Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-05
CHAPTER ".
THE TRUTH.

Wilfred Power was greatly surprised to
receive short note from Mr.. Caringham,
asking him to return at once. But he did
so. Mr. Caringham explained the matter
to him literally, interpreting Maline's &C.
ton as freak and asking Wilfred not to
go away, at any rate, for time.
Maline's reception of him was curious.
and there was something in the girls man.
ner he could not understand. II he had
not seen the proofs of her act, and known
of her confession he would have thought
that she seemed rather inclined to take
credit to herself for what she had done.
and to receive him as if he were really
returned prodigal. She was so very gentle
and tender that he was puzzled.
Matters were not, therefore, quite on the
same footing as they had been, though no
one made any reference to the lost money.
On the second morning after Wilfreds
return Maline was alone in her room, when
one of the old servants, who had been her
nurse, came to her.
"f you please, Miss, is this yours ?"
asked the woman, holding out small, blue
paper to her.
'What is it. nurse ?"
81 don't know, Miss, quite"
"Where did you find this?' asked the
girl quickly, coloring with excitement as
she examined it.
1t was French one-hundred- franc bank
note.
"The laundrymaid, Susan, gave it me,
Miss, and told me she had found it among
the clothes-she thought among yours
she said
Tell her to come up to me at once"
said Maline.
When the girl came Maline questioned
her closely and discovered that she had
really found the note, wrapped up in one
of Maline's handkerchief, and placed in
the pocket of dress belonging to one
of the maids, who had been only short
time at the Grange and was under notice
to leave.
The maid was sent for
"Where did you get this, Rachel ~
asked Maline. facing the girl, and eyeing
her keenly.
The girl, taken quite by surprise. at
first hesitated and colored, and then de-
MED all knowledge of it. Then Maline
told her where it had been found, and the
other equivocated and contradicted her
self; and at last, after promise of forgive
ness, confessed with many tears that she
had taken the money.
Maline was as much surprised as the
girl had been.
''Did you place one of these notes in
Mr.. Powers blotting-pad for us to find it
there?n
''4es, Miss Maline," answered Rachel,
with a great burst of tears. "After I'd
put two of them in the purse you left in
the study. | watched him go out: and as
your purse looked as if it hadn't been
touched, / took the notes out again. and
put one of them in Mr.. Powers blotter.n
You put two OF them IN my purse, you
say? When was that?"
"On Monday, Miss Maine. l slipped
into the room while Mr.. Power was see
ing you to the carriage, and | saw the
purse on the table,
The girls answer was a revelation to
Maine. She now saw, as by an inspira-
ton, that Wilfred Power had gone away
on her account, thinking she had taken the
money, and thus had tried to shield her by
drawing suspicion on himself.
"Where is the money? Fetch what YOU
have of it."
81 have it all, Miss, up STAIRS
"Why did you do this, Rachel ~
For long time the girl did not answer.
| Then she confessed that she had friend
who was in great distress for want OF
money; when she went into the study al
lunch time on the day she had heard Of
the trouble she saw the money in the table
drawer, and the sudden temptation was
more than she could resist. What she hac
| afterward done was merely to keep away
suspicion from herself until the time fol
her to leave should arrive She had though
that William Power would be most likel,
TO be suspicious, and so she had first triet
to draw his thoughts on Maline: an,
thinking she had failed, as the purse diC
not seem to have been opened, she tried t,
! fix suspicion upon him.
\ You are bad, wicked girl. said Ma
| line. $50 and pack your things and Ieav
the house at once"
Mr.. Caringham and Wilfred were bot
in the library when Maline entered.
as this the money you lost, papa?n sh
asked, quietly putting the gold and note
down ON the table.
Good gracious, Maline." cried he
father in amazement. 'What does thi
. mean?'
And then she told him.
Wilfred and Maine had a further an