Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-09-07
The DANVERS
Jewels,
BY TIE AUTHOR OF RED POTTAGE.

If Aurplla has nttuaCnt, YOU Noiiu
bear the occurrence with fortitude.
Nv dear child, you do not act 50 well
off the stage as ON it. There is some
thing on your mind. People don't up
set water at dinner and refuse all food
except pellets of pinched bread for moth
ing. What is it,"
Evelyn sank into a chair and covered
her face with her trembling hands.
YES, thought So" said Charles.
kneeling down by her and gently with
drawing her hands. "Come, Evelyn,
what is it,
Il dare not say" And she turned
away her face and tried to disengage
her hands, but Charles held them firmly.
lis it about what happened last
night" he asked, in a tone that was
kind, but that evidently intended to
have an answer.
"Yes."
And do you know that | am sus-
pectedy'
lyon, Charles? Never" she cried,
starting up.
YES, |. Suspected by my own fa-
thcr. So if you know anything, Evelyn
which see You dot is your duty to
tell us, and to help us in every way you
can"
He had let go her hands now and had
risen.
81 don't know anything for certain"
she said, "but-but we soon shall. Azure
LA knows and she is going to tell Ralph"
Miss Grant" | exclaimed. "She
knew nothing at tea time. She was
| asking me about it.
! at is since them" continued Evelyn.
| 81 went up to her room before dinner to
| ask her for a fan that had lent her. She
was packing some of her things, and the
floor was strewn with packing paper and
| parcels. She gave me my fan, and was
going on putting her things together
! talking all the time, when she asked me
to hand her a glove box on the dressing
table. AS | did so my eye fell on piece
of paper lying together with others, and
instantly recognized it as the same that
had been wrapped round the diamond
crescent when Col. Middleton first showed
us the jewels. should never have no.
ticed it-for though it was rice paper it
looked Just like the other pieces strewn
nbout-if had not seen two little angu-
lar tears which | suddenly remembered
making in it myself when Gen. Mars
ton asked me not to pull it to pieces,
which | suppose had been absently do
ing. | made some sort of exclamation
of surprise, and Aurelia turned round
sharply and asked me what was the mat
ter. As l did not answer she left her
packing and came to the table. She saw
in a moment what was looking at
had turned as red as fire, and she was
quite white. i did not mean you to see
that she said at last, quietly taking W
the paper L meant no one to know
until had shown it to Ralph. Do you
know where found IT. and she looked
hard at me. l could only shake my
head. | was too much ashamed of 4
suspicion l had had to be able to get ont
word. 4 am very sorry continued
Aurelia, but am afraid it will be my
duty to tell Ralph, whatever the conse
quences may be. have been thinking
it over, and think he ought to know
I am going to show it him to-nigh
after dinner and she put it in he,
pocket and then began to Cry. | die
not know what to say or do, l was ST
frightened at the thought of what wa
coming, and as the dressing bell rang a
that moment l was just leaving TIN
room when she called me back.
IT H., 30 fcl
said. 4 hate Ralph to see me with rec
eyes. Tell him l shall come down after
ward, at o'clock, and that want t.
see him particularly; only don't tell hin
what it is about or mention it to an,
one else. did not mean any one t.
know till he did
"She began to cry afresh and l mad
her lie down and put shawl over hel
and then left her, as had still to dress
and l knew that Aunt Mary was no
coming down. was late as it was"
is that alp said Charles, who ha
been listening intently.
AL" replied Evelyn. I'VE shal
soon know the worst now"
Every soon," said Charles. "Ralp
may come in here at any moment
Erelyn and Middleton, will you hav
the goodness to come with me?' And HI
led the way into the hall.
We could hear Ralph in the mex
room humming over an old Irish melod,
with an improvised accompaniment
"Now show me her room," sait
Charles, land be quick about it,"
Evelyn looked at him astonished, ant
then led the way up stairs, along the pict
ure gallery to another wing of tn
house. She stopped at last before doc
at the end of the passage, dimly Lighted
, by a lamp at the further end Their
was a light under the door, and brigh
, chink in the keyhole, but though we list
, ened intently we could hear nothin,
stirring within.
, "Knock again" said Charles to Evelyn
| "Louder!' as her hand failed her.
There was no answer AS we listene
| the light within disappeared.
| Bring that lamp from the end of tn
: passage" said Charles to Evelyn, an
she brought it.
"Hold it there" he saio; "and you
q Middleton, stand aside"
He took few steps backward and the
e flung himself against the door with hi
v whole force. 1t cracked and groaned
| but resisted
g "The lock is old. 1t is bound to go,
he said, painting little.
: 'Really, Charles" remonstrated-''
. lady's private apartment! Miss Derrick
I wonder you allow this"
Charles retreated again, and the
t made fresh and even fiercer onslaugf
o ON the door. There was sound {
4 80