The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-05

She Allowed a Servant TO be dismissed
Under Suspicion and n Year Later Tried
to Fix tho Crime on the oIaid-Confes-
sion Followed by Confinement.
Some years ago several girls were gath
cred together for afternoon tea in the
boudoir of their hostess, a stately dame OF
the old regime, when TO please her young
guests the old lady had brought out many
old time treasures in the way of gowns
and jewels Placing the latter in their
casket as the party broke up Mrs. s.
turned the key in the lock and put the box
away, neglecting to verify the casket until
later in the evening; then, reproaching
herself for her carelessness, she opened the
case to see that nothing was missing. To
her CONSERVATION she found that very
valuable ring was gone. OF course the
most minute and thorough search of the
room was made and every part of the old
gowns carefully examined. All was in
vain; the ring had disappeared and was
never seen again. Deeming it useless, Mrs.
s. decided not to mention the matter TO
her young guests, fearing it might make
them uncomfortable, and SO the matter
was dropped.
including Mrs. s., happened to be stop
ping together at a large country house on
the Hudson One morning when most of
the house party were at breakfast their
hostess came down rather late, looking
very much worried. Il have had most
annoying loss" she said as she entered the
room. 1.-Two rings of considerable value
have been taken from my room. At this
season always have my coffee early, end
work for half an hour in my rose garden,
leaving my rings on the ring stand on my
dressing table. 1t is careless habit, I
know, but have done so constantly, and
most of the servants have been with US so
long that l never felt that there was any
danger. This morning left them there as
usual, but when | came back to dress for
breakfast found two of them gone"
THE MAID LEAVES.
The event naturally caused great COM
motion in the house; the servants were
Intercepted and suspicion finally at
tached itself to new French nurse who
had lately entered the household. The
theft, however, was not proved and she
left, vowing vengeance. 'You insult US,
you examine our effects" she screamed in
shrill anger But regard then in the
trunks of ces danes; they can be voleurs
as well as nous autres. The fine miss
will betray herself some day, be sure of
that" And so she departed, metaphoric-
ally shaking the dust from off her shoes.
Her last remark set Mrs. s. thinking.
could it be possible" she said to herself,
"that the woman was right" No; it was
too absurd, but Minnie dressed wonder
fully well for a girl in moderate circum-
stances. But how wrong" thought the
conscientious old lady, ''to let the chance
word of dismissed servant influence me-"
and she felt that she had done wisely in
not mentioning her own loss of the winter
before
One year later Mrs s. visited well
known watering place, where she found
Minnie stopping with some friends at the
same hotel, and the same afternoon she
encountered Josephine, the suspected
French maid. walking with two pretty lit
tie children on the veranda. Stopping her
as she passed, the girl poured forth an
eager stream of entreaties. She had found
a good place, she said, and a kind lady;
madame, she begged, would not mention
last years annoyance; she assured madame
she was innocent, "as madame would find
The kind hearted Mrs s. promised,
but she felt thoroughly bewildered when,
a couple of days later, a mutual acquaint-
ance who had recently arrived missed
valuable bracelet as it not odd, dear
Mrs. s." said Minnie, running up to
her in the drawing room. "Did you know
Josephine was here? What do you think
we ought to do about last year,"
CORNERED AT LAST.
But even as she spoke she turned CHASTITY
pale, for behind her stood the Frenchwom-
an, her dark face alight with triumphant
revenge, and holding up the setting of the
bracelet, out of which every stone had been
distracted. II have witnesses" she fairly
Kissed. II knew where TO find the brace
let, but, mademoiselle, where are the
stones" Fairly cornered by the clever
precautions of the revengeful maid, the
miserable girl attempted no defense. and
subsequently made full confession.
For years she had been no better, nay,
rather worse than common tbief-steal-
ing petty articles at first, but becoming
holder as she found she could obtain money
by selling her stolen goods. Not only did
she buy dresses and jewelry for herself,
but for the last twelvemonth she bad
taken to stock gambling, succeeding be-
yond her anticipations at first, but finally
losing everything. 1t was her urgent need
to make good her recent losses that tempt
ed her to take the bracelet, hoping to draw
suspicion upon Josephine.
With great difficulty the latter was 81
fenced, and Minnies uncle. who was also
her guardian, was telegraphed for. One
of the proudest of men, and devotedly at
tached to his children, he keenly felt the
disgrace Of her conduct, and, after con-
sultation with Mrs s. and the lady whose
bracelet she had taken, the choice was Of
fered to the girl of public prosecution or
a life imprisonment in a maison de sante,
where she could have every comfort con-
sistent with confinement. She chose the
latter, the secret was well kept, and so
ciety only Knows of her as an unfortunate
girl whose mind has become unsettled
New York Tribune.