Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-30
A TRAGEDY OF EVIDENCE.
A Story Told by Wilke Collins.

George III. and his parliament by de
strOying a cargo of taxed tea, BristO
trader arrived in the harbor of Boston
having one passenger on board. Thi
person was a young Englishwoman namet
Esther Calvert, daughter of shopkeepe
at Cheltenham and niece of the captain O
the ship.
Some years before her departure from
England Esther had suffered from al
affection - associated with a deplOrabl
public event which had shaken her at
tachment to her native land. Free, at
later period, to choose for herself, she re
solved on leaving England as soon as EN-
plOyment could be found for her in an
other country.
After a weary interval of expectation
the sea-captain had obtained a situation
for his niece as hOusekeeper in the famil,
of Mrs. Anderkin-a widow living in BOs
ton.
Esther had been we'll practiced in do
mestic duties during the long illness Of
her mother. Intelligent, modest anG
sweet tempered, she sOCn became favor
tie with Mrs. Anderkin 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 prevail upon hal
to give the cause.
1t was known that she was an orphan
and she had acknowledged that no rela-
tiOns of hers had recently died-and yet
she persisted in wearing mourning. Some
great grief had evidently overshadowed
the life of the gentle English housekeep-
er.
On the day before he sailed on his
hon, Il [ln &C., Ill
to take leave of his niece-and then ask
ed if he could 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 we'll
in their opinion of her that the captain
paid long visit. The governess had
persuaded him to tell the story of his
niece's wasted life.
But he insisted on one condition.
eff we had been in England" he said,
II 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 slur will be cast on the family
name at home. But mind one thing! !
trust to your honor to take no one into
your misunderstanding only the mis-
tress of the house"
More than 100 years have passed since
these words were spoken. Esther's sad
story may be harmlessly told now.
In the year 1862 a young man named
John Jennings, employed as a waiter at a
Yorkshire inn, astOnished his master by
announcing that he was engaged to be
married, and that he proposed retiring
from service on next quarterday. Fur
Their inquiry showed that the young
wOman's name was Esther Calvert, and
that Jennings was greatly her inferior in
social rank. Her fathers consent to the
marriage depended on her lovers success
in rising in the world. Friends with
money were inclined to trust Jennings
and to help him to start a business of his
own, Miss Calvert's father would do some
thing for the young people on his side.
He made no objection and the marriage
engagement was sanctioned accordingly.
One evening when the last days of Jen-
nings service were drawing to an end,
a gentleman on horseback stopped at the
inn. In state of great agitation he in
formed the landlady that he was on his
way to Hull, that he had been so fright
ened as to make it impossible for him to
continue his journey. A highwayman
had robbed him of purse containing
20 guineas. The thief's face las usual in
those days. was concealed by mask
and there was but one chance of bringing
him to Justice. 1t was the travellers
custom to place a private mark on every
gold piece that he carried with him on
journey; and the stolen guineas might
possibly be traced in that way.
The landlord Zone Mr.. BrunelI) at
tended on his guest at supper. His wife
had only that moment told him of the
robbery; and he had a circumstance to
mention which might lead to the discov-
cry of the thief. In the first place. how
ever, he wished to ask at what time the
crime had been committed. The travel
er answered that he had been robbed late
in the evening, just as it was beginning
to get dark. On hearing this Mr.. Brun-
ell looked very much distressed.
II havegot a waiter here named Jen-
nings," he said, q man superior to his
station in life-good manners and fair
education-in fact, a general favorite.
But for some little time past have OBJ
served that he has been rather free with
his money in betting, and that habits of
drinking have grown on him. I am
afraid he is not worthy of the good OBJ
inion entertained of him by myself and
by other persons. This evening I sent
MIN out to get some small silver for me,
giving him some silver to change. He
came back intoxicated, telling me that
change was not to be had. I ordered
him to bed-and then happened to look
at the guinea which he had brought back
Unfortunately | had not at that time
heard of the robbery, and paid the
guinea away with some other money in
settlement of a tradesman's account
But this | am sure of-there was a mark
on the guinea which Jennings gave back
to me. 1t is, of course, possible that
there might have been mark (which es
capped my notice. on the guinea which
| took out of my purse when sent fol
change"
"Or," the traveller suggested, sit may
have been one of my stolen guineas giver
back by mistake by this drunken waiter OF
yours, instead of the guinea handed tc
him by yourself. Do you think he il
asleep?"
'Sure to be asleep, sir-in his condi
ton"