Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-01-07

pillow the Young head upon my bosom,
| did not understand il, but | knew
there was some mystery When she
came 10 read her look Of surprise At
seeing me there, and told her now it
had happened and what | had over
heard.
After that Violet and | were no long
or mere strangers. and the more | 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 rs keath
Kimball for the foppish, superciliouS
Roger Dacre. But had no right 10
interfere. Mr. kimhall had left the
Hurst with his mt ther some time ago,
My wealthy friend, little prosaic Mrs.
Wilmington, knew nothing of what had
passed. and the days ghded by une-
ventfully, until, to my great disgust,
Mr.. Dacre came again. | often Won
dered if he noticed Niolet'S shrinking
from him; if lie did lie made no sign,
but seemed quite content with things as
they were. One night, soon after he
had left the Hurst after his brief visit,
we had all retired TO bed when great
disturbance in Mrs. Wilmington apart
mentS hurried us to the spot.
MY diamonds. l have been robbed,
OH was all she could say when we
anNiously inquired what was the mat
ter. 1t was some time before she could
speak coherently and explain 70 us that
she had been awakened from a.ound
sleep, and had plainly seen in the dim
light the form of 4 man Just leaving
tho room carrying with him her Jewell
case. 1t was true. Mrs. Wilmington
had been robbed, for the box which
contained the valuable diamonds was
nowhere to be seen.
With Il paid face Violet sank upon 4
chair.
Seeing her troubled expression, my
ind-hcartcd friend forgot her own agi
tation.
Now, Miss Christahel never mind
il wasn't your fault. Perhaps the man
has found the burglar by this time.
But her hopes were futile, for the
gardener, who was the only man ut the
Hurst save old Mr.. Christabel, soon
came in, saying he had been able to
find no trace Of the thief. Days passed,
and no clew to the robbery was asccr-
tanned, until one evening as we were
all seated in the purlor Niolet's father
entered OF course we all greeted him
cordially, as il was not often he joined
us; but not noticing us i'll the least the
old man walked straight to his daugh-
ter. violet" he asked, isn't to-day
your birthday
"Yes, papa, She said, taking his fee
BILE hand and looking lovingly into his
face.
"Then ! have Il gift for you, fit for Il
queen. See!" and from his pocket he
drew sparkling cross and held il to-
ward her.
With Nh exclamation Mrs. Worthing-
ton started forward.
"Oh, my diamond cross that was
stolen!"
The old man heard her, and Il rapid
change passed over his countcnancc.
As if he had awakened from some
dream, he gazed at her, and then ut
the cross in his hand. He tried to
speak, but failed, and sinking upon 4
chair, a ghastly 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. Witha brave effort
She controlled herself and turning spoke
to us, who had been wondering specta-
tors of the scene. This is the substance
Of what she said
Ever since the loss of his wealth, and
a severe fever, which he had few
years before, her father had been atilict-
ed with strange brain trouble. called
kleptomania At times he would take
things in the house, or from her room,
and after few days she could find
and replace tenn without his ever
knowing it; then perhaps again his
brain would suddenly clear and he
would rem ember what he had done,
and be stricken with Il terrible remorse
and shame.
When Mrs Worthington had first
lost her jewels the poor girl had feared
that she knew only too well where they
had gone; but having never been able
to find any trace of them, she deter
mined to her great relief, that il could
llOI IdNt bctll lltl ldliltI WHO lliti lSthtll
them.
When she had finished her story
there was not 4 dry eye iii the room.
All the boarders crowded around their
gentle young hostess with kindly SYM
pathetic words, while Mrs. Wilmington
was the foremost one.
1t must have been that Mr.. Christa-
bells half stunned BRAIN thus sud
denly aroused to the consciousness Of
what he had done, had received a
death-shock for thatnight the old man
passed away, never having spoken CO.
herently, nor given any recognition 70
those around him.
In her trial, the young girl whom |
had 80 grown to love seemed to turn
to me beyond all others for help. and
all that could | did to comfort and
sustain her.
Mr.. Dacre came 10 the Hurst for the
funeral. Several weeks passed. Mrs.
Wilmington and the other boardcr had
fitted away from their summer moor
ings into the giddy whirl Of the city
life again but stayed with Violet !
was alone, and 50 was she, and she had
grown like daughter 70 me.
still had never spoken ID her about
her engagement, although ! think she
knew how little liked Mr. Dacre. lie
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