Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-09-20
Author Of & The Aou3e on rhs Narsh." etc,
mi ;hcm into cliTord,s hands.

ionania'' which had come before the
West End magistrates from twenty
threc To twenty-five years before. in
which "ladylikc young woman. of
superior manner and address, had
been charged with shoplifting
They all refer TO my daughter"
said the Colonel. quietly. And III all
we managed 10 get her of. OH The plea
that she had suffered from hys:cria.
And that was true
Then she is not responsible for her
"ctions:" suggested Clifford i'll = tone
OF RELIEF
Frankly. my own belief is that she
is fully responsible. She is Il highly
intelligent woman. AMI her astuieness
and cunning are unsurpassablc. There
is some moral twist in her nature
which causes Ear 10 love the excite
ment of crime. That is my own Opin-
ion. | took her away from London.
but wherever we went she thcatened
To get herself and me irto trouble. ana
ut last | brought her here. where it
seemed that she must "a honest for
want of opportunity To IL. anything
else. And | thought. un,il Il few
weeks ago. that / had succeeded. l
swear to YOU l never had suspicion
that she was mixed up with the ihefts
ut the Blue Lion until the inquest on
young Stickels. Then. when saw that
it lay between her and poor little Nell
Claris. l knew who was the-thc cul-
prit. But how could confess it? NJ
heart bled for the poor girl. but l
knew the truth must come out. and |
had not the courage TO hasten its com
ing"
For long time there was silence in
the little room. Then Clifford VEN
tured to ask:
do you know where She has gomez"
"All l know is that whatever she
has done is the best possible thing for
her own safety. l can trust her for
that"
Clifford was shocked. That the little,
faded woman was monster. an I'M
natural and depraved creature without
moral sense. was cleaR The Colonel
rose again. locked up his desk and held
out his hand to the young man.
Go" said lie. gravely. but kindly.
You have done all you could for me.
for us, and | thank you. Now you
must leave us to take our chance. And
remember what ! have said: There is
very little cause TO fear on Ing daugh-
ter's account"
Thus dismissed Clifford took leave
of the old man reluctantly and started
for Courtstairs. where he easily found
a lodging for the night.
On the following morning at day
break there arrived al the County Lu-
matte Asylum. sixteen miles from
Stroan. weird. wan object. shoeless.
wild-eyed. voicelcss with cold and
with terror.
The creature cried when the porter
came TO her summons:
Take me in. or ! shall do myself
some harm. Take me in, Take me
inr'
II was Miss Theodore.
No lunatic who had ever been adj
mitted within the walls of the asylum
had looked half so mad $ she did
The doctors saw her. and advised her
detention. And when the storm broke
over her. and the hue and cry reached
the asylum. there was no debut ex-
pressed by any of the doctors as TO her
insanity. She was duly brought up
before the magistrates. remanded.
brought up again; always with the
same result. She smiled. she chatted:
she appeared wholly unconscious of
her position. wholly Irresponsible And
Ut the last her trial for murder was
avoided. the doctors ali certifying that
she was unfit 10 plead.
And when il was announced that
Miss Theodore would be continel dur
Ing Her Majesiy's pleasure. every one
concurred in the justice of the deci-
sion except Colonel Bostal. who said
to Clifford. when they We're alone:
Il told YOU she would get OF. She is
so clever
Clifford himself did not know what
TO think. But then he had something
so much pleasanter TO think about
For Nell Claris was TO longer able TO
say No" to him. Instead of being a
suspected criminal. she was now her
Dine. II was honor and not disgrace
that she could now bring TO her hus-
land.
One thing ONLY Clifford had to wait
for. Nell would not leave her uncle
until his mind was quite restored.
For months she watched the reawak-
ening of his reason. tending him with
loving care.
And when he was able 10 return 10
the Blue Lion in full possession of his
reason. when the autumn tints We're
on the trees. Clifford took his pretty
and gentle bride away from the inn by
the shore.
The End.