The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-09-15
A TRAGEDY OF EVIDENCE.
STORY rom By wILkIE COLLINS.

Al that memorable period in the earl,
history of the United States, when Amer
lean citizens resented the tyranny oi
George the Third and his Parliament By
destroying a cargo OF taxed tea, a Bristo
trader arrived in the harbor of Boston
having one passenger on board. Thi,
pcrson was a young Engiisilwoman nam
eli Esther Calvert, daughter of a shoena
ker at Cheltenham. and niece of the cap
tain ofthe ship.
Some years before her departure from
England Esther had suffered from AN af
fiiction-associated with a deplor.able
public eyent-which had shaken her at
tachinent to her native land Free, at a
! later period to choose for herself, she re-
solved ON leaving England as soon as
/ employment could be found for her in
another country. After weary interval
of expectation, the sea-captain had OBJ
tanned situation for his niece as house
] keeper in the family Of MIR. Anderkin-
Il widow lady living in Boston.
I Esther had been well pnlcticed in do
inestic dulles during the long illness OF
her mother Intelligent, modest anai
sweet-tempered, she soon became a IA
vorite with Mrs. Anderkin, and the mein-
bers OF her Young family. The children
found but one fa1lt with the new house
l.l. Il
NAL black I; and it was impossible TO pre-
vail upon her to give the cause. 1t was
/ known that she was an orphan, and she
had acknowledged that no relations of
hers had recently died-ind yet she per-
sisted in wearing mourning Some great
grief had evidently overshadowed the
life of this gentle English house
keeper
On the day before he sailed ON his
hemewaTd voyage, the sea-captain call
ed to take leave Of his niece, and then
asked if he could also pay his respects to
Mrs. Anderkin He was informed that
the lady OF the house was out, but that
the geverness would he happy to receive
him. Al the interview which followed
they talked OF Esther, and agreed 80 well
in their good opinion Of her that the cap
tain paid long visit The governess had
persuaded him to tell the story OF his
niece's wasted life
But ne insisted on one condition.
-If we had been in England he said,
q should have kept the matter secret
for the sake oi the family Here in
America, Esther is stranger-here she
will stay-and no slur viii be cast on the
family name at home. But imind one
thing trust to your honor to take no
one into your confi.lenoe-excepting only
the mistress OF the house"
More than one hundred years have
Tsissed since These words were spoken
Esther's sad story may be harmlessly told
now
In the year 1852 young nan named
John Jennings, employed as waiter at a
Yorkshire inn, astonished his master by
announcing thai he was engaged to be
married, and that he purposed Fetiring
from service on next quarter-day. Fur
ther inquiry showed that the young wo-
mans name WAS Esther Calvert, and that
Jennings was greatly her inferior in so
eial rank Her fathers consent TO the
marriage depended on her lovers success
in rising in the world. Friends with
money mere inclined to trust Jennings
and 10 help him to start 4 business of his
own. If Mis- Calyeri's father would do
something for the young people on his
side. He made no objection, and the
snarri.sse engagement was sanctioned ac-
coriingly.
One evening when the last days Of
jennings service were drawing to an
end a gentleman on horseback stopped at
the inn. in a state of great agitation he
informed the landlady that be was on
his way to Hull, but that he had been 81
frightened n to make il impossible for
him to continue his journey 4 high
waynan had robbed him OF 4 purse con-
tanning twenty guine-is- The thiefs face
as usual in those days was concealed by
a mask, and there was but one chance of
bringing him to justice. II was the tray
eler's custom to place a private mark on
every gold piece that he carried with
him ON journey and the stolen guineas
NIGH, possibly be traced in that way.
The landlord lone Mr Brunelil attend
ell on his guest at supper His wife had
only that moment told him of the rob
berry, and he had 4 circumstance 10 men
ton which might lead tn the discovery of
the thief In the first plaee, however, he
wished to ask at what time the crime had
been committed. The traveller answered
tina; he had been robbed late in the even
inc. Just as it was beginning 10 get dark
CA hearing this Mr.. Brunell looked very
much distressed.
q have got waiter here named Jen-
ningsr he said 8 "A man superior to his
station in lifss-good manners and fair
education-in fact, a general tayorite.
But for some little time past have OBJ
served that he has been rather free with
his nis ney in betting. and that habits Of
drinking have grown ON him ! am
afraid he is rot worthy OF the good opin-
ion entertained of him by myself and by