Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-09-10
4 TRAGEDY or EVIDENCE.



At that memorable period in the early his
tory of the United States when American cit
liens resented the tyranny of George the
Third and his Parliament by destroying a
cargo OF taxed tea, a Bristol trader arrived in
the harbor Of Boston, having one passenger
on board. This person was young English
woman, named Esther Calvert, daughter of
q shopkeeper at Cheltenham and niece OF the
captain Of the ship.
Some years before her departure for Eng
land Esther had suffered from an sfflction-
associated with a deplorable public event
which had shaken her attachment to her ma
tive land. Free, at a later period, to choose
for herself she resolved ON leaving England
as soon as employment could be found for
her in another country. After a weary in
terval OF expectation, the sea captain had OBJ
tanned a situation for his neice as housekeep-
er in the family OF Mrs. Anderkin-a widow
lady living in Boston.
Esther had been we'll pTactised in domestic
duties during the long illness Of her mother.
Intelligent, modest and sweet tempered, she
soon became a favorite with Mrs Anderkin
and the members of her young family. The
children found but one fault with their new
housekeeper she dressed invariably in dis
NAL black and it was impossible to prevail
upon her to give the cause. II WAS known
that she was an orphan, and she acknowledge
ed that no relations Of hers had recently died
and yet she persisted in wearing mourning.
Some great grief bad evidently overshadow-
ed the life of the gentle English housekeeper.
On the day before he sailed on his home
ward voyage the sea captain called to take
leave OF his niece-and then asked il he could
also pay his respects to Mrs. Auderkin. He
was informed that the lady of the house had
gone out, but the governess would be happy
| to receive him. At the interview which fol-
lowed they talked Of Esther, and agreed SO
well in their good opinion Of her that the
captain paid her long visit. The governess
had persuaded him to tell the story OF his
niece's wasted life.
But he insisted on one condition.
IF we had been in England" he said ~
should have kept the matter secret for the
sake of the family. Hare, in America, Esther
is a stranger-here she will stsy-snd no slur
will be cast on the family name at home.
But mind one thing trust to your honor
to take no one into your confidence except
ing only the mistress of the house"
More than one hundred years have passed
since these words were spoken. Esther's sad
story may be harmlessly told nov.
In the year 1862 young man named John
Jennings, employed as a waiter at York
shire inn astouished his master by announc-
ing that he was engaged to be married, and
next quarter day. Further inquiry showed
that the young woman's name was Esthes
Calvert, and that Jennings was greatly her
inferior in social rank. Her fathers consent
10 the marriage depended on her lovers sue.
cess in rising in the world. Friends with
money were inclined to trust Jennings and To
help him start business of his own, IL Miss
Calverts father would do something for the
young people on his side. He made no OBJ
| a,,1 Nka
sanctioned accordingly.
One evening, when the last days of Jen.
ningJ service were drawing to an end, gen
tleman on horseback stopped at the inn. In
a state Of great agitation he informed the
landady that he was on his way to Hull, but
that he had been so frightened as to make il
impossible for him to continue his journey
highwayman had robbed him of a purse
containing twenty guineas. The thiefs face
Gas was usual in those days. was concealed by
a mask and there was but one chance Of
bringing him to justice. II was the travel
ler's custom to place a private mark on every
gold piece that he carried with him on
journey and the stolen guineas might posi-
bly, be traced in that way.
The landlord Zone Mr.. BrunelD attended
on his guest at supper. His wife had onl!
that moment told him Of the robbery ant
he had a circumstance TO mention which nigh
lead TO the discovery OF the thief. In tn
first place, however, he wished to ask at wha
! time the crime had been committed. Tn
traveller answered that he had been robbe'
late in the evening, just as it was beginning
to get dark. On hearing this Mr.. Brunei
looked very much distressed.
II have got a waiter here named Jennings
he said, "a man superior to his station in lif
good manners and fair education-in fact
a general faVorite. But for some little tim
past have observed that he has been rathe
5 free with his money in betting, and that hat
D its Of drinking have grown on him. l al
Q afraid he is not worthy OF the good opinio
( entertained of him by myself and by othe
I persons This evening sent him out TO g
8 some small silver for me, giving him guine
a to change. He came back intoxicated, tel
= ing me that change was not TO be bad.
ordered him TO bed-and then happened
! look at the guinea which he had brougt
= back. Unfortunately had not at that tim
: heard of the robbery, and paid the guine
q away with some other money In settlemer
! of bridesmaids account But this l al
8 sure of-there was a mark on the guint
n which Jennings brought back TO me. 1t 4
n of course, possible that there might haV
been mark (Which escaped my notice. 0
the guinea which / took out OF my purI
r when sent for the change"
"or," the traveller suggested, ." 1t mS