The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-12-09

and-perhaps from an oid-fashloned IDEA
on nv part of possible patro nage-I rather
threw obstacles in the way of any sudden
friendship between them.
But am anticipating, and must revert
to the introduction I had witnessed in the
distance between Amy and Mr.. Alfred
Mauleverer, which was the name OF the In
dividual [ before alluded to. [ did not
make his acquaintance that afternoon; that
was an honor reserved for the following
day, when he, accompanied by two of the
Misses Dasent, came over to the Wren's
Nest to invite Amy and myself to small
afternoon party.
1t was the beginning of many visits both
on their part and our own; in fact, hardly
day passed without our seeing at least
Mr.. Mauleverer, who invariably found some
pretext for coming over to us, if we were
not to be at Enfield. And then came the
ball at Enfeld-Amy's first, destined to be
most eventful one, and to which she went
arrayed in simple white.
I was not altogether comfortable on the
score of her growing intimacy with Mr.
Mauleverer Perhaps he was trihing with
her; perhaps he was not in every way de-
sirable himself. A thousand disturbing
possibilities kept shooting through my old
heart, as [ sat watching my darling at her
first ball, looking radiantly pretty, while
Mr.. Mauleverer redoubled his devotion,
and inundated himself so thoroughly at her
shrine as to insist on taking me in to sup
per-a piece of civility which l duly ap-
preciated.
Never before had I seen the Dasents'
celebrated gold plate, which was on this
occasion fully displayed. 1t was magnii-
cent. Such tankards and salvers of solid
gold, to say nothing of plates, spoons, and
forks, all apparently of the precious metal.
Our conversation naturally turned upon
this display; and just as we were admiring
it, Florence Dasent happened to join us.
"Miss Courtenay has been admiring the
plate" remarked Mr.. Mauleverer.
eyes; isn't it beautiful?" she replied.
"But, really, think pretty china would be
almost nicer. believe papa would prefer
it; but we can't get rid of our plate, simply
because it is entailed; SO are mammals dia-
monds. -...
Lady Dasent was wearing her diamonds
that evening. From my quiet corner in
the ballroom l had specially noticed the
necklace, which was rather tight circlet
round her throat, set in squares of formal,
but of course magnificent, description.
A few trifing remarks followed, and then
Mr. Mauleverer conducted me back to my
seat, in the vicinity of which we found
Amy, to whom Mr.. Mauleverer was engagg-
ed for the next dance.
[ must say they looked charming cou-
pie as they moved away. [ suppose my
eyes were expressive of my thoughts, for
Lady Dasent's voice close beside me seemed
to echo them.
"They make good pair, don't they?"
she said. "Ah, Miss Courtenay," she con-
tinued, II am afraid you must not expect
to keep your niece always; some one is sure
to carry her off soon"
II am in no hurry for that time to come, .
I replied. "But, Lady Dasent, do you
mind telling me one thing; who is Mr..
Mauleverer ?"
''Who is Mr.. Mauleverer repeated
Lady Dasent, with shade of sarcasm in
her voice swell, my dear Miss Courte-
nay, believe he is of very good family,
very well of, and I know he isvery charm
ing, and moves in the very best society.
You may be quite sure, had he not been
very desirable in every way he would not
have been our guest.
Some one else just then claimed Lady
Dasent's attention, and she moved off, leav-
ing me to digest at my leisure the satisfac-
tory remarks she had made relative to
Amy's admirer. Very good family-very
we'll off-very charming and so forth. [
was glad to hear it, and could scarcely avoid
feeling of exultation when, on our return
home, Amy told me that he had asked her
to be his wife, and she had accepted him.
Tired as 1 was after my unwonted dissi-
patton, sleep seemed to have forsaken me;
Amy's engagement was all I could think
of until daylight began to struggle into ex-
istence; then I suppose I fell asleep, and
might have slept for hours had not my old
house-maid, Margaret, burst into my room
without any ceremony, and wakened me
with the startling tidings that Enfield had
been on fire, and that the gold plate, also
nearly all Lady Dasent's diamonds, had
been stolen
1t seemed altogether too dreadful to be
true, but very shortly afterward Mr.. Mau-
leverer himself appeared, and fully con-
frmed the tidings. He had distinguished
himself greatly by his bravery in endeavor-
ing to extinguish the flames, and in doing
SO had burned his right hand rather Sc
verely.
II thought you might hear an exagger-
ated account of it, SO I came over at once, y
he observed, with glance toward Amy.
"Who discovered it p I asked "What
can have originated the fire ? and above all,
who can have token the plate?'
"And the diamonds ?" added Amy.
''That remains to be seen," replied Mr..
Mauleverer "On my way here I tele-
graphed to Scotland Yard, and no doubt a
sharp detective will unravel the mystery" :"
Partly in order to make it more conve-
nient for guests at distance, partly be-
cause Lord Dasent himself objected to late
hours, the ball had begun at the unfash-
ionably early hour of nine o'clock; by half
past two it was over, and by three o'clock
comparative silence had reigned over En-
field. The butler had judged it safe
never dreaming of danger-to lock up the
supper-room, the shutters of all the win
dows being strongly barred as we'll With
an easy mind, and the key in his coat pock-
ct, that functionary retired to bed, while
the rest of the servants gladly followed his
example. be
Neither bolts nor bars, however, defend
ed the diamonds. Lady Dasent replaced
them with her own hands in their cases,
which, without any anxiety whatever, she
laid upon her toilet table. Tomorrow they
would, as usual, be deposited in the safe,
where they were ordinarily kept. She had
dismissed her maid directly she came to
her room; one of her daughters unclasped
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