Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-03-12

She drew her hand out of his arm with cry Of ter
ror She looked at him as If she doubted whether he
as in his right mind.
He took her hand, and waited moment, trying to
compose himself.
Listen to me-" he said. AT the first consultation
had with Sharon he gave this advice to Mr. Troy and
me. He said: Suspect the very last person on whom
suspicion possibly fall Those words taken with
questions he had asked before he pronounced his
opinion struck through me as If he had struck me
with a knife. instantly suspected Lady Lydiard's
ne,,hew. Wait From that time to this have said
nothing of my suspicion to any living SOUL knew
10 nay heart that it took its rise in the inveterate
dislike that have always felt for Mr. Sweetsr, and
distrusted accordingly But INVENT back to Sharon,
for all that and put the into his hands. His in
vestigat:ons informed me that Mr. Sweetsir owed
debts OF honor as gentlemen called theml incurred
through lost bets to large number Of persons, and
among them a bet of ESQ lost to Mr.. Hardyman.
Further inquiries showed that Mr.. Hardyman had
taken the lead In declaring that he would post Mr..
Sweetsir a defaulter, and have him turned out
of his clubs and turned out of the betting ring.
Ruin stared him in the face II he failed to pay
his debt to Mr. Hardyman on the last day left
to him-the day after the note was lost. on
that very morning Lady Lydiard, speaking to me OF
her nephew's visit to her, said: IT had given him
an opportunity Of speaking. Felix would have Dor
rowed money of me; saw it in his faes, One moment
more Isabel. am not only certain that Mr. Sweetsir
cook the five hundred pound note out Of the open
efaer; am firmly persuaded that he is the man who
told Lord Rotherield of the circumstances under
which you left Lady Lydiards house. Your marriage
to Mr. Hardyman might have put you in position to
detect the theft You, not might in that case have
discovered from your husband that the stolen note
was the one with which Mr.. Sweetsir paid his debt
he came here you may depend on 1t. to make sure
that he had succeeded in destroying your prospects
more depraved villain at heart than that man never
swung from q gallows!"
lie checked himself at those words. The shock Of
the disclosure, the passion and vehemence with
which he spoke overwhelmed Isabel She trembled
like frightened child.
While he still trying to soothe and reassure
her low whining made itself heard at their feet
They looked down and saw Tommie. Finding him
self noticed ~ last he expressed bis sense OF relief
by q bark Something dropped out OF bis mouth. A.
Moody stopped to pick 1t up. the dog ran to Isabel
and pushed his head against her feet his way was
when he expected to have the handkerchief thrown
over him preparatory to of those games at hide
| andseek which have been already mentioned
Isabel put out her hand to caress him. when she Wa
stopped by . cry from Moody. It was his turn t
tremble now. HIS voice faltered as he said the
words: 1.-THE dog has found the pocketbook."
BE opened the book with shaking hands betting
book was bound up IN 1t with the customary calen
OAR tie turned to the gate OF the day AFTER the rob
berry.
"There was the entry: Felix Sweetsir. Paid ESQ
Note numbered 8. 1854; dated 18th May 1875"
Moody took from his waistcoat pocket his owl
memorandum OF the number Of the Lost bank note
Read 1t. Isabel" he said. - won't trust my mem
ory.
She read t. The number and date Of the note en-
tered In the pocketbook exactly correspondent will
the number and date of the note that Lady Lydiarf
| had placed in her letter
Moody handed the pocketbook to Isabel There
the proof of your innocence he said. thanks to thu
| dog Will you write and tell Mr. Hardyman wha
has happenedr he asked with MS head down an'
bis eyes on the ground.
She answered him, with the bright color suddenly
lowing over her face:
"YoH shall write to him, she said. when the tim
comes.
She threw her arms round his neck and hid he
face on his bosom ihe s'me' sne whispered "he'
low gro+vl from Tommie reminded them that h
| too had Some claim to be noticed
| isabel dropped on her knees and saluted her oil
| payfelloW with the heartiest kisses she had eve
| given him since the day when their acquantanc
Began You darling! she said, as she put him dow
| again, what can do to reward your
| Tommie rolled over cH bis back-more slowly thai
usual in consequence Of his luncheon in the Il, ten!
Al Isabel out Of his bright brown eyes ever dog
look spoke yet. Tommies look said u have eaten to-
| much; rub my stomach