The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-01
LICY,S TRIAL.

LUCY'S TRIAL.
1--WE brought nome the young lady
bonnet, miss, please, " said Lucy Jen
nings.
''Oh, it's the milliner's apprentice
is it?'' said the parlor-maid. Jus
step into the hall. and wait a minute
Miss Madison's own maid will be dow
directly. We're having quite a stat
of things upstairs," she added, bust
ling around to fasten up a woolly
white poodle which had contriYed q
snap the links of his gilded chain
Miss Madison has had q diamond
ring stole. And they've sent for de
tectiVe and Miss Madison's uncle
And misses has had Mysteries, and thu
doctor is there giving her drops; anC
the cook says she won't stay in M
family where the servants is suspect
ed"
Dear, dear" said Lucy, opening
her blue eyes as round as two marbles.
And as the parlor-maid hurried
away, in answer to shriu summons
from above, Lucy looked timidly
around her.
She was always pleased to be sent to
Mrs. Madison's house. 1t was her
ideal of Aladdin's palace-of the beau
tiful mansions wherein dwelt the hero
ines of song and story.
Adrienne, the French maid, came
hurrying down directly tall, bold
looking young woman, with a jauntY
cap perched in the midst of her black
braids and loops of cherry ribbon on
her white muslin apron. She had an
absent expression on her face, and
looked ut Lucy as if her mind was pre-
occupied with something else, and she
did not see her.
ats Miss Madison's bonnet, miss,
please, " explained Lucy. with court
esy.
''Oh, the bonnet said Adrienne.
''You workpeople are always coming
at the wrong time. Oh, yes, daresay
it Is all right! But" with n sudden,
smiling assumption of interest, you
are wet 1t rains and you will take
cold. Take of your shawl, and come
to the fire and dry yourself ="
"Oh, no, ma'am-thanks" said
Lucy, reaching out for the shawl,
which Adrienne had ofIiciously re-
moved, and resisting her efforts to lead
her to the fire. cit don't rain; it only
splits little"
But it does rain" sharply spoke
Adrienne, giving the girls faded skirt
q shake as she spoke. Don't you see
the drops? Well, with shrill laugh,
''if you don't choose to dry yourself,
the fault is your OWE"
Il was to return as soon as possible,
ma am, said Lucy, rather embar-
raised by all this extra attention, 'tif
Miss Madison was suited"
Adrienne caught up the bandbox,
which Lucy had held all this time, and
whirled round on her heel, ran up
stairs into the drawing-room, where
Miss Madison herself stood, surround
ed BY group of people.
Miss Madison was a tall, blonde
complexioned young lady, with clear,
hazel eyes, q well-rounded chin, and
the air of one who definitely compre-
hended her rights and meant to assert
them. Her mother, an irresolute,
elderly lady, looked feebly from her
daughter to the policeman in plain
clothes, who stood deferentially before
them, and then back again.
W OAIs II Inc LOuS5 Is 10 p6 searched,
It had best be done promptly, / sup
pose," said Miss Madison. "Tell
your men to proceed at once, Mr..
Jones"
But my dear Constance, do con-
'idern' twittered Mrs. Madison.
Some of our maids are so very SUI
Derior! The idea of ransaeking their
trunks as if they were common burg
arsr'
''If they are innocent of stealing my
diamond ring. they won't care" said
Constance, indifferently. "If they are
guilty they deserve all the obloquy
which can descend upon them"
just here the French maid glided up
close to her mistress.
pardon, mademoiseller she whisp-
'red, her half-elosed grey eyes furtively |
observing the detective as she spoke, |
'but it occurs to me that have q new |
,lue to the mystery. Tho little |
nilliner girl is downstairs! she has |
ust brought home this bonnet Per-
laps mademoisele has forgotten that
ihe waited in mademoiselle's dressing
Dom half an hour last Wednesday.
dademoiselle has not seen her ring |
ince."
Constance knitted her brows
ITO be surem said she. "But YOU
lon't suppose that she has taken ftp"
1.-The matter is easily settled, " said /
he detective. .'Ke can have the
'oung person up here at once and
eareh herr'
Lucy came up, much wondering.
he was startled when Adrienne volubly
Explained TO her the business upon
fhich she was summoned, but consent
d at once to the search.
She turned her dress-pocket inside
ut. A little, fnueh-worn leather purse
Underground railway
icket to South kensington-a scrap of
oetry, cut nom some newspaper, fell |
then q diamond ring, with
ne glittering faseet of fire. set in its
lain eirclet of gold. flashed suddenly
pom their eyes!
"Ha" said Adrienne, bouncing
pom it. as some raven might pounce
a its prey. 'Mademoiselle can see
u herself! All. wretch! perfdious
liefI''
The poor girl turned as pale as
she's. L,
81 think l must be dreamingr' said
le. Il never saw the ring before in
4 my Iife!''
Come, come, said the detective, ,
that sort of thing won't go down.
M afraid you're an old hand at the :
nsiness, for all you look so young and
lnocent. y
OF course Lucy was arraigned at the !
olfno ff.f Ma ATo.1t--5,.. =
J appear for the prosecution. !
So Lucy was discharged with eau :
on from the magistrate.
But it was like clipping the wings Of
wild bird. and then bidding It fiy
way into freedom once more. :
The fashionable milliner who had Z.
nployed the girl would have nothing !
ore to say to her. no one wanted her
rvices. And on the few occasions
hen there seemed q prospect of get !.
ng remuneratiYe work, the horizon :
IS overloaded st once when the s,
lestion OF references came up. :.
One person, however, believed in =
1ey still-her sfep-mother, q hard. 4
orking woman. who let lodgings and =
d up me laees and old ladies' cars =
Z a livelihood.
There is some jugglery about this
1siness. said she. Nv husbands 4
lughter never was fhiefrs q
: was n the bleak winter time when b
axienne Momentum engaged the one 81
tic bedroom that Mrs. Jennings sim b
"a to let z
Adrienne had left Miss Madfsonss
rTica some weeks before.
ill., It'd 81
IS. Jenpines. ssbuf wouldn't let b
"a cat die Il mY house without "a
tlo Christian care Lucy. yon NAV / .
Ike her little beet tea. and IN g
IRE hera wing CT fhe fowl Cor her 2.
lner. g
Ind The mother and tap-daughter y
.st1ef nursed Adrienne back 70 .
nethine Ike strength =
& don't sec why you've doae 4 3. e
q AdH'knne hafsklg; % nothing