Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-11-11
HIS LIFE FOR THE LAW.
BY wnlsie Collins.

90 BY wiilkie Collins.
At that memorable period in the
early history of the United States when
American citizens resented the tyranny
of George the Third and his Parlia-
ment by destroying a cargo of taxed
tea, q Bristol trader arrived in the har-
Dor Of Boston, having one passenger
on board. This person was young
Englishwoman, named Esther Calvert,
daughter of shopkeeper at Chelten-
ham and niece of the captain of the
ship.
Some years before her departure from
England Esther had suffered from an
affection associated with deplorable
public event-which had shaken her
attachment to her native land. Free,
at later period, to choose for herself,
she resolved on leaving England as
soon as employment could be found for
her in another country. After weary
interval of expectation, the sea captain
had obtained situation for his niece
as housekeeper in the family of Mrs.
Anderkin--a widow lady living in
Boston.
Esther had been well practiced in
domestic duties during the long illness
of her mother. Intelligent, modest
and sweet-tempered, she soon became
favorite with Mrs sAndcrlsin and the
members Of her young family. The
children found but one fault with The
new housekeeper; she dressed ipvariar
bly, in a dismal black, and it was i'm
possible to prevail upon her to give the
cause. 1t was known that she was an
orphan, and she had acknowledge,
that no relations of hers had recent
died-and yet she persisted in wearing
mourning. Some great grief had evi-
dently overshadowed the life Of the
gentle English housekeeper.
On the day before he sailed on his
homeward voyage the sea captain called
to take leave of his niece-and then
asked If he could also 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 wellin their good opinion of
her that the captain paid a long visit.
The governess had persuaded him to
tell the story of his niece's wasted life.
But he insisted on one condition.
"If 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 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 confidence
excepting only the mistress of the
house."
More than one hundred years have
passed since these words were spoken.
Esther's sad story may be harmlessly
told now. ies. ti
In the year 1862 young man named
John Jennings, employed as a waiter
at a Yorkshire inn, astonished his
master by announcing that he was en-
gagged to be married, and he proposed
retiring from service on next quarter
day. Further inquiry showed that the
young woman's name was Esther Cal
vert, 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 in
clined to trust Jennings and to help
him to start business Of his own, If
Miss Calvert's father would do some
thing for the young people on his side
He made no objections, and the mar
riage engagement was sanctioned ac-
.ordingly.
One evening, when the last days of
Jennings, service were drawing to an
end, a gentleman on horseback stopped
at the inn. In state of great agita-
tion he Informed the landlady that he
was on his way to Hull but that he
had been so frightened asto make 1t i'm
possible for him to continue his Jour
ney. A highwayman had robbed him
of a purse containing twenty giineas.
The thief's face (as usual In those days.
was concealed by a mask; and there
was but one chance Of bringing him
to Justice. 1t was the travellers Gus
tom to place private mark on every
gold piece that he carried with nim on
q journey; and the stolen guinneeas gne
mignr possibly be traced in that way
The landlord Zone Mr.. BrunelD az
tended to his guest at supper liz