The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-11-03
A JUDICIAL CRIME.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.

OuSI pltOE 10 VlC american feVOluJlOQ,
Bristol trader arrived in the harbor of
Boston, having one passenger on board.
This person was young English woman
named Esther Calvert daughter of a
shop keeper at Cheltenham, and niece
of the Captain of the ship.
Some wears before her departure from
England Esther had suffered an affliction
associated with deplorable public
event--which had shaken her attachment
to her native land. Free, at later pc
riod, to choose for herself, she resolved
on leaving England as soon as employ
ment could be found for her In another
coufsry. After weary interval of ex-
pectation, the sea-captain had obtained
situation for his niece as honsekeper in
the family of Mrs. Andcrkin, widow
lady living in Boston.
Esther had been we'll practiced in do
mestic duties during the long illness of
her mother. Intelligent, modest, and
sweet-tempered, she soon became fa-
vorite with Mrs. Anderkin and the mem
bes OF her young family. The children
found but one fault with the new house
keeper--she dressed invariably in dismal
black, and it was impossible to prevail
upon her to give the cause 1t was known
that she was an orphan, and she had ac-
knowledged that no relations of hers had
recently died, and yet she persisted in
wearing mourning. Some great grief
had evidently overshadowed the life of
the gentle English housekeeper.
In her intervals of leisure, she soon
became the chosen friend of Mrs. Ander-
kln's children; always ready to teach
them new games, clever at dressing the
girls dolls and Mt mending the boys
toys. Esther was in one respect only
not in sympathy with her young friends
she never laughed. One day, they
boldly put the question to her: ''When
we are all laughing, why don't you laugh
toos"
Esther only replied in these words:
l shall think it kind of you if you
won't ask me that question again"
The young people deserved her con-
hdence in them; they never mentioned
the subject from that time forth.
But there was another member of the
family, whose desire to know something
Of the housekeeper's history was, from
motives of delicacy, con ealed from
Esther herself. This was the governess
Mrs. Anderkin's wcll-oved friend as
we'll as the teacher of her children.
On the day before ne sailed on his
homeward voyage, the sea captain called
to take leave of his nece--and then
asked if he could also pay his respects
to Mrs. Anderl1in. He was informed
that the lady of the house had gone out,
but that the governess would be happy
ka raaniuyn hf,,, A 4 -
followed, they talked of Esther, and
agreed so well in their good 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 iusisted on one condition.
''If we had been in England. " he said,
81 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 east on the
fam ly name at home. But mind one
thing; trust to your honor to take no
one into your confdence-excepting only
the mistress of the house."
Th was Esther sad story:
In the year 1862, young man named
John Jennings, employed as waiter at a
Yorkshire inn astonished his master by
announcing that he was engaged to be
married, and that he purpo ed retiring
from service on next quarter day.
Further inquiry showed that the
| young woman's name was Esther Calvert,
and that Jennings was greatly her in
ferior in social rank. Her fathers CON
sent 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
business of his own, if Miss Calvert
father would do something for the young
/ people on his side. He made no objec-
ton, and the marriage engagement was
sanctioned accordingly.
One evening, when the last days oI
/ Jennings's service were drawing to an
end, a gentleman on horseback stopped
at the inn. In state of great agitation,
he informed the landlady that he was on
his way to Hull, but that ne lad been SC
frightened as to make it impossible fol
him to continue his journey. A high
wayman had robbed him of a purse con
tanning twenty guineas The thief
face (as usual in those days was con
cealed by mask, and there was but ont
chance Of bringing HIM to justice Il
was the travellers custom TO place
( private mark on every gold piece that h
carried with him on journey, and th'
stolen guineas might possibly be traced
in that way.
The landlord zone Mr.. Brunell) at
tended on his guest at supper His wifi
had only that moment told him of thu
robbery and he had a circumstance tC
mention which might lead to the discov
cry of the thief In the first place, how
ever, he wished to ask at what time thu
crime had been committed The tray
eler answered that he had been robbed
late in the evening Just as it was begin
ming TO get dark On hearing this, Mr.
Brunell looked very much distressed.
81 have got waiter here named Jen
nings, he said, "a man superior TO hi
station in life--good manners and fai