New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21
CHAPTER II.

BEFORE the usual hour for calling, Sir Mere
ditb Walton was at the Cannocks' mousse IN
caaSsbn had p9 DSt nI Se pocemen through close
cross-examination, and henrd that the capture
Of the oranee-girl was expedited by the aecldent
of her tripping and falling on inc pavemsanot
where she broke into screaming and crying, that
attracted the notice Of respectable woman pass
ing at the moment, who ran to help her, but
upon the policemen coming up ss sale she was
only making noise to excite compassion. ms
person had produced tract from, bag,
and begged the men to see ,vb tSSs b 5he
entertained them greatly; But suoh innocent
fools is everywhere" the speaker had ended re-
dguedly. IN ,,u,,.s AMI,
door Nora " / had presentiment that that would
bring me ill-luck in some way-that dreadiul
diamond and, TO add TO my troubles my MAID;
who is clever MS she can be, had vlolent no OF
Mysteries this morning, and now has given me
warrington sure don't know Why ,,-
as She subject to such attacksY' asked Sir
Meredith, politely.
she has been with me but she seys they are con-
stitutional / believe this was brought on by ex"
citement, on hearing Of the disappearance OF the
diamond 1 told her that II any one might ne
allowed to be Ill on that account 1t was myself,
and really and truly my head aches so that wish
it did not belong to me- ~
1t would be an irropsceable loss" observed
Sir Meredith with one OF his courteous bows
Not at oil, nj this moment replied Nora u
is full of ache and emptiness"
He said: I" / ON going to make curious re-
quest trust you will not think IL an lnpertnent
one. VIII you be so good as TO let me see the
dress you wore last night. from which the diamond
was cut or dragged" :,
Certainly" she answered, ringing the bell.
II was quite neatly done my dress was scarcely
injured at all"
Her maid, with pale face aud swollen, red
eyes, brought the gown into The room For an
Oriental Sir Meredith was unusually atfable TO
mis- n fkp
in way that ought 10 have tlattered the keenest
susceptiblities OF ladys-maid but she only grew
| paler. until, in compassion, Nora sent her away.
a late ball tries both mistress and maid SAID
| Sir Meredith, blandly.
In point Of fact, did not let Pershpre sit up
| for me last night observed Nora 1t was oil
| that attack of Mysteries that wretched dia-
mond."
Nothing Of Importance transpired that day. or
for many days after The police fancied they were
| on the track of the murderer of Gadd although
suspicion in measure still lung 10 the China
| man. but no trace was found Of the diamond.
Colonel Cannocl1 forgot 10 write his conciliatory
| letter TO Aunt Sabinn for two days after these
absorbing events, but on the third he remembered
his resolution sent of his letter, and called on her
| family lawyer TO consult him as TO taking steps
| for tracing Jim Laros.
II you take my advice said the lawyer, you
| will run down and see Mrs. Wilmington at once
| was thinking Of looking in upon you. Us know
things have not been quite smooth lately between
| you and the old lady. The fact is, WINS down
at her place the day before Yesterday TO make her
| will she fanced she was not very we'll but am
| afraid it was this arrangement from You she was
sutfcring-too exciting ather age. Now wish you
would go and make II up with her
| Colonel Cannocl< laughed. Il see am not
| mentioned in the will. Well il is very friendly
Of you nd own don't care TO see the Blhters
drop into her money; II Jim LarOse had been TO
| the front it would be another matter; I always
felt he bad first claim. II is about Jim l have
| come today
| Having resolved to pay Aunt Sablna a visit,
CSnnock put himself into On after train and
went down into Kent lie was received With the
| news that Mrs. Wilmington was seriously i'll, con-
| fined 20 her bed. am very sorry 20 hear IL;
| please tell her soH he said, and was turning 20 go
| away, when the, butler, who was time-bonore1
| institution there, approached NEARER and myster-
| ously murmured The house is full Of Billiters,
Colonel Just step into the library while find out
| II Mrs. Wilmington will see you
| a little skiful domestic manoeuvring-for the
| Colonel was first favorite in the establishment
| brought O me ssage that the old lady would see
her nephew, and she received him with high dig
| nifty, propped up in bed her small wrinllleI face
| surrounded by dense halo Of stiff frills
| The interview WAS TO he q short one When IL
| was drawing to q close she said Roland, am an
impetuous old fool; at my age | ought TO know
| better. l made ridiculous will two days ago
left everything to JameS-if james is still living
| which doubt-or TO his heirs, of which he has
none; failing them 20 the Blliters, who are pant
| ing TO see the breath out OF me that they may
| rummnge my mOuey-bags. BE so good as 10 tele-
| graph 20 Green TO come down on Friday: | shall
| be better by that time, and shall make new
| will. And give my love to Nora tell her 10 come
| am going TO have my mess of broth, believe
Cannock went home with lighter heart and
told his news TO his wife. Those greedy Billiters
after all, were not 70 enjoy the fortune of poor
| Aunt Sabna; they both hoped the Old lady would
live many years yet 20 spend it herself
-, The very next morning brought n telegram.
| The old lady was much worse they both hurried
down, and were there when she died. They were
genuinely distressed, while the BlliterS, who
mustered mustered IN forcSS scarcely disguised their
| grlmaces OF Joy. Now, Nora, we are intrudersn
said CannoclI sadly, and they went out of the
house Among Mrs. Wilmingtons letters was
| found curious specimen of spelling and grammar,
| purportng TO come from certain John Price
from South Africa, giving q brief and vague
| Intelligence Of the death of Jim Larose. whom he
had known Ut The diamond fields. More, here
after from yours respectfully had left much 20
| be desired. The conclusion was that the letter
was Of very lttle value.
However, y was the last point Of certainty with
| Mr.. and Mrs. Biliter. Cousin jim was
undoubtedly dead, always a good -for-notaing fel-
into. possession Is ME SoS5 d 6S warning
up, all arrears win have to be paid up.' wa"
Roland snid Nora, the Orange diamond
has lost q fortune for us. II you had written the
night Of the ball, that last will OF poor Aunt
SObina's, would not have been made"
Well dear, dare say we ore as well without
it, responded Colonel Cannock ruetully,
Six months passed by bringing no news Of the
| lost jewel. A letter came, however, from Nora's
JIM in Colorado, which afforded her intense
pleasure II was n perfect volume, but the nth
of il wos that Nora's letter had arrived when he
was on the eve of committing himself 10 some
fatal act Of folly at which he darSly limited, and
| II had proved the turning-point. You saved me
and another he wrote; our old life in vonr
dear old home rose up before me as WILDLY as
| though was in the midst OF IL again You. who
have always remained my ideal woman you have
| again proved my guardian angel Ii had been so
| long since had heard from you that / had
despared of ever seeing your handwriting again
etc, etc
After ALL" said Nora, the Orange diamond
has done one good deed TO put against its sinS.S
One dark December evening at about O'clock
Sir Meredith Walton, followed by Ii Che. was
| waking down one Of the smaller streets opening
| out OF the Fulham Road.
A projecting door made n shallow peceao ~, 49,,