, 1 must tell you of my
discovery" he said, and the fair girl
turned from the piano, and looked in
" Ills eyes, 4uII VI ucllSub
"What wonderful thing have you
discovered" she asked. II dreamed
about my jewels last night"
"Your JewelsT and Mr.. Knight |
laughed. 81 know where they are."
you" and Catherine sprang to her |
feet. You, papal What! you know |
where my jewels are2 Mo- You are
jesting about them. Icannot believe |
that you have discovered the thief"
John Knight assumed a serious
look.
No jesting, GIRL" he said. My
pocket contains letter from n man
who met with terrible accident in
Richmond a few days since. He drove
cab to our gate on that night which
we have never forgotten; more, he
conveyed the jewel stealer to the gate,
knowing that he was going to rob
you. The man is dying and the let
ter reveals the name of the thief. Can
you guess it, Catherine2 Did you ev
er have any suspicionsf
The Virginian looked strangely at
his daughter as he put the last ques-
ton, and her face grew paler.
Il have suspected; but l would not
guess wrongly-not for the world,
papa. Therefore tel me who did the
deed"
He smiled and looked down into her
face.
"Gortyn Randolph"
''The new Randolph" exclaimed
Catherine. Do you know that would
have gussed him2"
''He is the gentleman l have spot
ted, ;" said John Knight. 1.-THE Jewels,
my correspondent says, are still in his
possession. shall cause his arrest
tonight"
mo, mol not to-nightm cried Cath
crime, grasping her fathers arm, and
her face was gbastly.
why do you counsel delayi He |
may hear of the fatal accident to his |
confidant, and, besides it is rumored |
that he will soon lead your friend,
Jessie March to ths alter. His arrest |
would save the girl; it will rescue her
from life of shame. Think-you ad- |
mired Jessie. Shall 1 not arrest the |
jewel-thief to night, and the sooner |
save her"
Catherine Knight stood before her
father like a woman in trance, while |
he spoke. Her hand trembIed on his |
arm, and she waited with impatience
for him to finish, that she might start |
lie him with a terrible sentence.
81 don't tcdnt to sare herr
John knight started from his danght
er's side.
mot want to save Jessie7" he |
cried, staring at her like madman.
"CatheriDe, something terrible lies be-
hind your words. Tell me what it is
or will this hour expose the man who
has your jewels"
She came towards him, pale still,
but with a gleam of hope in her eyes.
Il will tell you, che said, encoun-
tering his look with bravery that as
tonished him. ''The time for the fru-
ition of your desires and mine, too, has
arrived. Jessie March's marriage to