Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-28

holding them both out TO me HWhy, you
must have been miles and miles away before
told Lucy goodnight Felix, l an
ashamed of myself. Can you ever forgive
meP
at is of no consequence, madam, l said,
trigidly
aIndeed it is, but will make it up to you
You shall see that will, Felix"
was duly restored to honorable air again,
and went back to Grove with Mrs. Anstruther
on the first train thereafter. But I had not
forgotten her.
We had arranged that detective should
20 down to the Grove on the same train with
US, though not in company, TO avoid suspicion.
Mrs. Anstruther looked grave and anxious
during all that homeward ride. She was
thinking Of her diamonds, and almost be-
lieve she would have been willing that the
family should have been disgraced by my
stealing them for the sake of finding them
again.
We reached the Grove at dark, and when
the o'clock express came from the opposite
direction the detective made his appearance,
pretending to be a new guest
Lucy met me like a woman 1 had not
asked Mrs. Anstruther about her, and what
ever her lovely, speaking face might have
said to me, if l had given it opportunity to
express itself, it said nothing now but what
my own did, and that was cold and stern as
l could make it,
We were mostly at breakfast when Mrs.
Anstruthers new guest came down, and was
introduced to us as Mr. Clemens
By the merest chance in the world, my
eyes were ON Count Leopold Keirst as his
fell for the first time ON Mr.. Clemens An
instantaneous change flashed over his coun-
tenance, swift, momentary pallor that
left his very lips white.
He sat near the door, and when | again
looked in his direction, after Mr.. Clemens
had taken his seat, he had vanished.
Making scarcely audible excuse to Mrs.
Anstruther, l quilted the room also and
passed noiselessly up the carpeted stairway
which led to the counts apartment But
before reached it, l heard the door oper
and, drawing back step, heard him pass
along to th5 opposite extremity of the hall!
where glass door opened upon the garden.
As l caught the sound of his retreating foot
steps, l followed, and looked through tie
blind after him.
| But was that the Count Leopold! Scarcely,
though there was something about him oddly
like the count; and then in a moment knew
him again, in srite of the disguise he had SO
quickly donned.
He crossed the garden, leaped the fence,
and struck at good round pace into a path
which lei across the feds toward the dep t..
"Eureka!" cried, audibly, and fleeing to
the breakfast parlor again, asked Mr.. Gem
ems, with small ceremony, if could have a
word with him in the hall
His face flashed eagerness while I told my
story, and before the last words were out If
my mouth he had snatched one hat from the
hall-rack for himself and crammed another
on my head, and was dragging me toward
the depot.
There was a train due at half-past g. and
we had hardly time to reach it. But we did
reach it-Mr Clements entering at one door
of the depot, while l sauntered idly through
the other. Our man was ut that instant al
the ticket Office. He wheeled at Clemens
put his hand on him and flashed out
revolver. With a. wrench that left his arm
, helpless, he twisted the weapon from him
and then, in very brief time lie had the
, handouts on him.
Clemens knew him the instant he fairly
saw him The Count Leopold Keisrt was al
old offender, no more count than Clemens
, himself, whom he had recognized first anC
, profting by that recognized, would have
neatly made his escape but far the chance
which set me on his track.
We found Mrs. Anstruther's diamonds OF
him, unset, and sewed fast in O belt he hat
, buckled around him Mrs Anstruther
when she heard the story and beheld it
, proof in the return of her glittering treasure
rewarded me for my share in her good for
, tune with ia single sentence.
, "No one here knew Of my absurd suspicion
of you, Felix-not even Lucy"
, Lucys sweet face was very pale when sh
{ met my flashing glance, but she did no
, quit her annt?s side.
, "Can Lucy forgive me for what has beel
amiss in ME toward here" 1 asked, sadly
, "Let us at least be friends-dear."
She flushed at the words, but did not lif
, her eyes.
"Ta-ta," said Mrs. Anstruther; "graciou
| indeed! I shall divide my money betweel
you, and any day he likes. You'll be gla'
| enough to make up with him, miss"
Whereat Lucy began to cry, and slippe,
, out of the room before her aunt could sto]
: her. She hid herself in her chamber the bes
, part of the day; but was on the watch, am
knew that when she at last crept forth il
! | the dusk of the evening and stole into th
4 music-room.
My sweet girl looked little frightened
) when followed her; but she did not refus
/ to hide her fears Oh my shoulder, and s.
without words we knew that we were all in
all to each other once more