Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-04

Dark, smiling complacently, 'l'n Law
tender To brass farthing, ladies,
you've not been idle"
Though the terms of this proposal
were considered Objectionable, it was
eventually agreed to. Mrs. Heslou
strong ~ protesting on the ground
that she had no opport unity of show
ing her powers. However, | told her
that unless she took part in the com
petition she would have no chance OF.
being appointed to the post, and, as
she had no valuable prize to set of
against the salary, she recognized the
expediency of yielding.
Mrs. HesIop was toe first who was
called upon to exhibit what she had
got. And here a little difficulty arose
which explained her objection to sit
ting down. 1t turned out that she
had improved herself-that, I believe.
is the correct xpression-with nv
gong, and accompanied by Mrs. Dark.
she had TO retire in order to produce
it. A small picture and several pairs
of gloves completed her spoils. She
was very wroth with James, who. she
declared, had grossly insulted her bv
stationing himself in the hall 10
watch her just as if she was q COM
mon thief.
She had scarcely finished talking
when the door opened, and, to nv
horror, Maria walked ia. What she
must have thought Of me, sitting
there with these five women, [ cannot
even conjecture; for reasons which
will be rendered obvious the subject
has never been discussed between us.
She looked as if, by some mistake, she
mad entered the wrong house.
L see you are engaged, she said at
length, and was about to withdraw.
| was too confused to speak or
move. But Mrs. Dark begged her to
remain, and she did remain. She sat
down close to me, and watched and
listened like one IN a dream. learn
ed afterward that Uncle Joe had had
ao attack Of gout, hence Maria's
return at such an unexpectedly early
hour.
There is no need to describe in de-
tail the process of disgorgjng. Miss
Mlldew produced an ivory paper knife
q number OF stamps, several packets
Of post CARDS, and two books; Mrs.
Stone very nearl y the whole contents
of the plate basket, aud Miss White,
many objects of bric-a-brac, and
without blush on her mournful face
my gold vase. All the things were
laid on q table, which I had cleared
for that purpose, and set in the center
Of the circle. AS she gazed at her
superior pile Miss White put away her
handkerchief and smiled, while the
others looked as if they could have
eaten her.
And now it's my turn" said Mrs.
Dark.
With which she emptied a huge
pocket into her lap, and there came
tumbling out all the jewelry which I
had previously seen. Among it I
noticed for the first time Mrs. Arbuth-
not's bracelet. In my dismay I could
not help stealing a glance at Maria,
but, except for q look of wonderment,
her beautiful face was as calna as if
the whole transaction had no interest
for her.
81 think you'll admit, ladies'" said
Mrs. Dark, that I've licked the lot of
you"
There were arguments, OF course;
there were many reasons given for set
ting aside the verdict. And. when
logic failed, abuse was poured out
without stint. The four defeated la
dies declared themselves to be the vic
TINS of an infamous conspiracy origin
ated by Mrs. Dark. But IN the end
we escorted them to the door and they
departed, Miss White weeping copious-
~. Looking back at their conduct
which can do calmly now-I must
say that my only feeling is one of pity
for them. [ am morally certain that
they had no more sense of wrong do
ing than Maria has.
When taey were gone III tervieWed
Mrs. Dark alone for her behavior had
raised certain suspicious in my mind,
inlay I ask your object?" I inquir
ed of her.
81 have been put up to this by the
police"
II thought So"
"Here," said she, bringing out the
diaper which I had already seen in
her hand, sis a list of the missing
things, the last of the lot beng a
bracelet belonging to Mrs. Arbuth-
not. And here"-pointldg to the
are the missing things
themselves. I call that neat, do. I'd
made up my mind to a fortnight or
more in the house, but an hour, you
see, has done the trick"
Fortunately, I had no trouble in
hushing the matter up; and, If 1t had
a cure in Maria, it would
have been the most welcome thing
that ever happened to me. One would
have thought that such an exhibition
of kleptomania as she had witnessed
would have given a salutary shock to
her system, and turned her mind in
to new groove. Alas it did moth
ing Of the sort; she is as bad now as
she has ever been. You who have
been endowed with normal mind
may feel inclined to blame rather
than pity her. But I would beg OF
yeu to remember that your mind
might have been constituted as hers
is, in which case you would not and
could not have acted differently.