The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-07-01
bility for the lady's maid to have crossed


temper with his tagging luck, and he
decided to get two or three DAYS leave,
and then, having rested his riddle bit,
to start afresh at reading it. Thus he
found himself on the afternoon of Aug.
13-his request for leave of absence
having been granted-talking to
pretty, neat-looking girl in a small
semi detached villa on the outskirts of
the new and fashionable watering place,
Stonelay.
$50 you've been getting on pretty
we'll. eh, Nellie?" he asked.
"Oh, yes, Jem. very. The air here
seems to be quite setting me up, so L
fancy j had been working bit too hard
though l always said it was mothers
nonsense. It's true it's rather dull here,
but then L often 60 into Stonelay and
have look at the smart visitors so even
if Aunt Sarah Is snappy at times don't
mind. She's kind enough, really"
She couldn't have got any one else
to bring her here, SO she ought to be-
L bet the beastly water puts an edge on
temper like her! Yes, 1 expect it's
pretty dull alone with her. Poor
Nellyw
"Oh, don't mind; and we've got a
new neighbour
"Old Mrs. what's name-ysu told me
of, gomez"
mo. She's got new lodger-a man
good looking, rather. She brought
him in one day to tea, and we meet him
now and then on the road. But he
doesn't go out much.
"Oh, hiding on some account, is hep"
asked Jem rather snappishly of the
pretty dressmaker.
Nonsense, Jem, he isn't hiding. He
is drinking the waters, he says, and lie
has very pretty sister.
SISTER? Then they both lodge next
door?"
mo. She comes to see him. She is
ladys maid staying at Stonelay. The
husband of the lady she Is with ID drink
ing the waters"
Ugh! lady's maid?" said Blayne
spitelully, thinking of his recent trials,
with which his fiance was acquainted.
Really, Jem. L believe your failing
to fix the stealing business on the poor
lady's maid has made you hate the lot
And, talking of your jewel affair, l find
WulIe YOU lOSS-
How do you mean?"
why, yesterday found such lovey
button on the path just outside here. 1t
was sparkling in the sun and picked
it up and brought it in. l went in to
old Mrs. Brown to ask Mr.. Martin cher
lodger) if he knew anything about it;
but he was away for two days, she told
me, coming back tonight. Auntie
says I'll have to make it known, per-
haps advertise it if T ore claims it, for
this morning showed it to Mr.. Frazer,
the jeweler at Stonelay, and he said it
was very good button, and uncommon,
as the stones are beryls.
What"
Dear me beryls Are they as ex
traordinary as all that?"
That depends. Show us the but
ton. Nellie?"
Here it is" she said, taking it from
the mantle shelf.
Twelve gold filigree buttons jeweled
with beryls," Blayne murmured to him
self L should like to see your neigh
Dor, Nellie, and his sister. the lady's
maid.
why, Jem. you don't think-oh, 1
remember now, that description you
sent me of the lost jewels But this
can't be. She is such dear little
thing, and so pretty"
"Yes; what sort?"
"Oh. middle height. dark hair,
pretty eyes, nice figure
"That'll do, Nellie. 1t would fit al
NEST any one. / say, who's that COM
lug mp the path to the house now?"
why, that's Mr.. Martin" said Nell
lie, as Blayne instinctively got behind
the muslin window curtain, from which
post of vantage he could easily see
without being seen. Hes cookbook
ing, isn't he, Jem? Looks like gen.
tleman, rather?"
"Ye-es just that last. I think I've
got his measure"
And oh. there is his sister just be-
hind him-see? Now. that's not your
lady's maid, is it?"
That" exclaimed Blayne, with eyes
nearly starting through the lace of the
curtains. us that your lady's maid
and that man's-sister?
Yes answered Nellie, as her
neighbor and his sister, nodding and
SnillnB 10 Her, entered the next mousse.
Does she stay the night there?" in-
CURED Blayne.
"Oh, no, nothing more than an
hour. Her lady couldn't spare her.
But what is the matter with you, Jem,
laughing in jerks like that"
"Oh, nothing. say, Nellie. is there
visitors list in the paper here?"
Yes; but Jem--now that wasn't your
lady's maid, was IL?
mo, dear; now-the paper"
Blayne wandered steadily on through
the list of fashionable visitors" till he
came to Victoria hotel. Sir Robert
aue Lady Merton." Then he folded up
the paper, saying: well, Nellie, I'll
90 into Stonelay with you tomorrow
morning to have look at the fashions.
Here is Aunt Sarah coming to see af-
ter us, as that respectable lady en-
tered the room.
And there goes Mr.. Martins visi-
tor" said Nellie as a woman hastily