Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-14

fore thought of three as a large number.
There seemed a way out of the difficulty
and this was fortunate; but 1t made one
tremble to think that should be ever
within sight of fate so terrible. The OBJ
vious exit was never to allude to the in
cident to any one. That dreadful man
would send for it; the bag would
thus disappear; no one need know
the part that she had taken in the affair.
The old judge was getting on with his
speech, with an occasional joke of moderate
strength that made the hall roar with
static appreciation, and Miss Farley nerved
herself to put aside the terrifying thoughts
that oppressed her. with partial success,
partial failure. A deplorable old bag sat in
the front row below interrupting the pro-
ceedings now and again by demanding
cheers for herself; the pleasing thought oc-
CURED to Miss Farley that she might never
lead sedate comfortable later life, but
that she might finish in the type of the
dreadful woman who was just then shout
ing, "Hooray fer Patsy Maguire!' Pursuing
this cheerful vein, Miss Farley succeeded,
as the old judge resumed his seat, fearful
at his own affecting peroration, in accept
ing with fair equanimity sentence of
penal servitude for life.
p. Would any one in the audience" asked
the chairman, care to give their expert
ence? | can spare five minutes before call
ing upon Mr.. Nottingham"
Nobody rose at first. but when the de-
plorable old woman in the front row stood
up, then a dozen others started to compete
for the honor. The old woman, called upon
by the chair. said that she was as good as
any other lady in Sardinia street. and that
If anybody dared to say word against
her public or her private character she
would. Nevertheless, Mrs. Mcguire con-
fessed with tearfulness but withal some
thing of pride to T. life of wrongdoing that
included crime from bird-faling to high
way robbery. 1t was all the fault of the
first step said the old lady; the first step
was fatal. Becoming interested, she de-
clined to regard the chairman's call to or
der, and had eventually to be removed from
the hall. Nottingham in his speech took
advantage of this and spoke severely of
mistaken tolerance. Wrongdoers, said Mr..
Nottingham, wrongdoers must be stunned.
Any one participating in crime should not
be recognized by decent folk Wrongdoers
must be ostracised. The other men on the
platform coughed doubtfully at this, the
argument being precisely opposed to the
intent of the movement. Miss Farley
sighed
Sure, you are not out of sorts, Jane?
That place was very close"
Il am quite WELL" said Miss Farley dole
fully. She was in the Chislehurst train at
Charing Cross, anxious for the train to
start, anxious to get away from nearness
to the terrible bag. She would have given
something to have known if it had been
called for But II am just a little wor-
ried."
Tell me- said Nottingham. with his
hand to his ear.
Il can't" she answered. Not now. at
any rate
IF you were wise woman" he said
nervously, taking out his watch, you
would marry me-"
Il have often told you that do not want
to marry" she said YEARLY.
But" urged Nottingham, II do
Stand away from the carriage" she said
with consideration in her tone. THE train
is just starting"
Write to me-" he begged.
1t Will be the same letter" Thank good
ness! the train was moving at last, moving
away from the bag.
Alter the wording slightly this time"
suggested Nottingham. He walked along
with the train. Make it less
Stan away, sir; stan awayr
Inc alert young porter, Scarlet-faced and
excited, pushed Nottingham aside, opened
the door, jerked from his shoulder the
large 1umpy bag down into the center of
the compartment, closed the door again
You'd a forgot it, lady he gasped,
breathlessly, 'if it admit been for me-"
There was no escaping it. Miss Farley
would have lifted it Up and dropped it out
of the window. but 1t was too heavy. At
Chislehurst she stepped down briskly, clos
ing the door, and the guard, discovering
the bag, sent 1t after her to the cab by two
men. AS she drove home she could, by
closing her eyes, see everything. Capture
of the burglar, his full confession, the bag
traced, preposterous explanation on her
part that would be accepted by nobody
She would bury the bag at the end of her
lawn that night. 1t would be impossible to
steep, IetlnS tflat IL remained In the house.
I'm so sorry miss said the maid, meet
ing her in the hall
What have you broken now, Lambert?'
Nothing broke, miss" said the maid, re-
gretfully. Wont be nothin' left to break
If we go on like this
''Will you give the man some help with
the heavy bag?'
The two lugged it into the hall
LAS l was saying, miss"
Get me a spade Lambert, and go off to
bed, quickly. Has cook gomez
Miss, you must please listen There's
been a burglary. and the best of your beau
ttful plates gone, and
Lambert" cried Miss Farley with sud
den excitement, help me to undo these
straps!
Why said the maid, with great relief,
as the mouth Of the large bag gaped open,
you took en- miss, Them Miss Farley
loosened her cloak, took off her hat and
felt inclined to dance. And we've been
frightened out of our lives nearly for
nothing"
VERY absurd of you, Lambert"
"All the same, miss remarked the maid
as she took out the contents, "all the same,
my opinion is-now badly they've packed
em-ry opinion is that there ought to be
no ouse without man In it,"
Miss Farley glanced thoughtfully at her
self in a slip Of mirror.
II think perhaps you're right, Lambert
l shan't want a spade now. I'll write a
letter instead"