Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-03-09
THE THIEF. Q

pleased to be, to q most enigmaticnl young
person She spoke rarely and in n way al
ways little mysterious, making volunta-
rily secrets Of n hundred little actions OF life
and loving solitude in an alarming man
ner.
All this was offset by Dyes so beautiful,
by a coloring so marvellous, by an express
sion so divine that had not tho courage
TO reflect on the singulnrity of her chhrnc-
ter. loved her, aud often pissed hours
of tho night sitting before her doorstep,
simply dreaming THAT sho lived there
and medltating on her presence MS does the
believer ON the rnnsubstantiation.
did not know In the 0rst place, wheth-
er she loved me or not; sho always refused
to answer that question, referring TO the
wishos of her parents and her confidence In
their wisdom. II | insisted, she generally
ended by snying THAT she knew nothing
about 1t, but that she felt no nntipathy to-
ward me, and th0t, according to her ideas,
was enough to decide young girl on mar
riage." In vain l supplicnted In vain
tried to animate this enigmatical being
She remained as distant as the manner In
which ahe loved, as unknown as she was
dominating.
One evening as I was dreaming littlo
sadly Of these things alone on the terrace
Ol tDo oJTNth u iNpiA ~
the house. returned to the salon. where
everything WINS In disorder, my hosts were
distressed, their friends embarrassed and
troubled and old Mime. Dcsparcs horribly
pale and trembling.
"What In the world has happened"
asked. They explained incoburontly TINT
Mime. Desparcs diamonds were stoloD-old
family diamonds OF great value All tho
servants had been summoned into an id
joining room--in short, a formal search
was to be instituted. An old gentlemnn
II. do Ia Hestre, hnd been unanimously So
lected to direct this investigation just as
was entering, and his first proposition
was that every one submit, or rather offer
himself. to be searched. Although tho thing
was rather offensive no one protested, and
1t was decided that after tho servants, each
one present should DO examined
To tell the truth, oil this seemed Of small
importance beside my personal cares, and
with several others waited the end Of tho
adventure, while NJ. de In Hestrc, his two
witnesses and our host begun tho inspoo-
tion Of tho domestios,
Very soon I fell again into my medlta-
tion, my eyes fixed on the fireplace, IA
though thsre we're fire, when suddenly
felt a touch on my elbow. l raised my
bend with start, TO SOC my hanceo looking
at me most beeeechinply. We were alone
near the freside and could tall; In low
tones without being overheard. She muir
INJURED very low:
''If you love me, arrange that they search
you first; then try to DO near me- and, with
out being seen, try to conceal tho object
that shall pass you from behind"
My blood ran cold. This annoying Incl
dent became terrible, filling me with tho
most passionate trouble. looked at tho
girl in agony, but forced myself to smile
and whispered;
st shall be done as you wish. -
My knees trembled; my mouth was dry
and hot. Tho feeling that overwhelmed
Inc was inexpressible 1t was strange
mingling of bitterness and pleasure that
my loved ono should DO weak to such n de-
gree. ] forced myself TO have sort of dis
dninful pity, and In reality love beat ar
dent, strong, stern, In my breast l under
stood In u flash how beauty could become
divine above bascDess Of soul, how one
could respect 1t oven In dishonor and u
hundred other things in which were con-
fused, fcrvent love, devotion withoutl limit,
q desire noble and pcrvorso
Jeanne had thanked mo with hardly
pcrceptible movement Of the lips; sbo stood
by tho wall with an air Of Indifference and
pride:
"rhcy arc very long about itp' sho said
suddenly. IN. de la Hester Is man Of
method" some ono replied, md silence
followed which told more and moro on
ones nerves, for oven the waiting In a
peaceful frame Of mind finishes by disturb
Ing and emptying tho brain like u pump.
However. tho moment arrived when, tho
searching of the servants ended, the door
opened, disclosing our host tho two wit
nesses and the old gentleman.
My heart beat furiously. felt myself
become terribly pale; but, conooaling my
agitation and steldying my voice, asked
to DO searched first
Nj. de la Hestro smiled Mt what he con.
sidered the whim of n young man and pro.
ceeded methodically to my examination.
blushed, became pale, without any one
finding that peculiar under tho clrcum
stances. When It was over, i made two oil
three steps backward and found myself
near Jeanne She lowered her fan ant
handed me something with GOODNESS that
was only equalod by my calmness in eeiz
Ing tho object and placing it In pocket
OF my coat After which leaned against
the fireplace, being now merely witnosI
and above all suspicion.
NJ do La Hestre's search was unproduc
tive OF results. There remained nothin,
to do but to visit all the rooms and thei
inform the police.
Still my trouble of mind increased as
remained standing by tho fireplace. NJ,
brain was In whirl, and felt tho Grim
weigh on me us though were indeed tn
thief
Jeanne at last came toward me witt
that undulating step of hers and gave ID
look Of such passionate gratitude that i
almost seemed to scorch mo. Then in al
Imperative low tone she said:
"Do you still love me9"
/ did not hesitate replied firmly;
"Yes"
sin spite of all that have done9"
In spite of everything"
"Will you marry mes'
81 will marry you"
She opveloped mo with the same look
still warmer and more lingering. 1 full
comprehend tho power Of woman ahov
all law, human or natural drawn iron
the fountain bead and against which moth
Ing ought TO prevail.
felt strangely happy In this cquivoca
adventure, and could not throw OH thi
happiness for which l roproached mysol
and of which was terribly ashamed
As was struggling with these contend
ing emotions EXPLANATIONS were heard
and saw NJ. de la Hestro reappear hold
ing a Ittle box.
"We have tho Jewels and the guiltyone,