San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-22
IN WIG AND GOWN.

out a dinner dress for her mistress.
Il will send for you in few minutes
Taylor" said Lady Hayward; and the
pertectly-trained servant vanished at
once.
Il wonder whether it's that girl,
after air. exclaimed Lord Hayward;
"yet it seems impossible"
Don't talk enigmas," said Lady
Hayward imperiousy, there isn't time.
What is the matter?" She was pouring
out her tea as she spoke, and now she
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"
..Ah, 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"
so it was" said Lady Hayward.
'But that makes no difference. The
brooch was taken while we were away.
Besides, the thing is absurd. TAYLOR is
above suspicion. l know the girl so
well. Why, Vernon, she went with me
all through France and Italy when |
Joined you in Rome; we were always to-
gether, and used to talk to her great
deal. She is very superior girl. No;
it would be most unjust to suspect lay
lor."
well, there is no one else," said
Lord Hayward dejectedly, except poor
little Rose Mannering."
poor little Rose Mannering" was
the governess who took charge of their
one little girl.
Absurd said Lady Hayward. And
so it was on tine face of it. They knew
Rose Mannering's family well; she was
lady, and little more than a child.
A silence followed. during which
both looked into the fire for inspiration.
All the servants in the house were born
of families who had been for genera
tons on the estate. The idea of suspect
ing any of them was too painful. Tay-
lor was the only exception, and she
had been with Lady Hayward two
years.
al begin to believe" said Lady Hay
ward, that it is one of our guests"
Good heavens, Kate, what an idear'
''Can you suggest anything elseP"
mo, can't. There's some internal
L,,N L..
how will, l can't see where it comes
FROM"
Il tell you what we must do, Ver-
non," said Lady Hayward decisively.
1--WE must be very careful, not brighten
any one, and keep our own counsel
Ride over to the town early tomorrow
morning and telegraph to Scotland
Yard for detective to come down dis
guised to the hall. There will be so
many people the servants won't have
time to notice him. He must stop on
as visitor until he finds out some
thing"
That will do" exclaimed Lord Hay
ward.
Now CO." said Lady Hayward, ring
ing the bell for Taylor; II must dress at
once"
As he went out he met the maid in the
doorway, and gave her more curious
look than usual. The result was only
to give up his idea as preposterous, She
had very gentle, good face; her soft
brown hair. brushed smoothly over her
ears gave it an almost Puritaric look.
Lady Hayward 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
treasure of a maid, and felt ashamed of
her quickly-suppressed suspicious.
Early the next morning the telegram
was sent to Scotland Yard by Lord
Hayward, who rode over alone to send
it, and waited for the answer. The re-
ply seemed to please him, and he rode
back in good spirits to late breakfast.
He even faced with moderate cheerful
ness, Lady Hayward's eldest sister, who
was in frightful state about her neck
lace. This lady was one Of his pet
ayersions; she was not pretty or clever,
like his wife, but she was more ire
proachable, 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
things, and kept her eye-glass well fixed
on her younger sister, who had an inn