The Portland daily press., 1876-09-25

gloves as 1 approached her: she did not want
me to see her loss, L suppose.
When had an opportunity to speak with
her alone she told me that the Carter en-
gagement was broken off, and that Mrs Jes-
samine was very sad about it, Mr.. Carter
had rebeIled at the very stringent leading
strings into which Mrs. Jessamine had pro.
posed putting him. The ladies allowed me
to join their party, and we all went to Gene
va together, as in the good old times. l
bought little blue forget-me-n not ring on the
Quai Voltaire, and prepared myself for &C.
ton. When Mary and l were alone together
led the conversation toward the ring.
$50 the lions went with the Napoleons,
did they, Mary?"
She colored violently, and said:
$3.50 you heard of our robbery?'
why, of course; you heard your aunt
telling me; but Mary, hold out your hand.'
And pulled out of my pocket the ring
with two lions. We were sitting on one OF
the little benches in the grounds Of the Hotel
&c la Paix when this happened, and were
quite alone. l never saw any one so utterly
frightened and agitated as Mary. She looked
at the ring and at me with eyes that seemed
all but starting from her head, and with a
face as pale as death.
"Tell me, tell me. What do you know
about it ?"
1t was now my turn to be agitated. She
referred undoubtedly to the burglary in Paris,
and what did I know about It.? Had I not
become at once and most innocently very
important link in the chain of evidence? and
did wish to give up yoor shabby old Handy
side Marbury on mere suspicion? for was
it not altogether possible that he had found a
fac smile of the ring instead of stealing it /?
and yet, if told the whole truth was in
honor bound to share the suspicious I had of
this man with Mrs. Jessa mine.
Mary looked at me so piteously that has
tened 10 put her out of pain, and determined
at the same moment not 10 implicate Mar
bury. told her part of the truth; which
was that l had found the ring in Geneva, and
that had conversed with the jeweller about
It, not forgetting his ingenious suggestion
that the ring was one of many, probably the
badge OF a secret society. She grew COM
posed and allowed me to once more put it on
her finger, and to place as guard the little
circlets of blue forget-me-nots from the Quai
Voltaire. But she would not allow me to
question her further about our future plans.
She was as mysterious as ever.
When we went back to the Hotel de la
Paix we found Mrs. Jessamine in very great
spirits. She had telegram from Paris.
Her stolen goods had been found and awaited
her Identification in Paris. Strangely enough
this news seemed to give Mary new hope and
cheerfulness. I began to be almost afraid
that the family talent for avarice had de-
scended to Mary, she showed such over
whelming pleasure in this discovery. The
thief had been found-one of the hotel serv-
ants-and Mrs. Jessamine's jewelry and hun
dred Napoleons were safe.
She came to me that evening, my dear
little girl, and asked me to take walk with
her. She put her hand in my arm, and
looked up in nay face smilingly.
Il have been relieved from terrible fear,
LOUIS" said she, 'and am going to treat
myself to the pleasure of loving you for few
hours and telling you so: but you must not
ask me single question; you must enjoy
the present and put up with mysteries for a
little while longer"
So we walked and talked as lovers will, and
we had Mont Blanc looking down upon US
with just his rosy smile and then his cold and
icy moonlight splendor. But it was all the
same to us; we had our sunshine carefully
prepared for our own use and carried it with
us.
When we got to the hotel we found Mrs.
Jessamine in terrible temper. She was in
dignant that Mary should have left at such a
time, with the preparations for Paris yet IN
finished. Mary took her aunt's abuse like
one walking in dream, and I took it with a
condensed bitterness which cannot describe.
When Mary and her aunt had departed I
walked over to the bankers for my letters.
found one from Baron Hammerstein saying
that Ainsie had proposed for the hand Of
Bertha, and asking me if he were suitable
match for his sister.
Here was complication: to recommend
or to disable Ainslie as sutton for high
born German maiden; to expose or shield
dear old Handyside Marbury. These two
scientiousness.
l walked to the bridge and leaned over,
looking into the blue waters of Lake Leman.
''How much" said to a contemplative
swan, who came to my call, expecting that
was to throw pellets of bread instead of
pellets of perplexity into his open mouth
''how much of what we know shall We tell?
know Ainslie now to be false-hearted
william, breaking the heart of that trustful
Bertha,-all that he may amuse himself for
few days. Or, if he marries Bertha, what
happiness can she expect from a man who
leaves broken VOWS at home? Then cid Han
dyside Marbury.''
at this the swan gave loud, unmusical
screech, and on looking up, I saw the last
object OF my meditations standing near me
and feeding to the swans large slice of
bread. Handyside looked twenty years
younger and as bright as the morning.
Congratulate me my young FRIEND" said
the opponent of Cyril. 81 have come into
my fortune. A relative who has lived alto
gether too long has died at last, and am
now rich man. I got the letter last night.
A large credit at Baring's enables me, my
young friend, TO repay those sums which
you kindly advanced to me; and have an
other confidence to make to you. Mr.. Charlie
ton, am the unworthy father of Mary Jessa-
mine! The late lamented and ever to be
pitied Peter Jessamine and myself married
sisters. My wife died, leaving one daughter.
My misfortunes Mr.. Charleton, began early,
and then Mrs. Jessamine adopted my daugh-
ter. Mrs. Jassamine, Mr.. Charleton, has
treated me with odious contempt and cruelty.
She would have prevented my daughters
loving and aiding me if she could. I have
never been permitted even to see her openly;
but my daughters love has conquered all
things.
Il have also to confess that the ring which
you so kindly redeemed in jewellers shop
here week ago, had been sent to me
by my daughter when I lay very
ill. Mrs. Jessamine, as you are aware, is not
very lavish to my daughter in the matter of
90 Inc mystery was cleared mp, and Nary'S
conduct shone out pure and lustrous. Be-
tween such an aunt and such a father, she
was indeed entitled to her secrets.
Handyside Marbury was a shabby old
father-in-law, and to man less in love, this
relationship might have dashed very con-
siderable ardor. But it only made me love
Mary better, and I hurried on to Paris by
the night train, anxious to console, and de-
fend and protect her. When she heard of
the accession of fortune, Mrs. Jessamine for
gave Handyside Marbury, and even treated
Mary little better; but the habits OF a life
time are not so easily mended.
There seemed to be no reason now why our
should not be announced; no
reason why should not take Mary and the
''.ing with two lions," to myself forever; but
Mrs. Jessamine became for once an unwilling
obstacle. The poor woman had been ailing
for long time, and she was now informed By
The doctors that she had an incurable disease.
She took her passage for America in the Al
batross for the 10Th Of December, and Mary
would 60 with her.
~ cannot leave her, Louis" said she;
she has taken care OF me since was seven
years old, and she has meant to be kind.
Her faults are the faults of nature she cannot
help them. And now 1 have another care
my poor father You have seen what a
grown-up child he is! 1 must teach him to
bear his two thousand year, for which he
has been so long waiting. 1t seems to him
now an mmapea fortuna Novf month bo