Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-03-07


stones where they could.
Frances Chenevix went home-tha
is, to Colonel Hope's-and told hel
strange tale to Alice Seaton; not only
about Gerard being in England. but
about the bracelet.
Alice, it is the bracelet. I am more
certain than ever. Garrard's people
say they have sold articles of jewelry
to Lady Livingstone. but not dia-
mond bracelet, and, moreover, that
they never had one of that precise pat
tern, but the bracelet Colonel Hope
bought"
What is to be done?" exclaimed
/ Alice.
! II know. l shall go to those Liv-
ingstone's. Gerard shall not stay un-
der this cloud if can help him out of
it, Mr.. Netherleigh won't act. and
we dare not tell the Colonel; he is
SO obstinate and wrong-headed, he
would be for arresting Gerard, pend
ing the investigation"
Frances
Nov don't you preach, Alice.
When will a thing, will. I am like
my lady mother for that. Lady Sarah
says she scratched her initials inside
the bracelet, and I shall demand to
see 1t; If these Livingstones refuse, I'll
put detectives on the scent. I will, as
| sure as my name is Frances Chene-
vix"
And If the investigation should
bring the guilt home to-to-Gerard?"
whispered Alice, in a hollow tone.
"And if it should bring it home to
you! and if it should bring it home to
For shame, Alice; it cannot bring it
home to Gerard, for he was never
guilty"
Alice Seaton sighed she saw there
was no help for it, for Lady Frances
was resolute.
II have deeper stake in this than
YOU she said, after a pause of con-
sideration, ''let me go to the Living
stones. You must not refuse me;
have an urgent motive for wishing it,
You, you weak mite Of a thing!
you would faint before you got half
through the interview" uttered Lady
Frances, in tone between jest and
vexation. ..s. g..
powerful reason for urging it, and
Lady Frances allowed the point,
though with much grumbling. The
carriage was still at the door, for Lady
Frances had desired that it should
wait, and Alice hastily dressed herself
and went down to it, without speaking
to Lady Sarah. The footman was
closing the door upon her, when out
flew Frances.
Alice, have made up my mind to
go with you, for T cannot guard my
patience until you are back again.
can sit in the carriage while you go
in. Lady Livingstone will be two
feet higher from today-that the world
should have been amazed with the
spectacle Of Lady Frances Chenevix
waiting humbly at her door"
Frances talked necessarily on the
road, but Alice was silent; she was
celebrating what she should say, and
was nerving herself to the task Lady
Livingstone was at home. and Alice
sending in her card, was conducted to
her presence, leaving Lady Frances
in her carriage.
Lady Frances had thus des:ribed
her; a woman as thin as whipping
post, with red nose; and Alice found
Lady Livingstone answer to it very
we'll. Sir Jasper, who was also pres
ent, was much older than his wife, and
short. and thick; a gccd-natured look
ing man with a bald head. p.
Alice, refined and sensitive, scarcely
knew how she opened her subject, but
she was met in a different. manner
from what she had expected. The
knight and his wife were really worthy
people. as Mrs. Cadogan had said. only
she had a mania for getting into
high life and high-lived company"
thing she would never accomplish
She listened to Afice's tale with court
esy, and at length with interest.
"You will readily conceive the
nightmare this has been to me-" pant
"The bracelet was under my charge
and it disappeared in this extraordi-
nary way. All the trouble it has been
productive of to me, am not at lib |
erty to tell you, but it has certainly |
shortened my life" ...
you look ill.," observed Lady Liv- |
ingstone, with sympathy.
II am worse than I look I am 60
ing into the grave rapidly. Others
less sensitive, or with stronger bodily
health, might have battled success
fully with the distress and annoyance:
l could not. shall die in greater
peace If this unhappy affair can be
cleared. Should it prove to be the
same bracelet, we might be able to
trace out how it was lost"
CHAPTER XIV
Lady Livingstone left the room and