The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-05-19

at hath plan, but no plot Life hath none"
-[Festus
Anne Bardulph was not very youth
full, nor was she particularly handsome;
and she was housekeeper for the ailing
Mrs. Dorman.
This invalid lady resided in fine
wooden house of many rooms, through
which ran a wide hall with walls of
Pompeiian red, and Il gilt edged ceiling
that was painted in some curious and
uncertain tint of pale, pinkish brown.
The floor was tessellated in brown and
red, and the dark, carved doors opened
upon a columnar portico with broad,
brown steps leading down upon great
lawn hanked with thick trees of beech
and pine.
Across the greening lawn in the sweet
yellow April sunshine, walked Anne
Bardulph-a slim, straight woman with
regular and severe features, and won
derfully large eyes of darkest gray. She
had an abundance of neatly y-arranged
dark hair, and she was neatly attired
in a servlceable suit of some clinging,
dull blue fabric, with collar and cuffs
of linen-white, prim and immacu.
late.
Two young men coming upon the
portico saw her-an interesting and not
unlovely figure moving under the grim
whispering pines
"The new housekeeper of madame
pleases you--her you admire, perhaps,
one remarked rather quizzingly.
"Would you suggest that Miss Bar
dulph may not merit admiration ?" re
turned the other evasiyely, and with
some perceptible irritation.
II now do nothing suggest" was the
protest, in sharp foreign accents. 81
here am come to see much, to much
think; but nothing say until the-how
say you to it?-till the one exposure
grand"
Tony Dorman smoked thoughtfully
for several silent minutes. Finally he
tossed away his cigar and turnedtoward
his companion.
"D'Razelly,' he began pleasantly,
''you are here ostensibly only as my
guest and intimate friend"
son the what do you call the ostensible
l impose not, interrupted Louis d Raj
ely, quickly and proudly. 81 but the
detective am-the servitor hired OF
madame to her diamonds of value find,
and the thief to discover"
"Yes, know, ''interposed the young
gentleman. ''but | have become aware
of your worth as a man. and / really
regard you as a friend. No friend will
ever be more warmly welcomed to my
home than you. If did not feel like
this | should not be likely to confess to
you that | have been refused by Miss
Bardulph-for whom-"he supplement
ed gently and with hesitation-'I fancy
you have a tender preference, even
though you would appear to disparage
her
The young Frenchman WINGED, and
in his bright black eyes was an expires
sion of trouble and distrust, as he gaz-
ed steadily toward the stately pines
that loomed in sharp spires against the
sweet blue April sky.
SIT is so" he acknowledged, present
ly, a hot color reddening his swarthy
face, "For her have the one liking
that is very tender but also have the
doubt that is much and not good
What of this do You think"
DRazelly-who had become a de
tective only because he had an odd and
Unborn fondness for what he considered
an exciting and most delectabe voca,
tion-opened what one would presume
to be, from its exterior appearance, q
quantity bound book and nothing more
1t was, however, detective camera,
by which he had shortly before obtain
ed, and without her knowledge, several
striking photographs of the women OF
whom he had been speaking so dub
iously.
"What of this do you think?" he tier
ated, exhibiting e. pictcre Of Miss Bar
dulph as she was standing in curious
attitude of eager and fearful interes,
beneath one of the great beech trees
beyond the lawn. At her feet, beside
pile of moss and stones, opened O
small cavity, over which she was bend
ing, while holding low in loosenine
grasp, what was quite surely number
of jeweled ornaments,
~ do not know what to think,
enunciated Mr., Dorman, in tones o.
dismay, SIT would seem that my
mothers jewels have been secreted il
that place; and l should say that Ann,
has accidentally discovered the deposi
tory
"lf that is so, why to you or to tn,
madame honored, she comes not-al
SO glad, so animate-and tell the on,