The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-27
and asking wLIfred not to 60 away, at any rate,


for a time.
Maline's reception OF him was curious. and
there was something in the girls manner he
could not understand. IL he had not seen the
proofs of her act aud known Of her confession,
he would have thought that she seemed rather
inclined 10 take credit 10 herself for what she
had done, and TO receive him as il he were
really returned prodigal. She was so very
gentle and tender that he was puzzled
Matters were not, therefore, quite on tho
same footing as,they had been, though no one
made any reference to the lost money.
On the second morning after Wilfred's re-
turn Maine was alone in her room, when one
Of the old servants, who had been her nurse,
came 10 her.
"If you please, Miss. is this yours?" asked
the woman, holding out small, blue paper to
her.
what is il, nurse2"
al don't know, miss, quite"
"Where did you find this?" asked the girl
quickly, colOring with excitement as she ex-
Rmined il.
1t was a French lOO-frauc bank note.
1.-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 hand
kerchiefs, and placed in the pocket Of dress
belonging 10 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 cycling her keenly.
The girl, taken quite by surprise, at first
hesitated and colorcd, and then denied all
knowledge of it. Then Maline told her where
il had been found, and the other equiyocated
and cOntradicted herself; and at last. after a
promise Of forgiveness 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 there2"
Yes, Miss Maline," answered Rachel, with
great burst Of tears. After I'd put two Of
them in the purse you left in the study.
watched him 90 out; and as your purse looked
as II II hadn't been touched. took the notes
out again, and put one Of them in Mr. Powers
blotter"
You put two ofthem in my purse, you say 2"
When was that2"
ION Monday, Miss Malne / slipped into
the room while Mr.. Power was seeing You TO
the carriage, and i saw the purse on the table"
The girls answer was a revelation to Maline.
She now saw, as by an inspiration, that Wilfred
she had taken the money, and thus had tried to
shield her by drawing suspicion oil himself
of it,"
81 have il all. Miss, upstairs"
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 at lunch time on the
d4u 81 had a n ha 81.
money in the table drawer, and the sudden
temptation was more than she could resist
What she had afterward done was merely to
keep away suspicion from herself until the
time for her to leave should arrive. She had
thought that Wilfred Power would be most
likely 10 be suspicious, and so she had first
tried to draw his thoughts on Maline; and
thinking she had failed, as the purse did not
seem TO have been opened, she tried to fix sus-
picion upon him.
" You are bad, wicked girl. )" said MaIine.
" Go aud pack your things and leave the house
at once"
Mr.. Caringham and Wilfred wero both in the
library when Maline entered.
|" Is this the money you lost, papa?" she
asked quietly putting the gold and notes down
on the table.
GOOD gracious. MalinelD cried her father
in amazement. what does this mean7"
And then she told him.
Wilfred and Maline had further and much
longer explanation in the drawing-room after
dinner that night, when Mr.. Caringham was
asleep in the library. At the end Of it Maline
said:
And So sir, you thought was a little thief
did you, when you saw tic notes in my purse,
and tried to shield me BY pretending you had
done itf"
Not more than you thought l was one
when that note tumbled out OF my blOtting
pad, and you confessed to the theft. But Won
were little thief after all, for you stole my
heart, NAL"
Then we were both thieves, for you took
mine away ever 50 long ago"
And the lovers amen closed the dispute
Al the Year Round