Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-03-28
CHAPTER ".


"fhe Great Jewel Robbery at Stan
hope Castle was nine days wonder
in the newspapers; and was discussed
in country houses, with many virtuous
structures on Lady Stanhope's careless.
ness.
And she wore the diamonds on her
wedding-day cried sentimental young
ladies, to which responded a satirical
lady, Il don't think that would add to
her regret my dears"'
The detectives were Mt fault, and
the gun-smith whose name the revolver
bore recollected nothing, save that he
had sold such pair to young gen
tleman some time before. which
strengthened Mr.. Benson from Scot
land Yard In an idea he had that this
was the work of 'hamateur." And
so, when, in February, the Stanhopes
came to town for the season. the topic
had died natural death. 1t was re-
vived, indeed, to condole with the fair
loser, but then dropped. Baptistc was
not with his master.
So March came around and neither
dust nor wind had power to keep the
crowd away from Burlington House
for the winter exhibition, The court
yard was lined with a double row of
carriages, and, among these connois-
seurs in such things recognized the
neat victoria and pair of grays which
everyone" knew was Lady Stan
hopes. She then must be one of the
visitors within these walls Upstairs
people were whispering and looking
after 2 tall and gncefnEform clad in
black velvet and rich fur-lincd mantle,
on the coils Of whose glittering hair
rested hat a cavalier might have
worn its dropping black plumes
clasped with jewel. Lovely was
Clare Stanhope; every month seemed
to add something TO her rare beauty;
and the pride that lay upon her brow
and in every line Of the firm lips could
not detract from that beauty. even
had 1t not been somewhat softened by
the light in the dark eyes
'.Who is that beautiful girly' wills
pered strangers and outsiders.
"That Is Lady Stanhope Don't you
know others answered You must
remember the robbery of the Stanhopc
diamonds-that Is the Lady Stanhope
only eighteen now. ] fancy. She's
in mourning for her father, who died
very shortly after the marriage they
say he had made up"
And every head went round, par
ticularly the male heads. and she
bowed and smiled to one and another,
and seemed unaware or careless of the
notice she attracted. She was not
alone. Her young companion was
Dora Trent, radiant, bright, bewitch-
ing; but no one gave her second
look just now.
"But what made you come at this
timer said Lady Stanhope, smiling
little. "You see one can scarcely get
near the pictures-and you have not
seen them, have you, yetT
ooh! no." laughed Dora. "But what
did you come for?"
az" Clare lifted her brows and
smiled--it was not a bright smile.
For a hundred reasons-to see the
world-to meet peoplepour passer lie
temps-what does one do anything for.
Certainly not to look at the pictures.
/ always did that before eleven
o'clock
"You queer girl! But you are 50
critical and artistic, and that SORT of
thing, Well, came to quiz tho peo-
pie"
"A Iaudable reason, ma cherel The
pictures, then, are a secondary con-
sideration,n said Lady Stanhope
ooh! quite" returned Dora, lightly.
aYou know | don't 20 In for the Scr
we're In art, and don't understand all
the distances and 'tints, and all that,
that you and Lionel enjoy BY the
bye, Isn't your brother coming 70 town
soon?a
Nhat q light seemed suddenly to III
lumine Clare's eyes at the mention
even If that loved brother. Did such