Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-07


her the gOyerneSs had suggested that they
should take their books under the shade of
the cedar tree. She had assented YEARLY.
without one CLEAN of animation
Out there in the sunlight Miss HASTINGS
noticed how cold and white Pauline's face
was with its hard, set look-there was q
shadow in the dark eyes, and, unlike herself,
she started at every sound Miss Hastings
watched her keenly. She eyinced no dis
pleasure at being so watched; but when the
elder lady went up to her and said. gently:
Pauline. you are surely either Ill or IN
happy
Il am neither-l am only thinking" she
returned, impatiently.
Then your thoughts must be very I'M
pleasant ones-tell them to me. Nothing
sends away unpleasant ideas so soon as com
municating them to Others"
But Miss Darrell had evidently not heard
the words; she had relapsed into deep medi-
tation, and Miss Hastings thought it better
to leave her alone. Suddenly Pauline look
ed up.
Miss Hastings she said, Il suppose a
solemn promise, SOlemnly given, can never
be brOken?i
1T never should be broken" replied the
governess. instances have been known
where people have preferred death to break
ing such promise"
Yes, such deaths. nave been known. ]
should imagine" commented Pauline, with
CLEAN of light on her face, "that no Oar
rell ever broke his or her word when it had
been -solemnly given"
81 should imagine not" said Miss Hast
ings.
But she had no cew to her pupils musings
or to the reason of her question.
So the nOon-day shadows crept on. PuT
ple-winged butterflies coquetted with the
flowers, resting on the golden breasts OF the
white lilies, and Oh nc crimson leaves Of the
rose: busy bees murInarcd over the rich Glove
carnations; the birds sang sweet, jubilant
songs and gentle breeze stirred family the
leaves on the trees. For once Pauline Oar
relI seemed blind to the warm sweet summer
beauty; it lay unheeded before her.
Miss Hastings saw Sir Oswald coming to-
ward them; a murnur Of surprise came from
her lips,
Pauline" she said, look at Sir Oswald
how i'll he seems. l am afraid something is
wrong"
He drew near to them, evidently deeply
agitated.
81 am glad to find you here, Miss Hast
ingS," he said; Il am in trouble. Nay, Pau
line, do not go; my trouble should be yours.
For the girl had risen with an air of proud
WEAKNESS, intending to leave them together.
At his words--the kindest he had spoken to
her for some time-she took her seat again;
but the naughty, listiess manner did not
change.
Il am nearly sixty years of age,'' said Sir
Il Eso,~ l. Co. IL
trouble has come to me- Miss Hastings do
you remember that conversation of ours last
night, over that roll of notes in the ebony
bOX?"
Il remember it perfectly, Sir Oswald"
Il went this morning to take them from
the box, to take their numbers and send
them to the bank, and ! could not find them
they were gone"
Gomez repeated Miss Hastings. lit is
impossible! You must be mistaken; YOU
must have overlooked them. What did they
amount top
Exactly one thousand ponds" he replied.
81 cannot understand it. You saw me re-
place the notes in the boX?'
II did; l watched you. You placed them
in one corner. | could put my finger on the
place." said Miss Hastings.
lOChttl tilt Dun dIIu carried IL WIFI my
own hands to my study. [ placed it in the
drawer of my wri ing table, and locked that
| never parted with my keys to any one; as
is my invarable rule, L placed them under
my pillow. [ slept soundly all night, and
when woke found them there. As tell
you | have been to the box, and the notes are
gone. l cannot understand it, for | do not
see any indication of a theft, and yet have
been robbed.
Miss Hastings looked very thoughtful
You have certainly been rob5ed,'' she
said. Are you sure the keys have never
left your pOSSeSsiOnY'
Never for one single moment" he replied.
"Has any one i'll the house duplicate
keys?" she asked.
No. 1 bought the box years ago in
Venice; it has peculiar lock-there is not
one in England like it,"
''Tt is very strange said Miss Hastings.
"a thousand pount.s is no trifle to lose
Pauline Darrell, her face turned to the
flowers, uttered 20 WORD.
"Yon might show some little interest. Pau
line, " said her uncle, sharply; "you might
have the grace to affect it, even if you 90 not
feel it,"
Il am very sorry indeed" she returned,
codly. Il am grieved that you have had
such q loss"
Sir Oswald looked pacified,
''It is not SO much the actual loss of the
money that has greved me-" he said; Il
shall not feel it. But am distressed to think
that there should be thief among the pco-
pie have loved and trusted"
"lVhat solemn councilr' interrupted the
CHEEKY voice Of Aubrey Langton. ''What
gloomy conspirators."
Sir Oswald looked up with an air of great
relief.
81 am so glad You are come, Aubrey; you
can advise me what to do"
The baron told the story OF his loss.
Captain Langton was shocked, amazed; he
asked hundred questions, and then sug-
49, M. .!:c.- -c..ld d"va over tn Aud
leigh Royal and place the affair III the hands
of the chief inspector OF police.
You said you had not taken the numbers
of the notes; fear it will be. difficult to trace
them" he said, regretfuly. 'WLa. strange,
mysterious robbery. Is there any one you
suspect, Sir O5wald?"
No: in al the wide world there was not
one that the loyal Ole man suspected of rob-
bing him.
''My servants have always been to me like
faithful Old friends" he said, sadly; there
is not one among them who would hold out
his hand to steal from me-"
Captain Langton suggested that, before
going 20 Audleigh Royal, they should search
the library.
"You may have made some mistake, sir"
he said. you were tired last night. and it
is just possible that YOU may have put the
money somewhere else, and do not remenl-
| Der it,"
1--WE will 60 at once" decided Sir Oswald.