The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-17
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVIII.
"Where" cxclaims Millicent, as much
taken abacs as even Lady Nalworth can
desire.
Ground Madness neck"
ooh, you must have been mistaken
How could Nadine have diamond cross
Of such value'"
GLOW, indeed She said she had been
given ID by that man 10 whom she is en-
gaged-paul Annerley"
- city clerk ImpOssiblel Dearest
aunt You may be sure You have made
mistake. These French jcwelrics are so
good nowadays They copy so exactly
the fine old designs that one is easily de-
ccived when brought face TO face with
them
"No; ! am not deceived" says Lady
Valworth Her tone il that Of one who is
sure Of her argument 10 IS, indeed, SO
strong. so unlike the usually vacillating
Lady Nalworth, that Millicent is struck
by it. ct is my cross-thc one belonging
20 the diamond set Sir Thomas gave me
on my marriage, thot IS hanging around
her neck. "
"But how could Naline'--
"If you doubt IL, " said Lady Valworth
with sudden ychcmcnce. "lct me have an
authority 10 prove that what | say IS
right. Call Sir Thomas lie is over
there Ask him." "Dear Lady Val
worth. but Won know You would not Ike
20 distress Hiss Roche" puts In Gerald
Massarcene who has been perforce q list
cucr TO the disclosure and who now feels
he must take a prominent part in the dis
cussi0n.
lie is amply rewarded for his interfer-
ence 10y an eloquent look from Millicent.
"Tue-truc" says Lady Valworth
signing. 81 shall not speak 10 Sir
Thomas now hut by and by shall en-
his attention 20 IT, Good hcavcnsl Mill
cent thls may mean the recovery OF the
whole set
"Iarliy think These matters drift.
BY pieccmcal they enter the windows OF
respectable jewelers., and all the research
i'm thc world win not bring TO light the
real offenders.
"Sull. IL gives hope. I shall examine
Nadine, and
"Not now-not until tomorrow night
has gone over 0ur heads' entreats Mill
cent eagerly, willing TO spare Nadine a
shock "Why would you make unhappy
guest i'm your house on the very eve Of
Grants biIihnight ball"
This Is the very argument of all Others
TO gain over Lady Valworth 20 her way OF
thinking.
eyes. All should go smoothly for
Grant" says Grants mother thought
fully. "And Nadine-she-she may not
be TO blame"
"May notT' Mnlicont's eyes grow dark
with indignant reproach. "What can
YOU mean by such Il speech as that'
Nadinol Do You for one instant believe
that she has had any part in this strange
story Of which YOU speak''
"My dear child, | would not hurt You
I'm any way, rs you well lnOw-not even
through another And as Tor Nadine,
YOU can see yourself how highly esteem
her"
"IIirhly indeed, when You can hint at
scandal in connection with her."
81 have limited mt nothing. confess
nm horribly distressed 90 seeing my
own cross round lnOthcr's neck. DO you
blame mo for that"
In her distress 40 having brought down
the anger OF her sons iiancce upon her
head and her agitation nj seeing again Il
portion II her lost diamonds, poor Lady
Nalworth IS reduced TO the very verge OF
despair.
"Be reasonable, Millicent. At least
grant me justice. have said nothing TO
Nadine. Why should /, when deem her
Innocent Yet the connecting link be-
tween INC and the robber Of my diamonds
lies with her."
will rot have her connected with this
affair in any way" cries Millicent, holly,
tears in her ewes. "ln seeking for your
missing link. YOU Will incriminate her.
and tcrrify her and make her wretched
And she has had nothing 10 do with It,
Has She"
She turns almost delantly upon Nassa-
reenc. who up 90 this has been silent.
"D0 You think she has,"
"a thousand times nov declares he
gently. "Miss Roche and deceit Of any
Kind seem TO me IS far apart Is the poles
II stands 10 reason, too, that II she had
known anything OF the lost diamonds, she
vonld hardly have worn them here"
HcisfO earnest. so eager in his speech,
that Mllccnt, with her eyes fuu OF tears,
laws her hand on his. This act rcpays
him for many things, and makes him
trcblv Nadinc's friend. And his argu-
mcnt. too goes homo 70 Lady Valworth,
so that two causes arc gained. IL the
latter had ever permitted herself TO have
any doubts, they now vanish into moth
ingncss. and only Madness pale, pure face
rises before her. On such n face no guilt
could licl
My dear, meant nothing-nothing,
so far - Nadine is conccrnedV' she cries
Ia agitation, "but. Of course, it is only
natural that 7 should desire the return cf
iay diamonds-Sir Thomas diamonds II
Nadine can help ne to solution of this
difficulty, / shall forever hold her in my
debt"
"Who gave this cross TO herr" asks
Mnnccut suddenly, II a little coldly.
The man TO whom she is engaged
Paul Anncrloy she called him. The man
she is going to marry"
"You present him 20 me in the light OF
either a dupe or a swindler."
"a dupe, most probably lie may,
however, be OF use 20 as in the discovery
Of the missing stones"
1T viii distress Nadine very much TO
hnyc her lover accused OF being an out
slider in this affair"
~ DO not see that" says Massareene,
quickly, who Is MS honest as he IS fulfilled
OF love. az be can lead justice 20 its ends,
why should be not be used' Miss Roche,
am sure, would be the very last 10 pre-
vent that. aIsi SC, when sou come TO think
of it'--lookirQ at Millicent--"would