The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-07-25

ely NV ofueFS were 10 N<tbI4c AZ
quainted with Miss Mason. who, since
General Judd's death, was residing there
with relative / was 70 shadow her
by becoming her escort. if possible.
Colonel Wilson, the executor, suspect
ed Miss Mason Of the robbery. for it
world appear as if she alone could have
access 10 the apartment OF the ladies at
the time the jewels were stolen. The
Colonel believed that General Judd had
discovered enough to cause him 10 feel
that a full revelation Of the truth would
disgrace aad ruin a young woman for
whom he had f4therly affection. Bat
Colonel Wilson did not care for Miss Ma
son. He wanted the jewels.
= went to Covington, and for six
weeks tried my best 10 gain an introduc-
ton to the family where Miss Mason liv-
ed. I saw her frequently, but the aristo-
cratic exclusiveness Of the house shut the
door with me on the outside. You see 1
had to work the business mighty eau
tiously.
The papers made mention Of my plan
70 bay a big concern in the sp;ri'uous
Z line there and l was = swell about town
still The door remained closed. But mu-
sic has charms, you know. l am pref
~ good vioiinist
-0ne day was passing the house with
an acquaintance and heard a piano and
violin within. stopped and listened. l
had the cue at last Before the week
was ended I stood inside the parior play
ing my violin to Miss Mason's piano ac-
compartment.
a more charming woman l never had
the good fortune 10 meet. She was deli
cate, refined, educated and pure minded
as an angel. l began to think Colonel
Wilson was a brute hadn't been ac-
quainted with Miss Mason week before
I wrote my chief that we were on the
wrong scent and simply squandering
wealth by pursuing it. He wrote back
TO follow it hotter than ever and spare
/ no expense in winning the lady's conf
( dence.
That reply disgusted me and sent
another letter int mating that l didn't
care to remaiE in business of this sort
I but my chef paid no attention to that
message except To praise my abilities and
remit 4 handsome check.
Then I resorsed to another means Of
recall. spent money like millionaire.
My family nane Is well known and my
/ implied relationship TO wealthy people
! helped to carry me along in fine form.
/ still there was no word Of complaint
/ from the agency, and my scheme fell fat
( By this zine I had ceased to desire re-
c1IL even began to build a castle in
I Spain, in which Miss Mason occupied a
I magnificent suite.
a month of that delicious life went
/ by. One evening l escorted Miss Mason
F to a swell party. She never looked more
beautiful and was never before 50
/ gracious I was on the verge Of pro-
+ posal, and l couldn't make up my mind
/ 70 reveal the true character Of my pur-
I pose in seeking her acquaintance On the
{ way 10 the party / resolved 10 send in
/ my resignation, seek some other employ
ment, and thea return 10 Coyington.
As Miss Mason joined me upon com
/ ing from the ladies' dressing-room l saw
I upon her magnificent throat a diamoud
/ pm that recognized at once from the
description furnished me by my chief.
Il was the finest Of the Judd jewels You
can imagine. perhaps, what sort Of an
/ evening passed.
The next morning reported 10 the
agency. sending my resignation and omit
ting ali mention o. the discovery bad
made. But idte Stepped ~ At that junct-
Uoe of M affairs. 4 newspaper reporter
! Rad also seen the brooch and. without
knoNiog what he vas doing described it
as the most remarkable jewel displayed
on the occasion. Both my chief and
/ Colonel Wilson, i then irans pire3 were
{ quite as alefi as Iil this affair Before
night received & telegram in cipher or
/ de"n- me TO force Mss Mason to con-
feSsion.
You see me here now. 50 you know l
DIDN'T yield TO the tem,sa,;oa TO blow
ont my hra:ns. l resisted tnai inclination
because 'ealized that no living 1eature
eo,'ld break the awful news of detection
to that pooc gid 50 gently as L
That evening l called on Miss Mason
and invited her to drive with me. Posi-
bly, she tbCugh,-well no matter now.
She accepted the invitlIion and drove
into as secluded road as / could find
Then iold hef who aud what l was-a
detective a man who had willfllly gain
ed her coniienee ia oider 10 prove that
she was a thief, 1t wasn't exactly the
kind Of declaration she had expected, or
/ had hoped to make, but If there is Guy
consolation in the fact of reciprocal ago
ny the poor girl must have realized some
trace o. sympathy
4 can see her now, in my mind, living
crushed and tearless, at nv feet. She
may have pleaded frst for silence, for
pity, but neither Was at my command
Others held her secret She told me bow
she had been overwhelmed with al al
most insane longing 10 own the jewels;
momentary impulse, an instant's action,
life OF repentance and re;norse- Then
she spoke of her feeling FOR me-her de-
sire to appe1r well and her second yield
ing 10 the, fatal vanity She had never
/ worn a s:Dgle jewel Of the lot before, and
she was impeiled 10 put one on that
night 10 the blind faith that nobody
would remember il
20, we'll that hour went by l prom
ised to do ali could to save her from
open disgrace and so left her / found a
note at my room telling me of Colonel
/ Wilson and l vent at once to him. 1t
may be that be appreciated how l suf-
fered. At all events, he agreed not 10
prosecute Miss Mason or publish the
facts of the recovery of the jewels pro-
vided she wodld return them. He was
even kind enough 10 consent 10 my act
{ ~, fNr zf;z, Naso,