Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-01-20
CHAPTER Xxx.


CHAPTER Xxx.
A silence, intense, horror stricken, fol-
lows on his words Miss Roche has fallen
back from him, and is now leaning
against the wall. with her hands clasped
upon her bosom, and her eyes, large and
affriGhted, fixed on his
'sStolenr' she says, the words coming
with difficulty through her white lips.
''Do they think I stole them?> She
shrinks backward against the wall as
though she would fain sink through it,
and so disappear forever.
ooh. no. Good heavens! No'' re-
plies he, shocked ''But this man An
nerley Tt is essential that he should be
found and compelled to say where he got
them YOu say you don't know his adj
dress. but surely it may be discovered"
''Have they been thinking that?'' says
Nadine, needless of his last words,
''And you, have you, too She
breaks off as though the power to go on
is lost to her. Her blanched face terri
fies him.
''My darling! Don't look at me like
that Nadine. Who is accusing you?
Who suspects you? Be reasonable
''Lady Valworth suspects me. I see it
all now, though did not understand be-
fore why she was so cold to me all to-day
She thinks most cruelty, most unjustly
of me. OH what shall [ do?''
Nothing now. Tomorrow you must
give us any help you can toward finding
Mr. Annerley. No doubt" with a quick
contraction of the brows," he will be
able to explain to us in a satisfactory
manner how these jewels came into his
possession"
'sWhat terrible situation - says Ma
dine, family. She covers her eyes with
her hands. "If 1 had only obeyed him.
If had followed his injunctions not to
wear these fatal ornaments"
''He advised you not to wear them?'
Duran's voice is sharp and keen.
eyes. But only because he believed
them too handsome for me, just now,
when we were both poor. Afterward,
he said, when he had made his fortune,
they would suit me we'll"
Ibid it not strike you that it was
strange for man calling himself poor to
be able to purchase such costly things?"
''I did not think. I seldom thought of
him." Her tone is low and self reproach-
full. GLOW strong is fate" she says
presently. ''I'O drive me hereto COM
pei me to wear what [ had never worn
before. But am not regretful, " cries
she, suddenly, with a touch of Vehe-
mence. .'He will be able to explain, of
Millicent will get back their own
She tears off the sapphire ornament
and throws it into Duran's palm with
Shudder
Il must see Lady Valworth. [ must
speak with her, exclaims Nadine,
eagerly Her cheeks are burning, her
hands tremulOus.
.'Wait until tomorrow
~ shall not wait another moment. I
- ,..-I.4
heart She presses her hands conyul-
sively against her breast. ''Take me to
her, :" she implores, family.
Seeing the excitement that is betraying
itself in glance and gesture, Duran draws
her hand through his arm and leads her
from the conservatory. The tea room is
now deserted, and they pass into the hall
without encOuntering anybody. Mid
night chimes from some distant tower,
the solemn sound breaking even through
the light sparkling dance music that
comes from the ball room on their left
and that swells and rings through the
house.
s'The last train IS IN. am afraid Lady
VaIworth viii be taken up with her son.
He has surely arrived, or is on the point
of arriving says Duran to his cOmpan-
ion in a low tone Nevertheless, we
will try If ii be possible to see her alone
for even Il few minutes -
A servant gives them the information
that her ladyship has just passed into
the library in momentary expectation of
Capt. Boyle's arrival. There they find
her with Millicent, whom she has en-
treated to stay with her, and Sir Thomas.
AS Nadine and Duran enter Sir Thomas
is expostulating a little on his wife's
desertion of her guests.
''It will be but for q little while, a few
moments" returns she eagerly. CHE
must, he will come by this train; and
Clarissa" Mrs. Brandt ''has taken my
place. l shall not be missed for half an
hour, and he is sure to come straight
here
She looks up rather impatiently as Ma
dine comes into the room. The girl is
white as death and trembling with agita-
ton. Going up to Lady ValwOrth, she
lays the sapphire pendant upon the table
near her.
''Lady Valworth, . she says gently, her
voice low and earnest, sit is only just
now that | have heard from Mr.. Duran
about this. pointing to the sapphires.
''And yOur diamond cross-it is upstairs
you shall have it in a few moments.
But what I want to say isis She
faltcr=. 1t is evident in her excitement
she has forgotten what it was she had az
ranged to say. 1T knew nothing of it."
she breaks out at last pitifully, her large
eyes fixed with mournful entreaty upon
Lady Nalworth
That kind woman is touched to the
quick indeed. she had never suspected
Nadine Of being anything but q victim in
the matter, although her perpleXity dur
ing the day had led her into GOODNESS of
manner that the girl had misconstrued.
MY dear child. what miserable idea
fr-. 70 Int CHI
cries, kindly. "Come, now, will have
only happy faces round me Tonight,
when my son is expected. 1t is his birth
night, as you know: we must give him
only smiles. As for our lost jewels, to-
morrow you will give me any information
you can, and probably you will be the
one TO restore them TO me-
She pressed Madness hand kindly.
you should not have told her to-
nightr' eXclaims u1illicent, looking re-
prOachfully at Duran.
''Oh, it is better so-much BETTER"
says Nadine. sit would have been hOr-
rible to wear that stolen ornament mo-
ment Ionger.''
At this moment the door is thrown
wide open, and a tall man enters the
room. Lady ValwoFth, with little cry,
rushes forward to greet him. She has
forgotten everything, except that this is
her son, and that he has returned to her.
But a movement on Madness part
checks her. The girl, too, after an in
stant's stunned surprise, he's taken few
steps forward and thrown out her arms
in the direction of the new conner
''Whyl There he is! There he is him
selfi' she cries in clear voice, touched
by excitement. NOW he is come; he will
explain allr'
"He! What should he have TO ex-
plain?" demands Lady Valworth, stop
ping short and fixing stern glance upon
her
''He will tell you how he got the dia-
monds, the sapphires, that he gave men'
returns Nadine eagerly, her eyes brilliant,
her lips apart.
Some color has risen to her face
'fHYhat farce is this you would pIay.
girlF' sxelaims Lady Yalworth, in a low