Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-12
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sessed by Tommie, the capacity to take hi.
part at a game of hde-and-seeks~as one Hi.
nlayfellow for the time leing 5,At shawl os
n handkerchief over his head, 50 as to pre-
vent him from seeing, aud then hid among
thu. furniture pcckethook. or cigar case
or purse, or anything else that happened to
be at hand. leaving the dog 10 find it, with
his keen sense of smell to guide him Doubly
relieved by the fit and the bleeding. Tom
mics spirits had revived; and he and Isabel
had lust begun their game when Moody
looked inro the room, charged with his ter
rible erraud
You're cunning, Tommie, you're burn.
ing!" cried the girl. laughing aud rlappins
her hands The next moment She happened
to look round, and saw Moody through the
parted curtains His face warned her in,
rtaptly that something serious bad happened.
She advanced few steps, her eyes resting
on him in silent alarm He va. himself too
painfully agitated to ssaaaksSNot a word
wa. exchanged between Lady Lydiard and
Mr. Troy in the next room. In the complete
stiffness that prevailed the dog was heard
shifting and tdgeting about the furniture.
Robert took Isabel by the hand and led her
into the drawing room. For Gods sake,
spare her. my ladyr he whispered. The
lawyer heard him
No" said Mr. Troy. "Be merclful, and
tell her the truth
He spoke to a woman who stood in no need
of his advice The inherent nobility in Lady
Lydiard's nature was reused; her great heart
offered itself patiently to any sorrow, to any
sacrifice.
Putting her arm round Isabel-half caress-
ing her, half supporting her-Lady Lydiard
scceptedtbe whole responsibility and told the
whole truth.
Keeling under the first shock, the poor girl
recovered herself with admirable courage.
She raised her head and eyed the lawyer
without uttering word In its artless con-
seriousness of innocence the look was nothing
less than sublime. Addressing h=rself to Mr..
Troy, Lady Lydiard pointed to Isabel. do
you see guilt therer' she asked
Mr.. Troy made no answer. In the melan-
choly experience of humanity to which his
profession condemned him, he had seen
conscious guilt assume the face of innocence,
and helpless innocence admit the disguise of
guilt; the keenest observation in either case
failing completely to detect the truth. Lady
Lydiard misinterpreted his silence as express
ing the sullen self-assertion of heartless
man. She turned from him in contempt,
and held out her hand to Isabel.
"AIr. Troy is not satisfied yeti she said,
bitterly. my love, take my hand, and look
me in the face as your equal; I know no diff
ference of rank at such time as this. Be-
fore God, who hears you, are you innocent
of the theft of the bank notes?
Before God, who hears me" Isabel an
swered, 81 am innocent"
Lady Lydiard looked once more at the
lawyer, and waited to hear if he believed
that
Mr.. Troy took refuge in dumb diplomacy
he made a low bow. 1t might have meant
that he believed Isabel, or it might have
meant that he modestly withdrew his own
opinion into the background. Lady Lydiard
did not condescend to inquire what it meant
1.-THE sooner we bring this painful scene to
an end the better" she said. Il shall be
glad to avail myself of your professional as
sistance, NJ. Troy, within certain limits
Outside OF my house beg that you will
spare no trouble in tracing the lost money to
the person who has really stolen it, Inside
of my house ] must positively request that
the disappearance of the note may never be
alluded 20, in any way whatever, until your
inqu ries have been successful in discovering
the thief. In the meanwhile Mrs. Tollmidge
and her family must not be sufferers by my
loss; | shall pay the money again" She
paused and pressed Isabel's hand with affec-
tionate fervor. my child" she said, lone
last word to you, and have DONE You re-
main here, with my trust in you and my love
for you absolutely mistaken. You are
dearer to me than ever. Never forget that :"
Isabel bent her head and kissed the kin |
hand that still held hers. The high spirit that
was in her, inspired by LADY Lydiards ex-
ample, rose equal to the dreadful situation in
which she was placed.
mo, my lady," she said, calmly and sadly,
sit cannot be. What this gentleman has
said of me is not to be denied-the appear
ances are against me. The letter was open,
and was alone in the room with it, and Mr..
Moody told me that valuable Enclosure was
inside it. Dear and kind mistress, am not
fit to be a member of your household, am
not worthy to live with the honest people
who serve you, while my innocence is in
doubt. it is enough for me now that you
don doubt it, | can wait patiently, after
that. for the day that gives me back my good
name. Oh, my good lady, don't cry about
it! Pray, pray, don't cryp'
Lady Lydiard's self control failed her for
the first time. Isabels courage had made
Isabel dearer to her than ever. She sank
into chair and covered her face with her
handkerchief Mr.. Troy turned aside alb
rubtly, and examined Japanese vase, with
out any idea in his mind Of what he was look
ing at. Lady Lydiard had gravely mis-
judged him in believing him to be heart
les man.
Isabel followed the lawyer, and touched
him gently on the arm to rouse his attention.
Il have one relation living, sir-an aunt
who will receive me if go to her." she said,
simply. 'ls there any harm in my going?
Lady Lydiard will give you the address
when you want me- Spare her ladyship,
sir, all the pain and trouble that you can"
At last the heart that was in Mr.. Troy as
serted itself. ''You are fine creature!' he
said, with a burst of enthusiasm II agree
with Lady Lydiard; believe you are inno-
cent, too; and will leave no effort untried
to find the proof of it" He turned aside again,
and had another look at the Japanese vase
As the lawyer withdrew himself from OBJ
servation, Moody approached Isabel
Thus far he had stood apart, watching her
and listening to her in silence. Not look
that had crossed her face, not word that
had fallen from her, had escaped him. I'm
consciously on her side, unconsciously ON his
side, she now wrought on his nature with a
purifying and ennobling influence which
animated it with a new life. All that had
been selfish and violent in his passion for her
left him to return no more. The immeasur-
able devotion which he laid at her feet in the
days that were yet to come-the unyielding
courage which cheerfully accepted the sacri-
fee of himself when events demanded it at
later period of his life-struck root in him
now. Without attempting to conceal the
tears that were falling fast over his cheeks,
striving vainly to express those new thoughts
In him that were beyond the reach of words,
he stood before her the truest friend and SER
want that ever woman had. "Oh, my dearl
my heart is heavy for you. Take me to
serve you and help YOU Her ladyship's
kindness will permit it, am sure"
He could say no more. In those simple
words the cry of his heart reached her.. 'For
give me, Robert" she answered, gratefully,
''if said anything to pain you when we
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