The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-01-14

Ouo W oAhiAN W.
must be a thief in the house. don't
know a more miserable sensation than
that produced by such knowledge. The
articles missed were all little trifing things,
such as an inexpert thief would take, un-
der the impression that their very insight
-fcance rendered it safe to steal them. l
missed note paper and envelopes, reels of
cotton and silk from my work basket, rib
bons from my drawers, and similar odds
and ends. Some change received from
the milkman, and temporarily deposited
on the dresser in the kitchen, was never
accounted for. But the climax was the
loss of valuable sapphire ring, which,
being in hurry one day, had placed
in drawer of my dressing table |
turned the key in the drawer, but omitted
to take it out, and when, an hour after, |
came up stairs to put it on the ring had
disappeared.
I could hesitate no longer. My hus-
band was away, and | had none but my
own counsel to rely upon, and as it was al
most certain that the thief must be one of
the servants, | decided to call them sepa-
rately into my bedroom and interrogate
them, and if they persisted in denying all
knowledge of the ring, | should then
make them turn out their boxes before
me- | first summoned the cook, whom
knew to be honest, and did not for one
moment suspect. | was not surprised. to
hear her emphatically deny that she had
ever touched my things. went up stairs
with her and stood by while she turned
out her trunk as matter of form; and
when nothing was discovered [ dismissed
her and told her to send Jane the housemaid
to me- She was stout, hearty country
girl, who had come to me with an excel
lent character about six months before.
She was quick-tempered, and at once fired
up when | asked her whether, on her
honor, she had any knowledge of the mat
ter.
"Ma'am, | never took pin of yours OF
anybody else's in my life, said Jane, with
an emphasis which seemed most sincere.
"And as to your ring, aam, I'd give a
months wages to find it, for l can't bear
to think that there are people in this
house who are not honest. But, ma'am
though it's perhaps mean to say so, and
1 know you don't encourage us servants
to tell tales of one another-still feel as
if you ought to know that I'm sure one of
us is thiefp
at is not cook" | said.
''No, ma am; it's Eliza You think all
the world of her, ma am; but you're de-
ceived in her. As sure as my names
Emma Jane Collins, you're deceived in
her :"
The girls manner was so earnest that |
felt disagreeably shocked.
"Are you quite sure of what you say,
Jane? 1t is serious thing to bring such
charge; and l never had a servant more
attentive and obliging than Eliza"
81 can't say l ever saw her steal any
thing, ma am, said my handmaiden vehe-
mently "But I'm as sure as possible that
she took your ring, and nobody else.
"Well, Jane 1 said, anxious to sift the
matter as soon as possible, II hope you
are mistaken in what you say, but, as a
matter of form, must see your box emptied
as | have already seen cooks.
"Very well, ma am; I'm sure I've no
objection"
So 1 led the way to the large attic,
where all the three girls slept. Jane
opened her two boxes with the utmost
willingness, and stood beside me with a
smile on her face, as much as to say:
"You will see what an entirely needless
business you have undertaken !"
l lifted up some collars and cuffs. What
could this be? Note paper and envelopes
with my monogram, +. G. Edith
Catharine Lester Hidden away among
piles of winter clothing was miscellane-
Gus assortment of our property, some of
which | had not missed as yet-small
knickknacks out of the drawing room, a
volume of Sir Walter Scott, pair Of
sleeve links of my husbands, two Of my
best pocket -handkerchiefs, and, rolled up
in an old newspaper, pot of my straw
berry jam ] turned Indignantly to look
at Jane, and denounce her as the thief she
was, when, to my utter amazement, | saw
she was staring at the plunder with an ex-
preston of such complete and stupe6ed
astonishment that stranger would have
supposed she had never seen the things
before and was puzzled to know how they
came there. At the very bottom of the
box was a small package of white paper,
loosely tied round with thread. Opening
it, saw, to my joy, my missing ring.
'sYou wicked, wicked girl p said, as |
slipped it on my finger "Now, what
have you to say for yourself?"
eff 1 never speak another word, ma am, "
she returned undauntedly, II never saw
those things before, and | never put them
in my box"
"You can hardly expect me to believe
that l said, indignant at her falsehood
and effrontery. "They could not get into
your box without hands.
II never put them there" returned
Jane. beginning to crv. II don't know