The Red Cloud chief., 1900-10-19

Gerard-David Gerard. I FED the cnun-
try aud changed my name because I
was accused OF a fearful crime-the
crime OF stealing Lady Drownlow's
Jowe.s-while a tutor in her house."
Enderby heard a low, instantly sup
pressed sound like a moan break from
Jasmlne's lips, but IL the dying man
heard 1t he gave no sign. lie wen on
slowly, with closed eyes:
II was always an unfortunate man
and when my wife died and my sister
took my little Jasmine, I went rs
tutor to Sir Francis Brownlow's two
boys. l was n public school and Ok
ford man. or all the friends OF my
youth there was one whom I had never
ceased to correspond with. That was
Hal Lennox. who had gone in for tho
law. and was getting on wonderfully
we'll,
when young. Hal and | had both
loved the same girl. She had promised
herself TO me; but when she found out
that | would never be q wealthy man,
she threw me overheard. She vas
beautiful beyond the privilege OF wom-
en-: but she was ambitious. extrava-
CANT. unprinclpled. Yes, ! know all
that now-I knew It then; but still l
loved her..
She came to the Drowniows on n
visit. She was deep In debt. though
| did not know II. One night Lady
Brownlow had showed her the jewels.
and told her the priceless value OF her
pearl necklace. There was not u
like 1t in England.
"A few nights after temptation came
to her. l do not need to tell o how
my time Is short. She took the neck
lace while Lady Brownlow was absent
from her boudoir for a few minutes.
She hid them In my room. though I
did not know Of 1t then. The day after
she came In for them. when I was sup
posed to be in town; but / returned
Unexpectedly, and caught her. She
wildly flung herself or my mercy. say
ing she had come to give them back.
ut was untrue; she sent her brother
her accomplice-to Paris to Sc l them
there. A few days later the loss was
d~iscovered; there was a hue and cry.
and all the rooms we're searched. In
my room, In a secret drawer of my
writing table. was found ono OF the
clasps OF the necklace. with a bit OF
crushed pearl adhering to 1t. In her
haste the necklace had caught In the
hasp of the drawer as Lady Iennox
thrust II in.
or course. ! was accused. There was
other evidence against me; but let that
suffice. In mad desperation. Lady Len
nox sent me a letter. beseechlng me to
shield her. No one knows I have that
1etter-not even her husband.
what could I do? had once loved
her; l loved her husband. l would
say nothing. and I was sent to Mon
mouth prison to await my trial. There
l heard that Sir Henry Iennox was
to prosecute.
"He came secretly to see me. and
told him all. ] told him I had con
vincing proof of her guilt. do no,
know IL he had known OF It before, but
he besought me to spare him this aw-
full blow. He said It would ruin him
for life. and as for Clarice he dared
not think Of her doom. What could
/ do? agreed to hide the truth. and
my old friend promised to save me.
THAT was when / knew Dundas
Lyndon. He certified that I was Ill.
and. when l obtained greater liberty, l
escaped.
II came home because | heard OF
Lady Lennox's death: and l thought
Of my W child. to whom I had moth
ing to leave but a stainless name.
came! saw Sir Henry. He tried to
persuade me to keep silence; but now,
for my Jasmine's sake. ! cannot. Then
! became Ill, and Lyndon came. Each
day ! wished him to allow me to go
out, that ] might see a solicitor who
would undertake my case, but he
would not. He kept me back day by
day. And now am dying; but l leave
this and the proof OF my innocence to
those who will see Justice done to my
poor little girl"
ITO no continued