Litchfield enquirer., 1881-09-22

tense that it might have slipped in; but so far the Marquis did not occur to her, until at last an idea struck Colonel Poddleton. .a..,
 'I declare think it must be that French fellow. What became of him Where did he disappear to, eh, Mrs. Blacker? Eh, Miss Barstowe Hallo, what's the matter with you ?"
 In spite of my efforts felt myself changing color, and all eyes turned upon me.
 s'She knows something" said that odious Colonel shaking his head wisely. Tell the truth, Miss Barstowe don't screen the cad. Did you see him crib it, chi"
 The room seemed turning round. I thought l should faint butI made an effort.
 Il don't understand you, Colonel Poddle- ton," stammered out. 1T saw nothing of any consequence. ,..t............ s.s.
 70, but you saw something-that's evident Now, my dear Agnes, keep quiet know how to manage these things. We have expe- rience, can tell you, in the Army. Let every one leave the room, and Miss Barstowe and 1 will have a little conversation-t -tete-a- tete ;" ond then the ungentlemanly creature laughed one of his great horse laughs and this laugh, together with the idea of being cross-examined by such a wretch, made me feel quite hysterical, and began to cry. Then dear kind Miss Jones spoke up, and said 1 should not be worried, and Mrs. Blacker also interfered and they took me into the little drawing room and put me on sofa, and be- tween them they got out of me all knew. made Mrs Blacker promise she would do nothing about it until next morning, and until she was quite, quite sure the ring was not in the house, and Miss Jones said she would be silent az the grave. srr ,.s'
 But, Oh dear, how miserable was when I got home, and not even mother to tell it all to, for she was sound asleep. It seemed to me such terrible thing that 1 was the one to brand the Marquis as thief, and it did seem so hard that should have been the one to see him do what was. no doubt suspicious for, turn it over as might, Icouldn't conceal that from myself. It had an ugly look, there was no denying it; but, Oh dear, what should do if had to swear to it in open court before Judge and jury grew quite cold all over at the thought. .IsH f' ,
 In was quite early dawn when the idea sud denly struck me. 1 would warn the Marquis {: if he returned the ring, all would be right. I got up and dressed myself; then I sat down and wrote few words. It was q very diff ficult letter to write, but worded it as deli cately as 1 could. affected to think it joke or something. When had it written, I tied a thick veil over my face, and with mothers fur cloak over me, slipped out of the house and down the hill to the lower town, where the Marquis lived over Skimps, the grocer's. As drew near my courage began to fail me. What if Mrs. Skimps were looking out and were to see me putting iu letter for the Mar. quis at this hour of the morning :? Why, in such place as Weston my character wouldn't be worth three pins! l was still hestating, when the side door-the private one-opened, and who should come out but the Marquis himself He carried in his hand little va lise, and he had slouched hat all over his eyes; he shut the door to very softly, and turned away in the direction of the railway My heart stood still, and-would you believe it ?-the tears actually came into my eyes.
 It seemed to me such terrible thing that gentleman like the Marquis should stoop to such a low crime as robbery. But who cou Id doubt it now? But 1 was not one to stop him if he were trying to escape, 30 let him go.
 When the news was known that day the whole place was in commotion. It was in vain Skimps protested that the Marquis had always intended leaving by the early train, that he had sent the luggage ou the day be- fore, and that he was most honorable gentle. man and had paid his bill regular. No one minded him. There was universal howl against the Marquis; and Colonel Poddleton went up by the afternoon train to London and set the detectives on his track. For days I
 lived in terror lest he should be taken, and that should be brought in evidence against hm but days and weeks went by, and moth. ing was heard of him. All the same, my nerves were greatly shattered. Besides the reproach felt at having betrayed the unfortu- nate Marquis, my life was burden to me, owing to this business. Everybody seemed to think it was our fault, mothers and mine. Even at the Deanery heard they talked of ''our imprudence," which was too bal, con. sidering they had introduced him. That dreadful Colonel Poddleton never let it 90 he was always bringing up the story. and ieer- ing at me in his dreadful loud voice, even long after Agnes Dalrymple had married him, and people were beginning to forget it. de. clare got to dread the sight of him coming into room. At last mother said it would be far better for us to go away for bit. It was the year of the Paris, Exhibition, and little Miss Jones proposed that she and I should take trip there, while mother went to Lefty at Bath. It all fitted in very nicely for Miss Jones had a cousin who kept boarding house, or pension as they call it. in the Rue Neuve St. Augustine; there we went, and very com fortable we were. Mrs. Reid was quite the lady and her connections being all first rate, we had pleasant society every evening, with music, cards, and sometimes dancing. The relief, too, of hearing nothing about the Mar qulsS story was quite setting me up. and when bought Paris bonnet looked, Miss Jones said, ten years younger.
 The last day of our stay Mrs. Reid had little party for us There were great many foreigners, and they came and went in that nice way they have. There was music in one room and cards in another, and everything was going on as pleasant as possible, when Mrs Reid came to me.
 "There is a gentleman here knows you very we'll" she said. And looking up, who should see standing before me, with his hand out. but the Marquis himself.
 declare the whole room seemed to me to go round. Miss Jones said afterwards she thought was going to faint. Ibehaved spler- didly, she said but only acted on the spur of the moment.
 Il haven't the pleasure of your acquain tance. Sir" said. ''It is mistake" s~..;
 "A mistake !-nonsense l" he said. And my heart went out to hls nice kind voice. "Why, Miss Barstowe." he said, s'don't you know me And there's Miss Jones'"
 '1 do not know you, Sir" repeated; ''and don't wish to know you, neither does Miss Jones.". a...,s... 1,, TIT 55.., sl1
 I was trembling all over, and Miss Jones murmured, ''Impertinent swindler ?" But don't know if he heard her. He looked at us both very steadily, and then made us low bOw--a very low one. a. ::
 Tt shall be as you like, ladies, D he said and turned away. t52ta ' 'S'1
 Ifelt great lump in my throat; and, as am inclined to nervous mysteries, I thought 1t better to get away to my own room. And presently Miss Jones came, and then Mrs. Reid They were most kind to me, for was very hysferical indeed. It did seem to me, as it were, so hard that it was put on me to be always his evil genius. squeezed Miss Jones's finger not to to tell Mrs Reid But she said ...-.. ,...g.....
 'Jemima, it is only fair to put Alicia on her guard. She won't believe that the Marquis could do such 8 thing .1 f
 ''He is gentleman of the highest respecta- bility, my dear Miss Barstow; one of the old Legltimist families '
 tender" said, through my tears. gJ>s.'. l