Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-07-12

4
| "Although all Denmark was to pro-
nounce her guilty, will not credit it
exclaimed Joseph, with impetuosity.
"But what difference does that make2n
| continued he, dashing away tear.
*Who will believe me2"
| A considerable time elapsed before the
sufferers were sufficiently composed to in
| form me of the cause of their grief, of
which at length collected the follow
ing particulars: A few days after had
last visited them, Elise returned to the
family in whose service she was engaged
About this period, her mistress, Madame
Muller, began to complain of missing
valuable articles of wearing apparel,
which Elise, under whose charge the ar
ticles were placed, declared must have
been stolen from the paddock in which
| the clothes were dried. The losses at
first were few, and Madame Muller, after
enjoining a more strict watch to be kept,
passed them over; but this seemed only
to embolden the cuIprit; and when dam
ask napkins, laces and many other expen-
sive articles disappeared, madame be-
came exasperated, and charge Elise with
having secreted them. Elise protested
! her total innocence, but in vain.
The articles had been es-
lpecially committed to her charge;
they had been put into the paddock to
dry; this paddock, which had afforded
pasture for a COW, was surrounded by
wall SO exceedingly high as to render it
impossible that any one would venture
over it. What made the affair appear
still more against poor Elise was the fact
that these thefts were committed in open
day, the clothes never being left in the
green after dusk, and also that the win
dow of the laundry looked into the pad
dock; so that, if any one had come over
the wall, Elise must have seen them.
Poor Elise could only declare that she
had put out the things to dry, that she
had seen no person enter the paddock;
but what became Of the things she knew
not.
Matters we're in this state when
small silver spoon disappeared. A SER
want recollected having seen it in Elise's
hand, who said that she had been using
it for making starch, and that she had
laid it down on the outer sill of the laun-
dry window for few minutes, while she
went up to her MISTRESS chamber with
some clothes, and that when she re-
turned the SPOON was gone. The SER
wants, all being examined, swore that
they had never gone near the window,
and that no one but the family had en-
tered the house. In short, everyone be-
lieved that Elise was secreting these
things for her new household. She was
charged with theft and committed to
prison, and the time appointed for her
trial was fast approaching
You may well suppose how much twas
distressed by the account. The silent
affection of the parents and the more
stormy grief of the young and ardent
sailor affected me deeply.
"My friends, said l, "do not despair.
She is innocent; am certain she is in
nocent."
As said this the young man wrung
my hand.
sob, SIR" he exclaimed, ''what a
comfort it is to hear these words; but
how shall VIC be able to prove her limo
cenceW
81 can declare what at least is pre-
sumptiye proof that she is incapable of
committing this crime, 1 replied; aud l
then reminded them of the incident of
her bringing me the purse and of her re-
fusal to accept of the gold l offered her
circumstances which l hoped would
weigh greatly in her favor.
My exertions to console these good
people were not without effect, and they
gradually became composed. l learned
from them that Joseph was to return
next day to Copenhagen to take every
possible step to prove the innocence of
his sister, and that Eric Poison was al
ready there and eager to assist in clear
ing the fame of his betrothed. The
greater part of the night was spent in
discoursing on this melancholy subject.
Early next morning ! returned to the
city, accompanied by Joseph; and [ re-
paired without delay to the prison, where
was permitted to see my young friend,
with whom | had long interview. Ii
/
my mind, her demeanor would alone
have been sufficient to dispel them. Her
| ingenious countenance was indeed
cloudcd with grief, but no secret feeling
of guilt troubled her calm brow.
conversed long time with her, but
without gaining any information which
could lead to the discovery of the real
| r,,1,N 7 fhat oh 4l,a
most friendly terms with all her fellow
servants; that they gave evidence against
her with the greatest reluctance; and that
they all bore the highest testimony to her
character previous to the time at which
these thefts were committed. Ishall not
dwell on the details of the trial; suffice
it to say, that the proofs of her guilt,
upon the strongest circumstantial evil
dence that could be produced, appeared
beyond doubt. 1t was proved by the
witnesses that the articles missing had
been in Elises hands the last time they
were seen; and it was shown in an cspe-
cial manner that the silver spoon, of
which she was accused of robbing her
mistress, had disappeared in such way
that no one else could have takenit. The
unfortunate Elise could urge no defense
that made any impression on her judges.
In their opinion she was clearly guilty of
the heinous otfense of carrying on reg
ular depreciation of her MISTRESS prop
erty, and, according to the cruel laws of
the country, was condemned to death.
/ took on myself the painful task of
breaking the affecting intelligence to the
parents; but the shock was so severe as
to lay the good old man on sickbed,
from which it seemed mora than prob
able that he would never rise. Joseph
stiaed his own grief, and strove to con-
sole and comfort his sister under this
terrible stroke. But the grief of Eric
would not be controlled, and brain-fe-
yer was the consequence of the agonies of
his mind. l never allowed . day to pass
without visiting the poor prisoner. Con-
scious of her innocence, she had never
ceased to believe that this would be
manifested, till the fatal sentence put
period TO her hopes; but she bore her af-
Fiction meekly, and courageously pre-
pared to meet her fate.
The more that / saw of the unhappy
Elise, the more did / feel myself inter-
ested in her case. perceived she was
the victim of some extraordinary mys-
terry, which would sooner or later be
cleared up, and establish her innocence;
I hut -, 4ba ,,,aao+inna che would l1a .1,4