New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-20


All. you are laughing at me- like all the rest"
MI aLnn uhi Dear dear, DEAR protested the
Yes. Absolutely But would you mind telling
me the exact time please' forgot TO put on my
T ng Hc9 eO@'p ady an so impatient my
friend. my dear Marie. we have 50 much 10 '''N
about" o,,,rod mn IN tho
minds camera of two beautiful girls eagery chatting,
cooling exchanging condolences about thelr lovers.
their dresses, their toys and annsensnts was 10 q
certain extent fascinating VISION. nowever ne
drew ont his watch aud named the precise Tune
am rude enough to admire your watch ex-
claimed Miss Ada in her baby fashion The rector
feared she was inst little addicted TO flirting, but
it is a pardonable sin If not carried 700 'ar' 'e
Yes, he responded. "A gift from my parish
THAT shows how they appreciate yonD said
MISS Ada with an upward glance through her long
eyelashes A valuable gift am sure"
at is believe it is orth from sixty to eighty
guineas,r said the rector, pardonablc pride IN his
Certainly He detached it from the chain and
laid it on her little open palm. o,.,;r,no,v vot
1t IL very pretty" said Miss Ada, aumlrlnRly yeo
critically IL is 30 like one Uncle Charles has-Sr
Charles CHAMPION. Do you know nm A.. ..o.
am sorry TO say 40 not repiled tne rec ;.p
" we shall be at the station now in seven or eight
aWhat pity-I mean am so glad" said the
Young lady in little infusion, the prettiest blush
conceivable dveing heI checks for moment as she
handed the watch back to the reverend gentleman.
Now mind you don't lose that" she added, shaking
her finger at HIN with the warning air OF some
mob-capped granny just stepped out from nursery
rhyme, 49,,
Gentlemen always think that. They always
fancy they arc so clever, and so well prepared
against all snares and dangers. Is that tho
station 2r she suddenly asked. excltedly.
"Yes' The rector felt mildly regretful the
pleasant minutes had flown past like flash CO.
Miss Ada clappcd her hands glcefuy: She
| ito Dip an "A
to be easily matched for grace, beauty, good huhor'
enchantngly frank ways-a charming creature.
even if given to flirting. But all pretty girls illrt
when a chance offers. and ugly or even PLAIN girls
amuse themselves, too. with that pleasing pastimr
The rector sighed. Should he ever again meet this
| iilclc's. amiable young woman Maybe not
| And If not what NATTER
The train rapidly swept into the station. Mss
Ada eagerly; anXiousy gazed at the platform,
| scattered.
see papa and Uncle Charles is , with .hd hun ~
maid O. Beamy. Bellamy. how tresome you are
| Ent am stupid myself OF course she muslin I get
| on. till the tram stops. Could | get out for
minute. and Just run to see where she Is | am
going TO play "A prank on papa. He loves joke; he
is full of fun. will pretend not To be myself AT
| all n will he snch fun" She quicklv threw n
thiek brown gOssamer veil Over her bonnet. pulling
1t closely over Der face. then she wllisked light
gray wrap completely round her figure.
al think t would be wsest to stay where you
are. Your fatter is sure t. see you il you show
Yourself Besides. he will doubtless 90 to all the
carriages and-and your maid will signal to him.
90 bnt | must tease him." cried Miss Ada who
was evidently used to dong exactly a sue pleased
| and objected to being thwarted IN any wayward
caprice. won't risk dropping this do take care
of il for me-Onv Just n minute, you know push
ing the morocco case containing the diamond neck
lace into his reluctant hands =" There Is papa
that tall man in an ulster. Don't let him see me;
let me ont. quick. 1t is only for fun. | Will ask
him 10 come in here if You don't mind"
The train stopped. and the lively young lady;
without waiting for advice or assistance whlsked
open the door. sprang TO the platform, careiiuIy
keeping her face concealed, and dartcd az ay light
as a swallow to hide for moment, like some gay.
frolicsomc tboughtless child. unused to control
The tall gentleman whom she had Indicated as
her father together with his companion, were
obviously seeking for the lovely teasing girl Ihey
looked about. scanning every one quio'iy Dut
sharpy and then hogan walking along the line of
cirriages The elderly re~pectaOie mald apparently
retained her seat. She was nowhere 70 be seen
but the rector. watching the little incident with
some amusement. was obliged 10 acknowled2e 10
himself that he had scarcely glanced AZ h'r, ana
should decidedly not be able 10 rccollect even the
general aspect of her prosac figure: There was an
expression of anxiety on the face Of the taller man.
General Marine. as the rector presumed HIM to be-
which was natural under the circumstances
The two gentlemen paused at the door OF the com
nartment in which the smiling rector renamed
The r@dgP sed.%Sd ie thea the
floor the racks, then again at the sole occupant OF
the carriage.
Certainly. | think practical Joking is foolish
amusemcnt' responded the Rev. Septimns. with
bland pOliteness, commlDgled with cordially.
may at once relieve your natural anxiety by IN
forming YOU that your daughter has only this
moment run away. out OF glrsh gayety' to play ut
hide-and- seek with you.'
81 don't understand YOU" coldly answered the
tall stranger Your looks are more respectable tnan
your ways SIR Allow ana b em% IN b at r ns
morocco case lying conspicuously on the reverend
gentemans knee
whipping the costly toy into one of the outer
pockets of his travelling coat. rapid surmse led
him to guess that this highly dlstnguls hed-lookng
stranger either as fond OF practical Joking as
his beautiful daughter, or else daring railway
thief He feared the latter-yet how eminentiy
sedatc and sober his aspect while his expression
was open, albeit somewhat stern.
Appearances are against yon my good sir. SAID
the stranger, speaking IN suhdued tone. w
have no time to lose II you VIII NOT permit me 10
inspect that case, containing. | understand,
valuable diamond necklace. shall he Obliged to
request you to accompany me and my friend here
to the station masters Office"
4" shall do neither the one nor the other Unless
there ~ some grievous mis- axe, yDnr conduct is
positively impairment decline to rclnqulsh tins
person who has intrnsted 1t to me. And shall
most decidedly not accompany yon anywhere" sad
the rector, haughtily. assuming his most severe
clerical air.
We shall see. That necklace belongs TO the
Countess of Airy; you can her Initials and
corouet on the outside, and"
4 sad Multiplying Thought daried through the
rectors mind. The true fact OF the matter was
EVIDENTLY that the beautiful girl was a, young
countess; she was UNlnG from HOiilt anu tHlS was
not her father. but perchance tyrannlca hns
band. Her young lite, her bright future, her
fender heart had all been sacrificed the altar OF
ambition: what a ptiful story! Perchance she was
gulty-shc loved another. Bnt before he cOud
reply tine other continued roughly" And 1t has
been stolen"
Not by me- cried the Rev. Scptmus utterly
slocEed
That remains to he proved. Lord Airly has
tclcgraphed that his wife's dressing-case was
Dpened at the station this train has just quilted.
The Rev. Septimus turned vlsibly pale. "But-
surely"
81 regret that we should be under the necessity
of insisting on your coming W tn u.s." urged the
stranger. 49,
Arc YOU not then. General Marine "
am not. Ny name is Doughty, and am mem
her of the Detective force. Here my card, II