The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-11-06
HIS LIFE FOR THE LAW.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.

AT that memorable pcrlOu Ill Ihe
early history of the United States
when American citizens resented
the tyranny ofGeorge the Third and
his Parliament by destroying a car
90 of taxed tea, Bristol trader ar
rived in the harbor of Boston, hav-
ing one passenger on board. This
person was a young Englishwoman,
named Esther Calvert, daughter of a
shopkeeper at Cheltenham and
niece of the captain of the ship.
Some years before her departure
from England Esther had suffered
from an affiction-associated with
deplorable public event-which had
shaken her attachment to her native
land. Free, at u later period, to
choose for herself, she resolved on
leaving England as soon as employ
ment could be found for her in an
other country. After weary inter
val of expectation, the sea captain
had obtained a situation for his
niece as housekeeper in the family
of Mrs. Anderkin-a widow lady
living in Boston.
Esther had been well practiced in
domestic duties during the long ILL
ness of her mother. Intelligent,
modest and sweet-tempered, she soon
became favorite with Mrs. Ander-
kin and the members of her young
family. The children found but one
fault with the new housekeeper /;
she dressed invariably in dismal
black, and it was impossible to pre-
vail upon upon her to give the cause.
1t was known that she was an or
phan, and she had acknowledged
that no relations of hers had recent
ly died-and yet she persisted in
wearing mourning. Some great
grief had evidently overshadowed
the life of the gentle English house
keeper.
On the day before he sailed on his
homeward voyage the sea captain
called to take leave ofhis niece-and
then asked if he could also pay his
respects to Mrs. Anderkin. He was
informed that the lady of the house
had gone out, but that the governess
would be happy to receive him. AT
the interview which followed they
talked of Esther, and agreed so well
in their good opinion of her that the
captain paid long visit. The gov
erness 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, 81 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 slui
will be cast on the family name al
home. But mind one thing! ]
trust to your honor to take no onC
into your confidence-excepting on
! ly the mistress of the house"
More than one hundred years have
passed since these words were spok
ell. Esther's sad story may be harm.
lessly told now.
In the year 1862 young mar
named John Jennings, employed as
a waiter at Yorkshire inn, astonish
ed his master by announcing thai
he was engaged to be married, and
he proposed retiring from service Oh
next quarter day. Further inquiry
showed that the young womanf
name was Esther Calvert, and thai
Jenning was greatly her inferior il
social rank. Her fathers consent tC
the marriage depended on her lovers
success ip rising in the world
Friends with money were inclined
to trust Jennings and to help him tC
start business of his own, if Miss
Calvert's farther would do something
for the young people on his side
He made no objections, and the mar
riage engagement was sanctioned
accordingly.
One evening, when the last days
of Jennings, service were drawing t.
an end, II gentleman on horseback
stopped ut the inn. In state o.
great. agitation heinformed the land
lady that he was on his way to Hull
but that he had been so frightened
as to make it impossible for him t.
continue his journey. A highway
man had robbed him of a purse con
tanning twenty guineas. The thief
face Gas usual in those days. wa
concealed by n mask; and there wa
but one chance of bringing him Il
Justice. 1t was the travellers Gus
tom to place private mark oil
every gold piece that hecarried witt
him on a journey, and the stole
guineas might possibly be traced i
that way
The landlord Zone Mr.. Brunell