The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-01-29
EBENSBURG PA FRIDAY, JANUARY 90 1897.
already he unon ner.


ley. angrily. Here's Cecile, who can
bear witness that they were all here
last night, when you brought them in,
and no one but yourself has had access
TO them since! OF course it is you, and
| you only, who has stolen my diamond
| ring. | was fool ever TO employ
| French maid-I've always heard that
they are dishonest! Cecile, ring the
! bell. Send James for a policeman at
| once!'
-Cecile Chetwynde. herself very pale,
| yet langiidly self-possessed, pulled the
| silIlen rope.
Fanchon de Lisle clasped her hands
and fell at the portly lady's feet.
oh, madame. spare me! Do not
| bring this disgrace-this unmerited
! shame-on me and mine! Oh, madame.
| l am as innocent as yourself!" she
| cried
Mrs. Framley jerked her skirts from
| the French girls clasp.
You shall prove that in a court of
| Justice" she said, harshly. ~ police
| man! Why does not some one bring
| policeman"
The words had scarcely passed her
| lips when Fanchon de Lisle fell. white
! and lifeleSs, to the floor, her luxurious
| jet black hair escaping from its bands,
and falling, like a veil, over her ashen-
! pale face.
She is fainting," said Cecfle. with a
! quiver in her voice.
/ she is dead, ma'am," said Mrs. HoyIe,
| the motherly old houselleeper. It's
| the heart-she was always complaining
| OF pains round the heart. You've fright
ened her to death, ma'am!'
Don't be a fool, Hoyle," cried Mrs
| Framley, clutching nervously at her
| throat. It's only Il swoOn. Get some
camIhor, somebody. Oh, here comes
the officer
But it was no gruff-voiced policeman
who was ushercd into Mrs. Framley'S
/ boudoir-only Harold Disart, who
looked around him with puzzled coun-
ttnance.
Pray pardon me-" he said, with Il
courteous bow in Mrs Framley's dircc
tion. Il fear am intruding; but will
detain you only for an instant. have
come to return the diamond earring
Miss Chetwynde lost last night AT Mrs
Fontainc's party. 1t was found in the
conservatory, close to the big palm
where l brought you that last ice, Miss
Chetwynde"
Cecilc grew scarlet, then pale rs Mr.
Disart laid the glittering ornament be
side her on the table. She shranll from
her cousins eye even while she Strovc
to mutter some faint formula O thanks.
The diamond that Cecile Chctwyude
lost" Mrs. Framley shr.lIy calculated
beginning to comprehend the ne situ-
alton of affairs. "CeciIe ChetNyvnsle mt
Mrs. Fontaine's party last night, Base
girl. How dared you deceive me thus
You have been Haunting in my dia-
mondsi You have been systematicaIiy
acting Il false part, Wretch. viper! /
Will no longer have YOU in my house"
Mr.. Disart looked from theinfuriated
matron to the shrinking girl. in surprise
and perpleNity; but there were half a
score of voices ready to enlighten him
OF the matter.
Cecile buried her face in her hands,
II meant no HARM" she faltered.
1T was only for once"
And you would have let this poor
child suffer for your fault?" Harold
Disart exclaimed, reproachfully. "Oh,
Miss Chetwynde, how completely you
have blinded me up TO this time,''
And he turned away, in cold anger
and ill-concealed disgust.
At that instant The experienced old
physician whom the servants had sum-
moned glanced up from his eNamina-
ton.
1t viii matter little to this girl he
said, quietly. what the world may say
of her henceforth. She has gone to ii
greater tribunal to plead her poor little
cauSei"
He spoke truly.
Fanchon de Lisle WAS dead.
The burial certificate called it heart
disease" and they buried her in Il lonely
cemetery in Il strange land, where no
fender hand could hang Farlands on her
tombstone. But Cccile Chctwynde. al
belt she bears brave front before the
world, feels that she walks ever with the
crimson stain of murder on her slender
white handi
And sometimes she wishes ii were she
lying under the daisies where Fanchon
sleeps.-N. Y. Weekly.