Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
IN WIG AND GOWN.
London World.

tain the guests during her snort absence,
had gone alone, or rather with her maid.
She had stayed the night in town, IN Or
der to bring with her a new dress for
ball which was to be given at the castle
the following evening.
At last the carriage dashed up to the
door driven very fast, for the coachman
knew it was late. The first person who
emerged from it was an exceedingly
quiet-Iooking, we'll dressed young woman
the maid evidently. She quickly dis
appeared and was followed by Lady
Hayward, who instantly seized her hus-
bands arm.
II want to speak to you,' said Lord
Hayward, 'before you dress; there's just
time"
He followed her up to her dressing
room, where tea was waiting on a little
table by the fire. Lady Hayward's maid
had just put an easy wrapper temptingly
ready, and was busy getting out a dinner
dress for her mistress.
II will send for you in a few minutes,
Taylor" said Lady Hayward; and the
perfectly-trained maid-servant vanished
at once.
Il wonder whether it's that girl, after
ALL" exclaimed Lord Hayward; yet 1T
seems impossible"
ward imperiously; "there isn't time.
What is the matter?" She was pouring
out her tea as she spoke, and now began
to sip it.
More things have disappeared, said Lord
Hayward, in a low voice, land this time it's
worse The old Duchess has lost big
diamond ring, and your sisters diamond
necklace is gone"
Lady Hayward put down her tea.
"Vernon, this is awful, she said. "What
are we to do? Who can it be? It's absurd
to talk about Taylor; she was with me in
town.
EsAh, but we can't tell exactly what time
the things were taken; she may have
gotten rid of them in London. 1t was
when you took her to town with you last
that your diamond brooch went"
$50 it was" said Lady Hayward. "But
that makes no difference. The brooch
was taken while we were away. Beside,
the thing is absurd. Taylor is above sus
picion, know the girl SO well. Why, Yer
non, she went with me all through France
and Italy when Joined you in Rome; we
were always together, and [ used to talk
to her a great deal. She is very superior
girl. No; it would be unjust to suspect
Taylor"
''Wen, there is no one else," said Lord
Hayward dejectedly, except poor little
Rose Mannering."
ssPoor little Rose Mannering' was the
goyerness who took charge of their one
little girl.
"Absurdr' said Lady Hayward. And
so it was on the face of 1t. They knew
Rose Mannering's family we'll; she was
lady, and little more than child.
A silence followed, during which both
A
the servants in the house were born of
families who had been for generations on
the estate The idea of suspecting any
of them was too painful. Taylor was the
only exception, and she had been with
Lady Haywood two years.
Il begin to believe" said Lady Hay
wood, that it is one of our guests"
"Good heavens, Kate, what an idea!'
S'Can you suggest anything else?"
mo, [ can't. There's some internal
deviltry at work, but beat my brains how
will, can't see where it comes from"
II tell you what we must do, Vernon"
said Lady Hayward decisiyely. "We must
be very careful, not brighten any one, and
keep our own counsel. Ride over to the
town early tomorrow morning and tele-
graph to Scotland Yard for detective to
come down disguised to the ball. There
have time to notice him. He must stop
on as a visitor until he finds out some
thing.
E'That will do" exclaimed Lord Hay
ward.
Snow CO." said Lady Hayward, ringing
the bell for Taylor; i must dress at
once"
As he went out he met the maid in the
doorway, and gave her a more curious
look than usual. The result was only to
give up the idea as preposterous. She had
very gentle, good face; her soft brown
hair, brushed smoothly over her ears, gave
1T an almost Puritane look. Lady Hay
ward had made something of friend of
her, and the girl had never presumed in
the least upon it, but had always retained
her subdued, sweet manner.
Lady Hayward scrutinized her, too,
during the process of dressing, but she
shrank from the thoughts in her own
mind. She had grown fond of her treas
nre of a maid, and felt ashamed of her
quicklysuppressed suspicious.
Early next morning the telegram was
sent to Scotland Yard by Lord Hayward
who rode over alone to send it, and wait
ed for the answer. The reply seemed to
please him, and he rode back in good
spirits to a late breakfast. He even
faced with moderate cheerfulness, Lady
Hayward's eldest sister, who was in a
frightful state about her necklace. This
lady was one of his pet versions; she was
not pretty or clever, like his wife, but she
was more irreproachable, more moral,
more perfect and she was an old maid.
Probably she was the only person in the
world of whom lady Hayward was afraid.
Miss Collette was severe censor in all
nd Ep1at hnr
on her younger sister, who had an i'm
portant position to fill before the world.
At present Miss Collette was very angry
because she did not know VIVA. was being
done about the thefts, and she held that
she ought to be one of the council But
Lady Hayward was obstinate; she had