Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-03-12


James" she said, pull yourself together"
1t was useless TO speak to him. She took his
arm, and led him out to the cab that was
waiting at the door
The driver, helping him to get in, noticed
piece of paper lying ron the front seat. Ad-
vertsements, seeking publicity under all
possible circumstances, are occasionally sent
flying into the open windows Of vehicles.
The driver was about to throw the paper
away, when Mrs. Bellbridge Seeing it on
tie other side took it ont of his hand. at
ut print" she said; its writing" A
closer examination showed that the writing
was addressed to herself Her cOrespOn-
dent must have followed her to the church,
as well as to the house in ST. Johns Wood.
lie distinguished her by the name which she
had changed that morning, under the sane
tion Of tie clergy and the law.
This Is what she read: Don't trouble
yourself, madam, about the diamonds. You
have made mistake-you have employed
the wrong man.
Those w0rds-and no more. Enough,
surely to justify the conclusion that he had
stolen the diamonds. Was it worth while TO
drive to his lodgings? They tried the expert
mcnt. The expert had gone away on bush
Dcss-Hobody knew where.
The newspapers came IS usual on Friday
morning 70 Mrs. Belbridge's amazement
IL set the question of the theft at rest, on the
highest authority. An article appeared, in
conspicuous position, thus expressed:
Another Of the many proofs that truth is
stranger than fiction has just occurred at
Liverpool. A highly respected firm Of ship
owners in that city received a strange letter
at the beginning Of tho present week. Pre-
missing that he had some remarkable Circum-
stances to communicate, the writer Of the let
ter entered abruptly on the narrative which
follows. A friend of his connected with lit
eraturc had 1t appeared, noticed n lady's
yisitingcarl left on his desk, and had been
reminded by it lin what way it was not
necessary to cxpIain) of n criminal case
which had excited considerable public inter
est at the time, viz. the trial Of Capt. West
crlIcId for willlully casting away ship I'M
der his command. Never having heard of
the trial, the writer, at his iricnd's suggcs-
ton, consulted a file Of newspapers diSCOv-
cred the report became aware for the
first time that collection OF Brazilian dia-
monds consigned TO the Liverpool firm, was
missing from the wrecked vessel when she
had been boarded by the salvage party, and
had not been found since. Events which 1t
was impossible for him 10 mention (seeing
that doing 50 would involve a breach of con-
pacIty) had revealed 20 his knowledge hid
ngpIace in which these same diamonds, in
all probability were concealed. This cir
cumstaHce had LETT him no alternative, as an
honest man, hut to be beforehand with the
persons who, as he believed, contemplated
stealing the precious stones. He had accord
ingly taken them under his protection until
they were identified and claimed by the
rightiul oVAtcrs. In now appealing to these
gentlemen he stipulated that the claim should
be set fo. th in writing, addressed to him I'M
der initials at a postuilicc in London. If.the
lost property was identified to his satisfac-
ton ho would mcct-at specified place, and
on a certain day and hour-a person accred-
tied by the firm, and would personally re-
store the diamonds without claiming Tor
conserving to rcccIycl reward. The con-
diious beng complied with, this remarkable
interview tool, place; the writer of the letter,
described as IN niirm Old man very poorly
dressed fulfilled his engagement, took his
receipt and walked away without even wait
ing to be thanked. 1t is only an act of justice
10 add that the diamonds were afterwards
counted, and not one of them was missing"
Miserable, dcsrryrdly miserable married
pair! The stolen fortune, on which they
had counted, had slipped through their fin
gers. The bcrths in tho steamer for New
York had been taken and paid for James
had married a woman with nothing besides
herself to hcstow on him. except an incum-
braucc in the shape of q boy.
Late on the fatal wedding day his first
idea, when he was himself again after the
discovery in the summcrhousc, was to get
bacl, his passage money to abandon his wife
and his step son, and escape TO America in
French steamer. lle'wcnt to the Office of
the English company and offered the places
which lac had taken for sale The season OF
the year was against him; the passenger
traffic 10 America was at its lowest cbb, and
profits depended on heights alone. If he
still contemplated deserving his wife he must
also submit to sacrifice his money. The 9TH
cr alternative WAS Gas he expressed 1t to him
BclD to "hayc his pcnnyworth for his penny,
and to turn his family TO some good account
in New York lie had not quite decided
what 70 do when he got home again on the
evening Of his marriages.
At that critical moment in her life the
bride was equal To the demand on her re-
sources.
II she were foolish enough to allow James
10 act on his natural impulses there were
probably two prospects before her. In one
state Of his temper he might knock her
down. In another state OF his temper lie
might leave her behind him. Her only hope
OF protecting herself, in either case, was
To tame the bridegroom. In his absence she
wisely armed herself with the most irrcSiSt-
bic destinations of her scX. Never vet had
he seen her dressed as She was dressed when
he came home Never vet had her magnif-
cent eyes looked at him rs they looked now.
Emotions for which he was not prepared
oycrCame this much-Injurcd man; he stared
ut the bride in helpless surprise. That In
cSllmahle moment of weakness was all Mrs.
BclIhridse asked for. Bcwildcrcd by his
own transformation, James found himself
reading the newspaper the next morning
Scntmcntaily, with his arm round his wifes
vo,,Ns
by refinement Of cruelty, not one word
had been said to prepare little Syd for the
drcary change that was now close at hand in
her Young life. The poor child had seen the
preparations tor departure. and had tried to
initiate her mother in packing up She had
collected her few moist OF daned and rag
Ccd clothing, and had pune upstairs TO put
them in one of tho dlap' latci old trunks in
the garnet playground, when the servant was
sent TO bring her back to the sittiug-room.
There, enthrOned in an easy chair, sat a
strange lady; and there hiding behind the
chair in undiSgutsed dislike of the visitor,
was her little brother Rodcrick sgd looked
tmidly at her mother; and her mother said:
Here is your aunt"
rho personal appearance of NJ "igS1--
might have suggested modest diStruSt or
his own abilities To Layatcr, when that self
sufficient man wrote his famous work on
phySioguomy, Whatever betrayal of her in
herself her taco might have presented, in
the distant time when she was young, was
now completely overlaid by n surface of fab
by fat which, assisted by green spectacles,
kept the virtues Tor yiccSl of this womau's
nature y profound secret until she opened
her lips. When she used her voice she let
out the truth. Nobody could hear her speak
and doubt for moment that she was an in
Vetemtely ui-natured woman.
Make your curtScy, childw said Miss
NiEgCr. Nature had SO toned her voice rs to
make 1t worthy Of the tcrrorS of her face
But for her petticoats, it would have been
certainly taken for the voice Of a man.
The child obeyed, trembling.
You are TO 30 away with me" the school
mistress proceeded, 'and to be taught to
make yourself useful under my roof
sgd seemed to be incapable OF understand
ing the fate that was in store for her. She
sheltered herself behind her mercileSs moth
er. I'm going away with you, mamma"
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