Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-11
The Evil CGliQS.
ADOMESTIC STORY.
BY WILKIE COLLINS.
BEFORE THE STORy.
9. The Mother.

Mrs. Bellbridge eyed her husband, pre-
pared for a furious outbreak of rage. He
stood silent, staring stupidity straight before
him. The shock that had fallen on his dull
brain had stunned it Fer the time he was
big idiot; speeches., harmless, helpless.
She put back tile rubbish, and replaced the
plank, and picked up the chisel. Come,
James," she said, ''pulI yourself together"
1t was useless to speak to him. She took his
arm, and led him out to the cab that was
waiting at the door.
The driver, helping him to get in, noticed
piece Of paper lying on the front seat. Adj
vertisements, seeking publicity under all
possible. circumstances, are occasionally sent
flying into the open windows Of vehicles.
The driver was about to throw the paper
away, when Mrs. Belbridge Seeing it on
the other Side) took it out Of his hand. ut
isn't print" she said; Its writing" a
closer examination showed that the writing
was addressed to herself. Her corTespOn-
dent must have followed her to the church,
as well as to the house in ST. Johns Wood.
He distinguished her by the name which she
had changed that morning, under the sane
ton Of the clergy and the law.
This is what she read: Don't trouble
yourself madam, about the diamonds. You
have made mi5take-yOu have employed
the wrong man.
Those words-and no more. Enough,
surely, to justify the conclusion that he had
stolen the diamonds. Was it worth while to
drive to his lodgings? They tried the expert
ment. The expert had gone away on bust
ness-nObOdy knew where.
The newspapers came as usual on Friday
morning 10 Mrs. BelIbridge's amaZement
r b1f ~, l,o
highest authority. An article appeared, in
conspicuous position, thus expressed:
Another of the many proofs that truth is
stranger than fiction has just occurred at
Liverpool. A highly respected firm of ship
owners in that city received a strange letter
at the beginning Of the present week. Pre-
missing that he had some remarkable circum-
stances to communicate, the writer of the let
ter entered abruptly on the narrative which
follows A friend of his connected with lit
erature had, it appeared, noticed a lady'S
yisiting-card left on his desk, and had been
reminded by it Tin what way it was not
necessary to explain) of a criminal case
which had excited considerable public inter
est at the time viz; the trial of Capt West
erfeld for willfully casting away a ship IN
der his command. Never having heard of
the trial, the writer at his friends SuggeS-
ton, consulted q file of newspapers dScOv-
cred the report-and became aware for the
first time that collection of Brazilian dia-
mondS, consigned to the Liverpool firm, was
missing from the wrecked vessel when she
had been boarded by the salvage party, and
had not been found since. Events which it
was impossible for him to mention Seeing
that doing SO would involve breach of con-
fidence placed in him in his professional ca
HoI Ja1 10 II
ing-place in which these same diamonds, in
all probability, were concealed. This cir
cumStance had left him no alternative. as an
honest man, but to be beforehand with the
persons who as he believed contemplated
stealing the precious stones. He hadaccord-
ingly taken them under his protection until
they were identified and claimed by the
rightful owners. In now appealing to these
gentlemen he stipulated that the claim should
be set To- tn in writing, addressed to him I'M
der initials at pOstOtfice in London. If the
lostprOperty was identified to his satisfac-
ton he would meet-at a specified place. and
on a certain day and hOur-a person accTed-
tied by the firm, and would personally re-
store the diamonds without claiming Tor
cOnsenting to receiYe) a reward. The con
ditions being complied with, this remarkable
interview took place; the writer OF the letter
dressed, fulfilled his engagement, took his
receipt, and walked away without even wait
ing to be thanked. 1t is only an act of Justice
to add that the diamonds were afterwards
counted, and not one OF them was missing"
Miserable, deseryedly miserable, married
pair! The stolen fortune, or which they
had counted, had slipped through their fin
gers. The berthS in the steamer for New
York had been taken and paid To-. James
had married woman with nothing besides
herself TO beStOW on him, except an incum-
brance in the shape OF a boy.
Late on the fatal wedding day his first
idea, when he was himself again after the
discovery in the summer-house, was to get
back his passage money, to abandon his wife
and his step-Son, and escape to America in
French steamer He went to the Office of
the English company and offered the places
which he had taken for sale The season of
the year was against him; the passenger
traffic to America was at its lowest ebb, and
profits depended on freights alone. II he
still contemplated deserving his wife he must
also submit to sacrifice his money The 9th
er alternative was (aS he expressed it to him.
SELF to "have his pennyworth for his penny,
and.to turn his family to some good account
III New Ork." He had not quite decided
what to do when he got home again on the
evening of his marriage.
At that critical moment in her life the
bride was equal to the demand on her re-
sources
Ii she were foolish enough to allow James
to act on his natural impulses there were
probably two prospects before her. In one
state of his temper he might knock her
down. In another state OF his temper he
might leave her behind him. Her only hope
of protecting herself, in either case, was
to tame the bridegroom. In his absence she
wisely armed herself with the most irTesist-
bic destinations of her sex. Never yet had
he seen her dressed as she was dressed when
ne came home. Never yet had her nagnif-
cent eyes looked at him as they looked now
Emotions for which he was not prepared
oyercame this much-injured man; he stared
at the bride in helpless surprise That in
estlmable moment of weakness was all Mrs.
Bellbrdge asked for. Bewildered by his
own transformation, James found himself
reading the newspaper the next morning
sentimentally, with his arm round his wife's
waist.
By refinement of cruelty, not one word