The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-13
THAT GAIT MATTER.

| For this tale offcr neither explanation
nor apology. Judge il by your own stand
ard.
Naomi Fallingford, the daughter OF
wealthy Tressel Fallingford of Lippenton
Manor, received the attentions of Mr.. Les
lie Gait.
One night there were stolen from Miss
Naomi's sleeping apartment, after she had
retired and during night when she was
uncommonly wakeful, jewelry, gems and
cash to the value Of 4l0,O 900. To acquire
this plunder huge family safe had been
opened. A heavy mahogany ehiffonnier
was ransacked, and the very mattresses
whereon Miss Fallingford lay were plum
dered. The thief escaped
| Subsequently Miss Naomi had falling
out with Mr.. Gait, and she saw no more
of him for several years. The robbery took
place in 1876
In 1884 Tressel Fallingford was dead,
and Miss Naomi was living alone, attend
ed by servants, in the manor house. On n
cold November evening Mr.. Leslie Gait
was seen to alight from the mail train at
| Lippenton. 1t was about sundown. lie
was seen to take the road to the manor
house. He was seen to reach it. lie was
seen to mount the porch, from which
view could be had into the sitting room,
| where Miss Naomi reclned before crnc-
| king fire. He was seen to sit there for an
hour. At O'Clock he was still on the
,, porch. At 7:05 knock upon the door
brought tho butler, who reported to Miss
Naomi that a gentleman, who would not
| giva.his name, desired to sec her.
"You have never seen me before, mad
ann" The visitor was nn entire stranger
"Never, to my knowledge" answered
Miss Naomi looking full in the mans
| face as hc stood beneath the chandelier.
"You were robbed in this house in
1s7G?''
81 was" ... ...
"You offered areward and no noquestions
asked if the property WAS returnedi"
81 did
"Here it is, madam, /" and the man placed
the piunder intact upon the table before
Miss Naomi.
Passersby saw her standing by the table,
| with Mr., Leslie Gait opposite her.
| "Where did you get these, siri" ex.
claimed the delighted woman.
Remember, madam, you were not tc
ask any questions. My reward, please
Miss Naomi touched bell The but.
| Ter entered, She sent for her money. When
he brought it, she counted out the reward
and passed it to the stranger. MADAM,
will you oblige me by eSpending this mon
ey upon the deserving poor In your parish
! church? do not need it," lie laid the
notes on the table. The next day Miss
| Naomi caused it to be known she had re
I, covered her valuables. Every one congrat-
| ulated her, and also spoke of the pleasure
She must haze derived in call from Mr..
[ Leslie Gait.
Miss Naomi denied having seen Mr..
! Gait in eight years. Then peoples bewil-
| dered brains began to couple the name of
Lesis Gait with the original robbery of
the Fallingford valunblcs. This was very
hard Tor Naomi to hear, but she could not
account for Mr. Gait ! not calling il lie
| had been in town. People told her they
saw him on her porch at ! O'Clock. The
strange man restored the valuables 10
/ minutes later. Ten minutes after Mr..
| Cali had disappeared from the porch. At
| he WAS again seen at tho station. But
| the strange resturer of the valuahles had
been seen by no one in Lippenton, save
| by Miss Naomi and her butler. Both de-
clared they never saw him before.
In 1889, one very dark light in Novem-
'bcr, MIR Leslie Gait called upon Miss Mao
mi Fallingford and was cordially received.
Mr.. Gait stated that he had been for
the last few years Ia Australia.
| This brought up the rumor of his visit
/ w l4l1llNIlbH, CuEttlll lN6 NtuFS before,
and they both laughed over it. ..
Mr.. Calf renewed his suit, was accept
! ed, aud he and Naomi were married in
| the parish church at Lippenton.
| Among the dcnations MIR. Gait made on
/ his wedding day was n large sum of mon
| ey for the poor Of the parish. The rector
in accepting it, remarked that the bcquest
/ was very opportune, as they were Just MT
| the end of the last donation received of
similar amount.
In his eXnberance and joyousness Mr..
Gait exclaimed
"Oh, yesl In 1891 Hush money! Re-
ward! l remember"
| When people heard what he had said
they looked scrutiniziugly at him, but
five years is a long time, and memory uu-
/ dcrgoes great strains
| Naomi heard what her husband had
| said
But she remembered exactly how the
| stranger looked when he called to restore
| the vnluabes. She compared the rescm-
| blance. 1t was too remote for possibility.
Mr.. Leslie Gait sat out on the porch a
| good deal. People passing said to one an-
other, THAT is the way saw him back
! in 1854"
| One thing is very strange. Mr.. Gait has
always disapprored OF his wife's $ putting
valuables between mattresses, or of plac-
| ing jewels in chiilonnier, or OF keeping
bulky safes in the house.
Mr.. Gait claims he can exercise such an
effect upon one by magnetism he possesses
that you would pass him on the street and
not recognize him. lie occasionally gives
exhibitions of this power.
have never been present
Neither has Mrs. Galt.-ENchange