American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-06-12

utI VI put NhNh-
ever and wherever she chose, and an
nov her still more than being watched.
One morning Stella had been obliged
to 90 the city to make some purchases.
She was zone some hours, and when
size came back was preparing to 10 to
her friends. when her mother SAID:
"Stella, the Ksonaps have all gone
out to drive"
81 guess not" said Stella, carelcssly,
remembering, with a little thrill, that
last night when Mr.. Anderson babe her
goodnight at her gate after seeing her
home. he had whispered,
Tomorrow when you come over, L
wish you'd come to the grape-arbor be-
fore YOU go into the house. L have
something special to say to you."
"Of course he wouldn't go out" she
thought confidently, wondering, yet
half guessing from what had gone before,
what the something special'' was to be,
and what she should say to it.
But they have" persisted Mrs. Wal
tiers, "fof 1 saw them, and another gen.
tleman was with them"
WELL" said Stella, with affected
Indifference. looking at her watch,
"rll go over and get book left there,
and if they have not yet returned of
course I'll come home to lunch" and
off she went.
The ape-arbor was on the other side
of the house, and slowly Stella turned
her steps toward it.
When she reached it the pretty little
summer-house was vacant, though
book lay on the seat as though it had
been occupied. She sat down and
opened the book. 1t was one of Mr..
Anderson's favorite authors. She read
awhile, but finding that it grew late,
and being somewhat angry-it must
be confesscd-that he had not kept
his appointment, she finally went up to
the house.
She rang. No one came to the door.
She knocked-a peculiar knock that
Mr.. Anderson had taught her, and
which always brought some one in a
moment. Still no response. After
walking around the house, and finding
everything shut and locked even to the
kitchen, she came to the unwelcome
conclusion that her mother was right,
that they were all gone.
With burning face she turned her
steps toward home. and not once
again that day did she look toward the
house. pleasing herself with imagin-
ing their wonder at her absence, and
Mr.. Anderson's dismay when she
should refuse his nert request for an in
terview.
The morning brought a thunderbelt.
"Why, Stellar cried Mrs. Walters.
on opening the morning paper, and
seeing on the first pagea sensational look
ing article, with large type headings,
''they've found a nest of burglars in our
cityi on our streetr' she went on, as she
eagerly scanned the headings.
"Where?" asked Stella, languidly,
helping herself to roll, as her mother
became absorbed in reading.
''Why-why'-s Mrs. Wal
tiers, too amazed to be able to command
language, '.it's -it's-the Stuart House,!
its the Keenans! Tom Keenan,, the
paper says, and Bill Anderson! Long
known to the police! Have been
watching them for weeks! Have Sc
cured evidence that will be sure to
convict them! Were arrested yester-
day with two women, and a servant
who turns out to be the mother of An
dersonv'
ats an infamous lier' shouted Stella,
pale as death, rising from the table.
But though she thus branded it on her
first impulse, there Immediately rushed
into her mind scores of proofs of its
truth. Their singularities-their shut
up life-their bolted doors and win
dows-their entire leisure during the
day, and their haste to closeup at night,
their hatred of tattling servants. and
their curious questions.
Inspite of her protest, and long before
her mother had finished the column,
Stella knew in her heart that it was true.
Mrs. Walters went on, reading by
| fo.x Il int Of he
house. its elegant furnishing, an &C.
men, description of the women: of the
arrest, of the robberies they had beer
engaged in.-including their own,-at
which a rush of recollections Overwhelm
ed Stella. But the worse for Stella was
yet to come.
In the midst of the excitement the
bell rang, and two officers came in fol
the purpose of summoning Miss Stella
Walters, as an intimate and one of the
witnesses necessary to convict the pris
oners of their crimes.
This was the climax! Tears ant
agonies and prayers at this disgrace
had no effect on the iron men of the
law.
While this was going on, one of the
men looking around the room CHANGED
to see on the table photograph.
"By George! that's luckyr he ex
claimed in surprise, pocketing the BIT
of cardboard.
The family were in too much CON
sternation at the time to think or care
what it meant, but they learned after
wards that the prisoner Anderson, wher
requested to sit for his photograph, tt
adOrn the walls of the station house
in what is called the '.Rogue' Gallery
utterly refused.
When compelled to sit, he distorted
his features so that he could not be
recognized.
The interposition of influential gentle
men of Mrs. Walters acquaintance
procured for the broken-spirited girl {
private examination.
With close questioning she told he1
foolish and weak story from the beginn
ing. including the appointed meeting
in the grape-arbor. Poor Mrs. Walters
was inexpressibly shocked.
1t was not yet evening, but the whole
| life of Stella Walters was changed
Mortified to agony, disgraced for evel
AS she felt that she was, by the arres
and the exaggerated account of her con
| fession, which appeared in big type il
all the papers headstrong, pleas
ure-seeking girl was entirely crushed
and reserved, silent, almost timit
woman took her place. She fell into ;
sort of apathy; would never go out o
the house, nor see friend; she seemed
always on the watch for some terror
and suspicious of everybody that looked
at her.
Mrs. Walters feared she would be
come insane, and by advice of her ply