The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-04-30


her eye caught some glitiering object
She at once picked it up, and found !
was plain gold locket. An exclam
alton Of delight almost escaped her
as, on opening it, she saw before he
the features Of Sir George Sommers
only, as she concluded. taken wher
be was much younger man and
malicious smile of triumph crept ovel
her face as she saw on the opposite
side the likeness of a young and love
| ly girl.
"Ah ~ she bissed between hel
teeth. This will not only prove the
little saint thief, but give my lady
pleasant surprise also. l see why
Sir George made no fuss about The
loss of this; better lose it than have
my lady know be had it in his pos
session."
She put the little case back in her
pocket, and, replacing the loeket in
the box, shut and locked it, remarking
as she did SO:
"There is no occasion to put you
in now" and silently glided out OF the
room.
In about week after this event
the housekeeper came to Lady Som
mers with very long face, and rep
resented that the butler had lost some
silver spoons, and be wished search
made 10 the house
GAS long as it was only triiling
things, my lady" she said. al didn't
want to trouble you about it; but Mr.
Pard says as he's not a-gcin' TO have
his pantry meddled with. he'll have
an investigation
Both Mrs Brown and Mr.. Pard
were old aud trusted servants, Dad
Lady Sommers was vexed and alarm
ed 10 find that matters had come to
this point.
What does Mr. Pard propose to
do ?p asked the lady.
why, my lady" replied TO VIC
man, ''be just bid me TO ask you il
you or Sir George would object to
hin an me takin' genera! search in
the servatfs' wing. They all, indeed
wish il. The housemaid, the cook
the parlor maid, all declare they won'I
lie under any suspicion to take away
their characters an Mr.. Pard says
my lady. as not one left the house
since lie missed them but one, an be
knows that Gpe, an means to charge
aer straight after the search if we iind
noIhia'p
well, | have no objection" re
Piled Lady Sommers. "Do what vor
think right in the matter; only let Mr.
Pard take care not 10 accuse an limo
cent person"
The search was gone through, III
len giving up the key to her box al
the others bad done, to Mr.. Psrd
who, . ith Mrs Brown, made tn,
tour of inspection, accompanied, u
his annoyance, by Felice. The mo
ment EiIen's box was opened sb'
watched intently to see what efec
the discovery OF the locket would have
After every article was taken out i
was found.
FeIiee pouneed upon it instantly
and declared it to belong to ber lady
and that she would at once give it L
ber.
While she pushed of, Mr.. Pard
who seemed suddenly struck numb
had now recovered himself, and ex
claimed
well, never, Who'd although
it, But still won't believe it y
Lady Sommers was seated iD heI
dressing room when FeIice entered
aud Ellen bad just given the finishing
touches 20 her toilet by placing q
crimson rose among the golden wave:
of ber bair
MAY l speak TO your lsdysbir
alone :" asked Felice, With sea cely
concealed impstienee
"You may go row. Ellen said her
mistress, kindly, las you have finish
ed, ! believe
Scarcely bad the door closed be.
hind The little maid, when Feliee ex.
claimed. at the same time banding the
open Iocket to Lady Sommers
Il knew she was thief. my lady
Here is q Iocket, which | know is Sir
Georges, juss now found in her box.
| brought i. you myself, as l Thought
you might not Ike the otters to see
the likeness insiden
"And why not - asked Lady Som
ners, proudly; at the same time as
she gazed Der bright face visibly pal
ed, and, without another word, she
walked out Of the room.
As she left the door she was met
by Sir Georges valet, who came to
tell her bis master waited fo- her in
the drawiDg-room-they were going
to party at neigbhogS 5 some miles
81.
Ste scarcely heard the man bat
rushed Oh into the drawing room,
and presenting the likeness to Sir
George, asked him if be had long los,
il.
She held it toward him onen 10 aer
hand.
Sir George gave one glance, and
then. with every particle CT color gone
from his face, leaving it pale as mar.
bic, be exclaimed, while be clinched
his hand and leaned heavily on he
table for support:
"Good heavens Ny dear brother
and bis wife "
When he bad sufficiently recovered
himself. he inquired where it bad
been found. aud ~llen was at once
called.
at is my dear father and mother, y
answered the child. The matron
told me il was tied round my neck
when / was saved from drowning,
and | have taken care Of it ever
since
so, then, you are my niece, :" ex-
claimed the kind Lady Sommers.
And | am very glad Of it," she said,
as she stopped down aud kissed the
child
Sir George soon satisfied himself by
inquiries that Ellen wss the child Of
the brother whom bis severity had
driven, with bis young wife, to seek
q home in foreign land; and this
child, of whose existence be was not
before aware. wss aow to him not