The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-27

"Hclp me to lift her. So, OH be gem
Ito. Girl, Thereon her bed. Pull up
the blinds-what are they down for at
this hours-onc would think she was
ldeadr'
She says this vehemently, with a sort
of defiance. But the awful word Ia too
much for her--it has hardly passed her
lips when her fictitious anger gives way,
she bursts into tears, and, falling on her
knees beside the bed, she stretches out
her arms 10 the unconscious body.
"Oh. my child Ny pretty girl What
is IT. What has happened TO your On
Millicent, speak to mer'
The doctor entering at this moment,
she Gains herself by a supreme effort, for
in truth the poor woman is terribly I'M
lnerved-no smallest suspicion OF tragedy
Having ever come near her before, in all
her calm. casv, luxurious life.
"IIml har' says DR. Thesby, shifting
about him suspiciously as he walks
Tightly to the bedside and stoops over Mil
Iicent. "Young Lady been playing
pranks with chloroform,'
"Oh. no, impossible" exclaims Mrs.
Brand. Indeed hardly think there Is
any in the house Certainly none that Is
not under lock and key in my own room. "
Nevertheless. there is chloroform
here. or has BEEN says the doctor, snif-
fling again. lie has been examining MILL
cent while speaking. and now calls Tor
certain things TO be brought him by the
attending servants. Seeing Mrs brand
distress. he turns kindly to her. Il can't
quitc make it ont yet, but pray compose
Yourself. my dear madame. Your niece
/ =.
is by no means beyond the power OF man
yet" .,
And. indeed ut the expiration Of half
an hour or 80 Millicent is so far recov-
cred as 20 be able to smile upon them,
and whisper a word or two to her aunt.
mo whispering. think-no con-
filcnces lust vet. - SAYS DR.. Thesby, rub
hing his hands. Though | agree with
Won. my dear lady. that no time should
he lost about seeing into this-er-truly
extraordinary affair. What dye say, my
GOOD woman" turning sharply TO one Of
The maids.
a handkerchief, CHI Picked mp by
vons Living on Miss Grcy's face-or
nartlv sos chg ehf Think what you are
saving now, my good girl. as ! dare soy
Won will have to repeat it pretty often
later on.
Yes. The girl had picked II up when
first she stopped over Miss Grey. II
was not exactly on her face, but looked
rs If it had slipped OIL IT.
The doctor folding il neatly, puts 1t in
his breast pocket important evidence,
madamcl II you WI permit me, will
take charge Of it, Heavily saturated
with rhloroform. should say. from the
strength Of the aroma that still clings TO
it," :
Let me see il" says Milliccnt sud,
denly. In a voice so much stronger and
with such excitement on her pale lace
that the doctor thinks il better 10 accede
10 her request. while still cntrcaiing her
10 BE calm'-bc calm. and above all
things TO be calm.
As it," said Millcent afterward 20
Nadine. amy one could be expected 10
be calm who had Just escaped being mur-
dered. and had had the finest sapphires
in Enlgand stolen from her.
The handkerchief is large. coarse
common one. white in color. and of such
texture ~ might DE used by respect
able artisan ON holiday ma.'ng.
phantiy: but Nlliccnt. tn I p She could
not have put her conviction into words
feels that 10 will never help 10 bring the
real offender to justice
But what brought the man here
that is what ] want tO know demands
Mrs. Brand. with Il little spreading OF
her hands. when the doctor has called
some hours later To find his patient has
been sleeping quietly during his absence,
-. %
again upon his entrance.
Not n word have let her speak-noi
word. " saws Mrs Brand. with very par
donablc pride, considering the extent OF
her curiosity.
"Well. | must speak now murmurs
Millicent. still very feebly, but with a
decided increase Of strength that the
doctor finds very satisfactory.
"Why. we shall have her downstairs
in no time" declares he jovially.
Then Millicert launches into descrip
ton Of the man who had thrown hand
kerchief over her face and left her &c
live or die, as chance dictated, while h,
made good his escape 1t is this infor
nation that calls forth from Mrs Brand
the question as To what brought him into
her house at all that unsccmly midnight
hour.
"Ah, auntie." says the girl, looking
at her out of her cushioned arm chair
with great pathetic eyes that have grown
greater because Of the rcgre,ful tears
that are filing them. DO you not
know Do You not guess When you
opened my hand. and the sapphire locket
dropped out, did you guess nothing them
"No. child-no."
"That locket Is gift to me- ''
"a gift | know that impatiently
a gift from your Ucnle Timothy. Will
all the rest of those very beautiin
stones. \ magnificent gift, truly
"NO,-a Gift from the man who ha'
stolen all thosf unrivalcd stones
Stolen Mrs. BRAID falls back in hcl
chair and gazcs at Milliccnt with hOr
ror stricken eyes.
"What, Gone, III Ose priceless sap
phresr' ries DR. Thesby. who is an oil,
friend Of Mrs Brands, and had beer
shown the sumptuOus gift Of Timoth,
Boyle when first presented to Miss Grey
"Ahr' says Mllicent. laughing hyster
ically, ''thc burglar evidently did no
think them. as You do, priceless. VI
doubt he j. already pricing them-is ar
ranging how 10 break them up and sci
DEMONSTRATING up-my-lOyely-nec
lct-my beautiful Here, being still
very weak, she gives up her mournful de
scription, and subsidies into a storm o
tears.
There, there. darling, oh. dont~rl
: like that, Think of your weak state. Blu
what an addacious thing, Bless me
what will y)ur uncle say; Now. IN.
dearest love, | implore you to contro
yourself. Remember how that unmiti
gated villain nearly deprived you of You
; life only Il few short hours ago. In thii
very chamber, DR. Thesby. OH TO thinl
: Of it, II must have almost happened OF
2 this very spot Here she grows tragic
: and speaks in a deep bass tone that 81,
believes BELTS the occasion "Oh, Mill
cent, darling, you will break my hear
your old auntie's hearth you keep OF
sObbing like that. Dear. dear dear. L
think that those apphires-herl0oms
uOctOr--and the finest in England-in
deed, in Europe. | might safely say
are now being melted down-that is