Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-07-11
RS. BOB.
BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER
CHAPTER xxrv.-rBE TRUTH AT LAST.

pOtIs nav a. Ndhtft w Ntfbo ~ ltittt Ia
Miss Theodosia did not happen to want
her. The old lady said that she did not.
and begged her to do exactly as she
liked. "You have not come to Boscombe
to be my slave, my DEAR" she said, kindly.
"You are very kind" said Julia, then
looked at Stephen. "Stevie," she said, II
wish you would come mp for a few min
utes. I want to ask you about some
thingI'
So together they went upstairs, and ~
soon as the door was shut Julia seized his
hand eagerly. "Oh, Stevie," she exclaim-
ed. ''such a thought has come into my
mind"
"Yes-and about what, my birdt" he
asked, sitting down I'm the big easy chair
by the bow window and looking up at her
with interest.
About the Little Street Hall robbery"
"Really, and what Of III" still In an
awaiting tone.
"Stevie," said Julia, impr"ssively. aud
dropping down on her knees before him.
"Stevie, that was the man who did III"
He gave such a start at her words that
he nearly threw her backwards. "Oh my
dear, you made me jump nearly out of my
skim" he said, drawing her towards him.
what man do you mean, dearf"
That Colonel Adeane. Depend upon It
he is the man! Miss Theodosia called him
Frank said they had always called him
Frank, and that he and Miss Lavinia had
been in love with each other for years. So
you can understand how she would call
out 10 him when she discovered him IN
her bedroom, oh, Frank! Frank! TO think
you should have come to this! Oh, my
Godi think it will break my heart.
Did You not see how confused he was AT
the sight Of Miss Theodosia, and how cold
ly and conventionally he received her in
v~itatiou to dinner. did, and am sure h
was the nan who did IT,, perfectly sure.
What do you think about IT. Stephen
Tell me-"
We'll" he said at last, "if you a &c
know exactly what / think, Juey-I think
you are going out Of your mind. You
must be mad to suggest such a thing"
She took as a joke what he was meaning
In sober earnest. Eyes, I know" she AT
swered rather inconsequently. but Steyie.
did you look at the mani Why, he had
guilt and confusion stamped upon him.
He was so confused he scarcely knew how
to speak TO Miss T~heodosia. Really, I
think she ought TO be told about 1t, be-
cause il IL is true that Miss Lavinia wish
ed to shield him because Of what had gone
before, she is not here now to be yexed
about ii and il does seem q shame that
those Jewels, those lovely rubies, should
be spirited away and any effort spared
which might possibly restore them. |
really think | ought to tell Miss TheOdosis
what l suspect"
and J." said stephen. in mn icy tone
Insist upon it that you do nothing of the
kind"
Stephen cried Julia, looking at him
In amazement.
He answered the look straight into her
eyes. yes" he said. coldly, 81 don't ask
you: ! simply insist that you never breathe
this ridiculous idea of yours TO a living
soul. Do you think that I am going to
allow you, my wife, to make such n fool
OF yourself as to carelessly cast q foul sus.
picion, one that has absolutely no grounds
whatever but the coincidence Of a name'
Why, you must be mad TO dream OF such
u thing!'
Julia rose TO her feet. II an not mad
Mt all. Stephen" she said, with dignity,
"and it is not right of you to speak to me
in that way IL | were. / have something
more than mere suspicion. Why, II IL
was all right, was an old friend Of forty
years standing so confused when he met
Miss Theedosfas . ssk Won Swas his msa~-
friend' Was he not confused, strained
uncomfortable looking' Did he not give
you the impression Of a man who would
gladly get out of il il he couldy"
"Yes. he did, aud so I dare say he woult
have done" answered Stephen, promptly
Remember this man vas spoony on Mis-
Lavinia years and years ago-probably n
far back as five aud thirty years since
And it Is very likely that he got over al
that nearly rs many years ago and that a:
a matter of fac he would rather walk M
TO a cannon's mouth thar come and tall
over the past with au old lady who would
be likely to rake up just what he most
wanted to forget. Aud apart from that
you have got a great many people To con
slider besides him. Probably, II il was
true that he had taken the jewels and you
could clearly prove it. Miss Theodosia
would rather lose twenty times as much
than convict an old friend OF his position.
Not for a moment that | wish 10 imply
that l have any belief in. or sympathy
with, your absurd fancies, The whole
thing is preposterons on The very face OF
1t. Why, you might as well accuse me OF
it-better. for | should do nothing and he
would certainly at QUO enter an action
against you, aud very properly, too"
81 believe he did It," said Julia, obsti-
nately.
well, whether you believe it or not IL
is not your place to give M opinion. You
have absolutely nothing to gain by it," he
went on, aud ii can make no real differ
once to you whether Laura ever wears
those rubies or not. Anyway, l must beg
that you will be silent on the subject"
well, l think ought to tell Miss Theo-
dosia aud then she can do as she likes
about following it up" said Julia. The
Traffords were all alike in Que respect,
they possessed n wonderful tenacity OF
purpose; and Julia in particular when once
firmly possessed of an idea did not easily
give it NJ.
Stephen Howard uttered an exclamation
of impotence and disgust. You must
do nothing of the sort" he cried. Cant
you see how unwise and impolitic such an
idea is. Just think of the consequences
II you prove to be wrong-and just think
Of the consequences IL you prove to be
right. Julia. my dear child. / beg. I i'm.
plore Of you to give up this foolish
scheme"
He was so terribly In earnest that he
caught her hands ins his and Julia felt
that they were trembling with excite
ment. For a moment or so they stood fac
ing one another. then she drew her hands
away and moved n step or W back. "You
have put u new idea into my head" she
said. shortly.
Thank God" said he, In q zone of re.
lief.
81 don't know about that" she returned
In a frozen sort OF tone, 'but l will no,
mention this idea of mine to Miss Theo.
dosia, or any of the others. not without
letting you know 1t. that is"
Stephen walked to the window and
looked out-his wife followed him with
her eyes and saw that he was shaking Wis.
IDLY, saw that he drew his hand across
his eyes and then passed his handkerchief
across his forehead.
II wish you would 60 away a little and
leave me alone" she said, after a few min.
utes had gone by-"I want TO think this
all out"
He turned round from the window,
and came close to her. "Juey-my own
love-" he said. take my advice. Don't
think 1t out! Let sleeping dogs lie. No
good a come to you by arousing them. +"
II will see" was all she said, II must
think first"
kiss me before I 60" he said. humbly,
eand II I used words In Won inst now