The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-02-25
The Lost Jewel.
A Detectives Experience.

A Detectives Experience.
I have never seen so perfect a speci-
men of feminine beauty as that Of
Della Howard. She was just on the
verge of young womanhood when 1
knew her first. Petite in form, yet
with physical development 80 singu-
larly lovely that even in a fashionable
theatre, crowded with the beauty and
refinement of the city, she would have
been singled out az an object OF pecu-
liar admiration. Her blonde features
and golden hair were made brilliant
and noticeable by her black eyes that
were fathomless in their intense light.
Large and lustrous they were, full of
a beauty that fa,i.iated while it mad
dened you. She was an orphan niece
of Mr. Howard, whom he had reared
as his child. Until recently" said
Mr.. F., ''she had repaid all his kind
ness with affection, and even up to
the event which drove her ont into the
world alone she had shown to him 3
love which owed none of its fervor and
sincerity to pretention.
His own daughter was of different
style of beauty and with a naughty
and imperious manner which repealed
friendship and esteem. But that she
had, hid under all the calm pride, g.
heart quick to feel and passionate to
resent real or supposed injury, her
jealousy of her cousin disclosed. The
admiration which the orphan every
where excited maddened her and I
do not doubt she had sworn in her
fierce and bitter wrath to crush or kill
her.
You must not understand that /
knew this until long afterward. When
Mr.. L and myself were called on to
investigate the robbery which involved
the loss of diamond by q guest in the
house, none suspected its existence.
But after patient research we became
satisfied that the robbery had been
committed by some one in the house,
and so stated to Mr.. Howard. I
noticed for one moment a wild light.
a cruel CLEAN of intelligence, burn in
the eyes of his daughter. Wha! it
meant then did not know, but | wss
even then sure it had an evil signifi-
canoe.
"You do not mean to tell me that
one of my own family has done this
deed" demanded Mr.. Howard.
"That can be ascertained, sir; but
that some one in the house did it is
evident" rejoined. trt
OF course he demanded the strictest
Investigation and while the search
was being prosecuted his daughter ex
hibited evident excitement. But the
missing jewel was at last found in
Della Towards work box. / knew
the expression of guilt too well to con-
found it with the look of unaffected
surprise which changed to amazement
when her cousin said
II saw her put it there u
Astonishment, which for a moment
held soul and sense spell-bound, passed
away in q moment. The indignant
blood flushed face and brow, and the
great black eyes flashed out fierce,
bitter scorn.
~ am innocent"
The young head was thrown back,
the form drawn up with dignity
almost regal as she looked upon her
cousin.
How dare you asperse me SOP"
at is true!"
SIT Is not. Oh, uncle, believe me, 1
am innocent. I could not do such a
deed!" And she knelt at the feet of
the stern old man who felt only the
disgrace.
could have sworn to her innocence,
as she knelt there in her passionate
grief. Mr.. Howard was the only one
who doubted t. He motioned us to
leave there What passed between
them do not know, but she quilted
the house that day. Refusing all Offers
of assistance, she went out alone. She
was heard of no more.
Two years afterward / was In New
York. The city was wild over a new
u
actress that had just appeared. went
to gee her. The play was "Fasio."
The vast audience was spell-bound
from the rise to the fall of the curtain.