The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-02

jewelry and the handkerchief to her. For
a moment the color retreated from her
face. She glanced at me, . look OF alarm
lin her large dark eyes.
81 wouldn't say anything, but, do you
know, have missed several articles, too%
I5Shs ssaidd. "How could thief posi-
/ bly get in our rooms without waking us
Iupr
"You have lost something ?'I exclaimed
t"Was it anything valuable"
"Not particularly so," she made reply;
s'an old fashioned locket that had my
mothers hair in it, and handkerchief OF
fine lace. Oh, I don't mind the things
much--still it's not very pleasant"
81 should say not" answered, hotly.
"You must think you are in nest Oh
thieves. We never missed pin before
and should as soon think of stealing my
self as of accusing our servants, the mos
honest creatures in the world!"
"You can't always tell" was her re-
sponse, with peculiar smile. "But pray
don't worry about it; perhaps the things
will all come back to light. Maybe there's
a iackdaw about; you know they are great
thieves. dare say we will find all the
missing articles. l am sorry for Miss
Berry, though, she told me her ring was an
heirloom, and very valuable"
So we continued under cloud for sew
eral days. 1t was on Thursday that we
had lust left the dinner-table, Miss Betty
passing out of the room with me- We two
had been sitting longer than the rest, she
wittily giving her experience OF boarding
houses she had stayed at.
Aunt had been gone some time, but as
we left the threshold we both met her,
pale as ghost, and strangely scared look
on her face. Miss Betty paused and caught
me by the arm. l said,-
"Why, aunt, what is the matterT'
She only shook her head and turned into
a'room at her right, =,
"The good woman has seen ghost"
said Miss Betty, with a strange laugh;
but noticed that she ran very hastily up
the stairs; in fact, / might say rushed
and was soon out of sight. When she had
gone my aunt looked out and beckoned to
me.
! "My silver closet has been opened she
, said. under her breath,n with false
key, for found the lock uninjured." :"
"And has anything been taken y
81 should think 50 There were nearly
thousand dollars in gold and bank bills
lust as your uncle left it to me-"
f "That can't be gone ~ | said, my heart
in my throat.
every cent of it, and the few orna-
E ments possessed-gold rings, Johns gold
$ headed cane, and"
+ ooh, aunt 20
e lost my strength, and pale and tremb-
q ling sank into seat. We were surround,
O ed by mystery. No one had left the house
r for weeks together. We had kept up q
yigilant watch. We knew not who to sus
y pect. This money was the little all, be-
V sides the house and property, that my aunt
d had, and in her old age she could ill aforc
: to lose it, What should we do?
thought and thought until my brain fairly
n ached
Suddenly I remembered the way in which
4 Miss Betty rushed up stairs, and though
" had then no suspicion Of her, yet the fac
q kept recurring to me, and troubled me
h That afternoon Miss Betty walked out b.
+ herself.
T. 81 went to the post-ofice," she said
coming in just before supper.
"Did you get a letter." asked Mis-
! Berry.
e 's eyes, indeed"-and she held up vel
:, lowish-looking missiye-"and | am sorr,
:, to say it contains bad news" she added.
Va sat just outside the hall where l coul
70 hear all that was said.
:. "Bad news? Dear me' CALCULATES
n Miss Berry, ip her quiet way; Il hope
shall get no bad news to-day"
: Poor Uncle Russell is in great aftiiction
~ ~ and sends for me- Mrs. Russell is very i'll
- don't believe she can live if she has on
- of her spells; they are awful.
8 She did not see me as she came into tn
e. hall, but saw her, and her face was absc
q lutely defermed with the smile and strang
re look OF triumph which changed her counte
vs. nance. 1t almost said, Il have deceive
OF the whole of you" From that moment
IS was afraid of the woman.
u 81 am so sorry to be obliged to leave t.
I, morrow" she said; as we fingered at tn
n supper-table.
at Miss Berry's forehead grew dark.
ne "I'm sure I don't know what | sha
T. do,' she said, ~ don't think the house
~ safe; as l am over my nervous headache
shall also get ready to CO."
US Said l to my aunt as soon as we tv
Ct were together,-