Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-06-20
ONLY A aOyERNEas.

for Harold Weldon was coming home
again. Ruth and Blanche, his two
young sisters, were running into the
room that had been prepared for him
every few minutes to see If something
had not been forgotten.
Poor Edith Malvern. the governess,
who had lost her father only a few
months before. was perhaps the only
one who could not join in the general
rejoicing.
When Harold finally did arrive,
Edith could not help stealing q glance
at him over the breakfast table, and
she could not but confess that the
girls had not overpraised his appear
Iance.
He also felt strangely fascinated by
the pale, sad face OF the young lady in
black. and his eyes bespoke the admi
ration he felt.
1t was not case of love at first
Esight, but flush spread over Edith's
cheek, and Harold found his eyes otter
wandering in her direction during the
meal.
Harold Weldon was a rich prize in
the matrimonial market, for he had
Inherited q handsome estate from his
deceased mother, and was intelligent
and accomplished.
Mrs. Weldon had long set her hear.
on q match between her step. son and
Hester Torrey. niece of hers, fully
1.-TWO years Harold's senior. and pos
Isessed OF charms one could hardly cal
dazzling-atany rate they had nevel
dszzled Harold Weldon.
1 1t was at this juncture that Hester
ITorrey came by invitation to pay 4
Visit to her aunt; and from that day
3poor Harold had scarcely an hour hi
Acould call his own. Miss Hester com
Ipletely monopolized him. If he stole
Ieut to intercept Edith in her walks
| Hester invariably crossed his path
She was his shadow.
One day Edith went to Hester
room for book she had occasion t.
luse, and which Blanche had carried
there. Her knock was unanswered
but through the open door she saw tn,
book on the table, and entered anC
drought it away. .....
I Not many minutes after Edith hearC
a knock at her door, and, opening II
Hound herself in the presence OF Mrs
IWelden and Hester Torrey, both o.
Whose faces wore look OF severity
land suspicion.
Il "As came upstairs just now, sale
Miss Torrey, stitfiy, ~ saw you pass
ling from my ROOM"
Il Edith's face colored at the remark,
as well as at the speakers manner.
Il Il went to bring book | needed, y
! she answered, 'and finding the doc
lopen and no one present, / took tn,
liberty of entering and taking tn,
i. book, which saw lying on your table
1 Had | seen you afterward l SHOULD
! lhave apologized for the Intrusion"
"Is the book all you took?" asked
Hester, In tone coolly insolent
| Edith's cheeks burned and her eye
flashed.
"What do you mean by such ques
Htionr" she refunded. mastering, he
feelings with an effort.
"Simply that valuable bracelet lei
on my table is missing"
The color ON Edith's cheeks CAV
place to ashy Paleness. She tried /
Ispeak, but her voice refused utterance
Her hands trembfed so violently tina
a small key she was holding droppe,
from her fingers to the floor.
Whats thatf" asked Mrs. Weldon
! Iquickly.
1.-THE key TO my writing DESK" re
! plied Edith, regaining her speech.
"You have apparently just bee
9 locking It,"
II ~ have" replied the governesl
"but you are at liberty to make wha
search you will"
Il MIS-. Weldon at once took the Ike
and opened the desk. and there, dow
in q corner, lay the missing bracelet
Edith staggered back and almost fell
!, Then encountering the looks of scorl
and triumph turned upon her, prid
and Indignation gave her courage t
) Hspeak:
i I'm spite of appearances, l am n
a thief" she exclaimed.
"Nyho dares call you suchs" fiercel
v demanded Harold Weldon, appearing
Suddenly on the scene.
II Methodically as prosecuting cour
lsel, Mrs. Weldon summed up the case
!, "And yet would stake my life o
r this lsdy's innocencel' was Harold
e ganswer. There is a gross mistsk
there, which must and shall be cleare
'lup."
ii Just then the impetuous Ruth cam
romping in.
IL "Oh! see you have found you
bracelet, Cousin Hester" she criet
/ "Blanche and | were acting a play II
: There In Miss Edith's absence, in while
. l was queen, and wore your bracel'
as part OF my regalia. When tn
el luncheon bell rang dropped it |
t Miss Malvern's writing desk, whic
9stood oren, intending to return it a
lterward."
Ruth was puzzled at the look of JIG
THAT sparkled in her brothers. eye
land at the tears that filled those ey,
Iof Edith Malraven.
In the wslk that Harold and Edit
took that evening their path WI
Icrossed by no intruder; and they +
turned looking so contented and ha
lpy that next morning Hester Tore
packed her trunk and ended her yisi
A GOOD Ohance