The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1880-09-08

4
time ago you did not chide me when
told you of ny love, but let me leave you
with the blessed hope that it was re-
turned. Why is it that you are so
changed? Must l think that you are
that false, cruel thing-a coquette?"
Then Miss Christabel's low voice an
swered with quiver of pain:
"Oh, do not, Mr.. Kimball, do not
speak thus, for ! am Roger Dacre's be-
trothed WIFE"
There was a moments silence; then
he said, passionately:
Farewell to faith in womani see
it all. You loved me when 1 was with
you, but when / was obliged to leave
you TO go to sick mother in foreign
land, a wealthier suitor came and-was
acceptedw
He had gone; and then l heard Bit
ter, sobbing cry, and hurrying from my
window nook 1 was just in time to catch
the slight, fainting form and to pillow
the young head upon my bosom. did
not understand it, but knew there was
some mystery. When she came to 1 read
her look of surprise at seeing me there,
and l told her how it had happened, and
what had overheard.
After that Violet and were no longer
mere strangers, and the more l came to
know her true, womanly character, the
more | admired and loved her, and the
stronger grew my wonder that she could
slight such man as Keath Kimball for
the foppish, supercilious Roger Dacre.
But had no right to interfere. Mr.. Kim
ball had left the Hurst with his mother
some time ago.
My wealthy friend, little prosaic Mrs.
Wilmington, knew nothing of what had
passed; and the days glided by unevent-
fully until to my great disgust Mr..
Dacre came again. l often wondered if
he noticed Vioiet's shrinking from him;
if he did he made no sign, but seemed
quite contented with things as they
were. One night soon after he had left
the Hurst after his briet visit, we had
all retired to bed when a great disturb
ance in Mrs. Withington's apartments
hurried us to the spot.
my diamonds! l have been robbed!
Oh!' was all she could say when we
anxiously inquired what was the mat
ter. 1t was some time before she could
speak coherently and explain to us that
she had been awakened from q sound
sleep, and had plainly seen in the dim
ightth form of a man just leaving the
rooni carrying with him her jewel case.
II was true. Mrs. Wilmington had been
robbed, for the box which contained
the valuable diamonds was nowhere to
| be seen.
With q pallid face Violet sank upon a
chair.
Seeing her troubled expression, my
kind-hearted friend forgot her own agi-
tation.
NOW, Miss Christabel, never mind
it wasn't your fault. Perhaps the man
has found the burglarsby this time"
But her hopes were futile, for the
gardener, who was the only man at the
Hurst save old Mr.. Chris label, soon
cIme in, saying he had been able to find
no trace of the thief. Days passed,
and no clew to the robbery was
ascertained, until one evening as
we were all seated in the parlor,
the door opened and Violet's
father entered. Of course we all
greeted him cordially, as it was not often
he joined us; but not noticing us in the
least the old man walked straight to his
daughter. Violet" he asked, "isn't
to-day your birthdayp"
eyes, papa" she said, taking his fee
BILE hand, and looking lovingly into his
face.
"Then I have gift for you, fit for
queen. See!" and from his pocket he
drew sparkling cross and held it
toward her.
With an exclamation Mrs. Worthing-
ton started forward.
"Oh, my diamond cross that was
stolen"
The old man heard her, and rapid
change passed over his countenance. As
if he had awakened from some dream,
he gazed at her and then down at the
cross in his hand. He tried to speak,
but failed, and sinking upon chair, o
CHASTITY pallor rose to his very brow.
Violet came to his side and tenderly
lifted his head. Poor child she had
need of all her strength to endure the
ordeal before her. With brave effort
she controlled herself, aud turning spoke
to us, who had been wondering specta.
tors to the scene. This is the substance
of what she said:
Ever since the loss Of his wealth aud a
: severe fever, which he had had a few
years before, her father had been afflicted
with q strange brain trouble called klep-
tomania. At times he would take thing!
in the house, or from her room. and aftel
few days she could find and replac,
them without his ever knowing it; thel
; perhaps again his brain would suddenl.
clear and he would remember what HI
!. had done, and be stricken with a terribl,
? remorse and shame.
y When Mrs. Worthington had first los
Q herjewels, the poor girl had feared tina
Q she knew only too well where they ha'
5 gone; but having never been able to fin'
j. any trace of them, she determined t.
Il her great relief, that it could not hav
e been her father who had taken them.
d When shehad finished her story ther
was not dry eye in the room. All tn
y boarders crowded around their gentl
$, young hostess with kindly sympatheti
n words, while Mrs. Wilmington was th
|, foremost one.
,e It must have been that Mr.. Chri: