Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-04-23
NV Aunt,s Summer Boarders.

ing greatly excited. LOClSe, SCep mere
a moment" she said.
I followed her into small reception
room with some anxiety, for knew by
the pallor of her face, by the cap-strings
united, the absence of care in her toilet,
that something unusual had recently
happened.
''LOuise, what am 1 to think ?" she
asked, as 1 seated myself beside her,
miss Berry came to me last Thursday
morning; let me see''-she referred to
her tablets-'yes, it was Thursday, and
told me that she missed her necklace
with the jet and gold cross. I said
nothing to you about it, though it wer-
ried me very much. This morning she
cannot find her diamond ring, though
she is sure she put 1t In her jewel-box
last night; and she says a costly lace
handkerchief is also missing. What
are we to think? Of course the servants
could not get access to her room in the
night. How could suspect either Bar
bara or Hannah? I could as soen &C.
cuse YOU"
A chain and cross, a diamond ring,
and valuable lace handkerchief
idea of such a loss nearly took my breath
away. Miss Berry was one Of my
aunt's summer boarders. She was 8
Southern woman of good family, and
had spent two summers with US. Hel
health being so delicate that she did moi
like to room by herself, she had limited
that another inmate, in whom we ha6
confidence, would be agreeable to her.
So when, in early June, letter came tC
US, purporting to be from DIR. Russell
an old friend of my aunt, asking if W.
wouid accommodate his NIECE, sunty
was very glad Of the opportunity, anG
had our large best room arranged fol
the occupancy of two.
Miss Berry was quiet little woman
of some twenty.six or seven years. Sh'
had been very pretty, but i'll health ant
disappointment in early life had giver
her faded and sad expression. Sh,
was quite wealthy IN her own right, ant
though not following the fashion to it
full extent, she always looked very
stylish and lady-like.
Miss Bette Willis, the other boardel
niece Of DR.. Russell. Of whom sh
talked great deal-was the exact oppo
site OF &iss Berry. She was handsome
tall, dashIng and very brilliant. I hat
not been impressed In her favor, bu
Aunt Joe and Miss Berry both admiret
her. She brought win ner very eie
CANT Saratoga trunk, filled with al
abundance of beautiful dresses.
I wondered more than once why thi
handsome young girl wished to board il
60 retired country place. To be sure
it was one of the most beautiful loca
tions in the State. There were meun
tain views, Lake views, and lovel,
stretches of variegated landscape. Aun
Joe was of saeial, happy nature, and al
ways had more or less young company
Still, always wondered why Miss Bett,
had not Joined some party among he
friends, and spent her summer at
fashionable watering place. We two
aunt and I, talked the matter over, bu
came to no conclusion. 1t was net t
be disputed that Miss Berry had lost he
valuables, and she was person t
whom any loss was q serious one; ye
she had promised my aunt to say moth
ing about it for time"
"What were we to do? Our servant
had been with us for years, one fron
her childhood, end we could net suspect
either of them. There was no one els
in the house save Miss Berry and Mis-
Betty, both Of whom had become
seemingly, very much in love with eacl
other, for they were seldom apart. Mis-
Berry always left the key with my aun
when the two rsmbled by themselves
but to- day she carried it with her, and
could see that my aunt felt very muc
hurt.
As soon as we had the opportunity W
searched every part of the house wher
there was any possibility of finding th
missing articles, but without success
, Miss Berry, who was always dignifiec
seemed colder than ever to aunt an
myself, and the situation grew very uE
comfortable to all.
In proportion as Miss Berry grew dis
tant, however, Miss Betty became mol
affeetionate especially toward me. On
day when we were sitting alone in th
; parlOr, communicated the news of th
loss of the jeweiry and the handkerchi'
to her For moment the color retrea
, ed from her face. She glanced at me,
look OF alarm in her large dark eyes.
II wouldn't say anything, but, do yO
know, I have missed several article
: too ?' she said. "How could thief po
sibly getin our rooms without wakin
us up?"
"You have lost something ?" I e.
claimed. "Was it anything valuable
"Not particularly so,' she made r.
ply; can old-fashioned locket that ha
my mothers hair in it, and bandke
chief of fine lace. Oh, don't mind tt
things much-still it's not very plea
ant"
II should say not" I answered hotl.
"Yon must think you are in nest
thieves. We never missed pin befor
end I should as soon think of stealth
myself as of accusing our servants, tt
most honest creatures in the wcrld J"
"You can't always tell" was her n
ponse, with peculiar style. "But prs
don't worry about it; perhaps the thin!
will all come back to light. May
: there's jackdaw about; you kne
= they are great thieves. I dare say '
will find aii tho missing articles.
am sorry for Miss Berry, tnougp; q
told me her ring was an heirloom, al
very valuable"
So we continued under cloud i
several days. It was on Thursday tn