Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-03-05
PART ".

"Of course not. Are you not act
ing in his interests"
"Why, certainly; but things seem
bit mixed to me. Well, sir, you see,
servants amt all deaf and dumb like
that pore crceter that is kept here out
lof charity. We has our senses, sir,
and our feelin's, and we can't always
shut our eyes TO what lisa goin' on. Well,
it was about month ago when | fust
see one evening as l was putting up
the shutters in She library, a dark fig.
ger lurking along the Strawberries
i couldn't see him very plainly, but
he looked like a loafer or a tramp to
mel didn't like the looks of him n,
nil, and l called James, the footman,to
go out into the garden and see who it
might be! But james, being but lad
and timorous-lilte, was such time
about obeying my orders. chat when
he went the man was gone. though
I'm as certain saw him as am that
see you at this present moment!"
swell! Well! but what of it? You
must often have beggars and tramps
round large house like this!"
"This wasn't no beggar," resumed
Goddard, mysteriously. "Well, sir, the
ruesday before my old master WINS
taken with his last illness, her ladyship
had out the jewels in the forenoon, rub.
bling them up and showing them to Sir
Henry and Miss Crnley - that's the
pore deformed lady, you know. Rachel
klarks was passing in and out of the
room at the time, and can bear
witness to the fact. My lady, she held
them against her gownd, and she says
to Rachel: They'll be mine, some day,
lkachel.' and Miss Craley she screamed
i'll her queer way and Sir Henry smiled,
as if it was all right, though, mind you,
don't believe nothing would have
made him leave them there jewels
away from Sir Charles, not If he'd been
In his right senses, not for ever sol"
You were present ut the interview
between Sir Henry and his son on the
following day, l believe, Goddard?'
Yes, sir, / was, and l hope never to
ba present ut such another, Tor / really
Thought they would have flown at one
lnother's throats. Sir Henry he was
IN terrible state, and the young 'un
L
ter say that Sir Charles was no son Of
his, and that he'd cut his name out of
his will, and that he'd be left pauper
On the bounty of the Dowager Lady
Ellesmere, though i, for one, never be.
lieved it, and knew it was only said in
q passion like, and that in his heart the
old master loved his son better than
anyone else. We'll, sir, you've heard
how it ended and we had to carry poor
SIR Henry up to his bed, where he lay
ill he died, unable to speak or to swal.
low. That evening, as | was watching
his bed, with little Miss Craley
crouched down by his side, moaning
gust like an animal in distress, my eyea
kept turning to the window Just tc
divert my thoughts, and presently see
the same figger I've spoke of, loafing
round the strawberries and keeping
well in the shadder. And while | was
looking, there comes out second fig.
IRE and joins him-and l could HAYS
sworn that 1t was my lady-but for
Gods sake, sir, you won't betray mt, for
l couldn't be sure, but Mrs. Nelson
who have been hege almost as long as
! have, will tell you the same, that is
that my lady did go out that evening
In the dusk, and she see her pass into
the strawberries, and come back alone
And that's all l know about the miss
Ing of the jewels, sir!"
THANK you, Mr.. Goddard. You
confidence shall be respected. VIII yo,
bend Mrs. Nelson TO me?"
When the old man had gone, / ros,
from my chair and began to pace TIN
library. An ccomplice-probably {
)over-on the scene. That put an en-
Grely fresh complexion on the matter
! seem 10 see it all as clear as day
An old man with young and beauti
Jul wife who was jealous of his son
Ind tried to set him in every wa,
against him, in order that she nigh
Inherit the property. She believed her
self to have gained her object, and theI
tho old mans sudden illness prevent
the accomplishment of her plan-sh
determines at all risks to secure thu
Jewels for hersef--calls in an accom-
plicc, or, as | surmise, her lover-gvc
them into his charge--perhap to tax,
them out of the country until she cal
join him-and so they might be gon
beyond recall. But l would get to tn
bottom of the mystery if mortal maj
could do 1t! IL was more lntricat
ease than / had expected - so mucl
the more kudos might gain from un
ravcling it. My blood rose at the pros
pect. l felt quite excited by the tim
the prim, old-fashioned housekeeper o
the Gables had entered my presence
She was quaint-looking old woman
the very picture of servant of trust
N her respectable black silk gown an
her white quilted cap. She curtsie
low as she encountered me, and stoo
like statue with her mittened hand
crossed over her apron, to hear what
might have to say to her.
"Your name is Mrs. Nelson, be
lieve?" commenced.
Eyes, sir!'
II suppose, MS you have been for 81
long in the family, that you have oftel
seen the missing jewels!"
II have seen them several times
cir"
sand when did you see them last
Mrs. Nelson?"
mot for long time, sir; my bust
ness not lying in the upper stories o
the house,"
Can you tell me when you heard o
them last? what you can remembe
III - =, IL =, Il ~