Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-10-09
A TRAGEDY OF EVIDENCE.


of George the Third and his parliament
By destroying a cargo of taxed tea. 4
Bristol trader arrived in the harbor of
Boston having one passenger OH board.
This person WAS a Young English
woman named Esther Calvert. daugh-
ter of the shop keeper ut Chcltenham,
and niece of the captain of the ship,
Some years before her departure
from England Esther had suffered from
an afliction-associated with Il dcplor-
able public eyent-which had shaken
her attachment to her native land.
Free at a later period to choose for
herself, she resolved on leaving Eng
land rs soon rs employment could be
found for her in another country.
After "A weary interval of expectation,
the sea captain had obtained n situa-
ton for his niece as ~housekeeper in the
family of Mrs. Anderkin-a widow
lady living in Washington.
Esther had been well-practiccd in do
nestle duties during the illness Of her
mother. Intelligent, modest and
sweet-tempered. she soon became n ia
vorite with Mrs. Anderkin and the
members of her young family. The
children found but one fault with the
new housckeepcr-she dressed |invari-
ably in dismal black; and it was i'm
possible to prevail 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-and yet she persisted in wearing
mourning. Some great grief had evil
IDENTITY oye~rshadowed the life Of the
gentle English lousckeeper.
On the day before he sailed on his
homeward voyage the sea captain
called to take leave Of his niece-and
then asked if he could also pay his re-
| spects TO Mrs. Anderkin. lie was IN
formed that the lady of the house had
gone out, but that the governcs> would
be happy to receive him. At the inter
view which followed they talked Of
Esther, and agreed SO wen in their
good opinion of her that the captain
| paid Il long visit. The o%ovcrness had
persuaded him to tell the story Of his
niece'S wasted life.
Bat he insisted on one condition.
If we had been in England" he
said. II should have kept the matter
secret for the sake Of the family. Here,
in America, Esther is a stranger-here
she will stay--and no slur viii be east
on the family name at home. Bat
mind n thing, trust to your honor
to take 30 one into your confidence
excepting only the mistress Of the
house,
More Thar 100 years have passed
since these words were spoken. Is
theirs story may be harmiessly told
now.
In the year 1862 n young man named
John Jennings, employed rs a waiter
ut a Yorkshire inn, astonished his mas
ter By announcing that he was engaged
to be married and that he proposed re-
firing from service on next quarter
day. Further inquiry showed that the
young woman's name was Esther Cal
vert and that Jennings was greatly her
inferior in social rank. Her fathers
consent to the marriage depended on
her lovers success in rising in the
world. Friends with money were III
clined to trust Jennings and to help
him to start a business of his own if
Miss Calyelt's father would do some
thing for the young people on his side.
He made no objection and the marriage
engagement was sanctioned accord
ingly.
One evening, when the last DAYS of
Jennings's services were drawing to
an end, a gentleman on horseback
stopped at the inn. In Il state Of great
agitation he informed the landlady that
he was on his way to Hull, but that he
had been so frightened as to make it
impossible for him to continue on his
Journey. A highwayman had robbed
him Of a purse containing 20 guineas.
The thicf's face Gas ~usualin those days)
was consealed by a mask; and there
was but one chance of bringing him to
Justice. 1t vas the travellers custom
to place a private mark on every gold
piece that he carried with him on Il
journey; and the stolen guineas might
possibly be traced in that way.
The landlord, one Mr.. Brunell, at
tended on his guest at supper. His
wife bad only that moment told him Of
the robbery; and he had circumstance
TO mention which might lead to the
discovery of the thief. In the first
place, however, he wished TO ask at
what time the crime had been commit
ted. The traveller answered that he
had been robbed late in the evening.
just as it was beginning TO get dark.
On hearing this Mr.. Bruncll looked
very much distressed.
II have got a waiter here named
jennings he said, "a man superior to
his station in life-good manners and
u fair education-in fact, a general
fayoritc. But for some little time past
| have observed that he has been
free with bis money in betting,
and that habits of Irtpkinr have rro,vn