Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-06-22

lad been an only child and almost |
spoiled, Mrs. Holmes had suffered |
rom the responsibility thus thrown
upon her.
Venette's home hitherto had been
in the country, and being all unvers
ed in the way of the world, she was
too easily influenced by every new
presence not to be a care to the gen.
tie and easily affrighted Mrs. Holmes.
"When was she last seen?" inqnir-
ed Percy.
HEstelle said she had left school
at the usual time, and she had after
wards seen her crossing Avenue-road
in company with this young Mad
ding"
ssWas that the fellows name?"
asked the young man.
eyes"
''There is but one thing to do, and
that is to make the matter public
at once. 1t will make scandal, but
may result in her recovery, for | am
convinced there is foul play. Heav-
ens!' exclaimed the young guardian,
raking his hair with his hands as he
walked the floor, emo one knows
what the worst may be. Have you
been in her room, mother do you
know whether she has taken her dia-
monds? 1t may be a mere matter of
money, it may be-worse.
Upon search, the valuable diamond
necklace and rings, which the girl
kept ever with her, were not to be
found.
Percy hastened to place the affair
in the hands of detectives, and the
morning papers had published state
ments oe the "mysterious disappear
ance of Miss Venette Claiming, the
beautiful heiress.
The sun was sending its red light
thro' the small dusty window of the
hovel, occupied as a dwelling by the
wicked woman to whom Arthur Mad
ding, ESQ., -called), had given over the
charge of Venette Charming.
She was a fitting accomplice for
the man who had so trusted her. Az
arice and cruelty cleaned in her coun-
tenance as she bent over the girl, now
slowly reviving from the effects of
the heavy drugs which had been ad-
ministered to her.
But there was no clear awaking to
reality for the girl that day. Scarce
ly had she opened her eyes than her
companion poured down her throat
the mixture prepared, and Venette re-
lapsed into heavy sleep.
Meantime Madding made his way
to the dock of one of the outward
bound steamers.
His ticket bought, he enrolled his
name as James Dering, and awaited
the departure at noon of the steamer.
At the expiration of the day man
knocked at the door of that wretch
ed hut, within which Venette was i'm
prisoned. Itwas the man whom Mad
ding had called Damon.
He drew the old crone aside and
whispered:
Tomorrow evening you are to
give her this. am then to row her
out to the middle of the river. Have
her ready for me at II O'clock
About the same hour of the even
ing, a man also called upon Percy
Holmes.
ga word with you, SIR
The anxious young man prepared
to listen.
"You've advertised a reward for
the recovery of Miss Venette Chan
ming. If you will come with me to-
night, / will take you to the man who
abducted the lady. Will you give
me the full sum if / show INN to you
If l put you in a position to arrest
him %
81 will give you half for that, and
the other half if you will show me the
young lady, dead or alive
The man hesitated, and glanced
slyly at Venette's guardian, then,
seeming to come to some decision, he
said, advancing to him, in a tone al
most whisper:
eff 1 take you to him, you can
have him watched; then if you'll
promise to give me fair time to get on
the way to Canada, where 1 want to
go, can give you hint of the where
abouts of the young lady,
81 agree.
That morning had broken over the
earth heavily and slowly. A sombre
fog hung over the river as the steam
er upon which "James Dering" had
taken passage made its way slowly
towards the ocean.
Suddenly there came they
had collided with a large schooner,
and in disabled condition the steam
er was towed back 10 port.
1t was ten o'clock at night-the
night when Venette was to be remov-
ed from the hut, where, for the most
of the time, she had remained in a
state of emi-consciousness.
She was tonight, however, more
fully aroused than heretofore. She
had began to realize her situation,
and she resisted the efforts of the wo-
man to pour any more of the heavy
oplate down her throat.
The old crone had summoned the
ho IN -