The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-14

were brought out In turn. But the treasure
most valued by Lady Alicia was contained
In a small sandal-wood box which lay In
solitary state upon the lowest shelf She
lifted the lid and showed US. resting on the
blue velvet lining. a beautiful pearl necklace
which Marie Antoinette had worn in her
happier days, and which she had bestowed
on the daughter of the then Earl OF Ulls-
water when she left Versailles with her
parents before the days of the Terror.
1t was most lovely object it itself. and
its value was. of course, greatly enhanced
by its associations.
Every detail of that unhappy Queens
life has always had an absorbing interest
for me, and 1 begged to be allowed to hold
the necklace for moment. 1 suppose my
face, rather than my voice, betrayed what
l was feeling, for Max exclaimed, sharp
ly:
We'll. you are gone that!" and
startled me into flushing crimson at the
notice he attracted to me. At the same
time he caught up the sandalwood box
and smelt it, then, like the Goth he was,
ne put it to Connas's nose, saying:
Smell, Commas, smell!'
Lady Alicia reproved him as he deserved
in sharp tones. and putting out her hand
to me for the necklace, said:
THAT gem is worth more to me than
all my other possessions
1 gave it back in silence, not trusting
myself to speak, and turned away to hide
some foolish tears which the touching of
that relic had drawn to my eyes. A COM
panion had no business to be sentimental!
When looked around again the box was
restored to its place, and Lady Alicia was
exhibiting an object more interesting to
the boys. silver horn used by the Elector
Palatine when out hunting. She put this
back and closed the door Of the cabinet.
Our ancestors must have done a rare
lot Of cringeing to get all these pickings.
said Max, in his elegant way, with a wink
at me. Before his aunt could reply the
vicar was announced. and when we had
all shaken hands, Lady Alicia locked the
| cabinet, and asked me to put it away, at
| the same time dismissing the boys. who
came tumbling over each other into the
hail. vainly trying to smother a laugh.
Two days after this Max and Somers
went back to school. Max's last words to
| me being a recommendation Of Commas to
my special tenderness during his absence
The dog had grown very fond Of me, and
followed me about continually. His devo-
ton took the edge little Off the loneliness
1 felt when Max was gone. but L fancied
that Lady Alicia grudged me even this Bit
of comfort, and often when / called tc
/ Commas to join me on my walk she would
insist on OBTAINING him at her side, for hel
| attack OF rheumatism still kept her a pris
| oner.
he 1xx bod oha Gov ,f<rt,.
when the vicar called one afternoon, bring
ing with him French lady, a connection
! of his late wife. had been sitting reading
| to Lady Alicia, and was about to go quietly
away (having been given to understand
that my presence was not required wher
visitors arrived), when the vicar asked
Lady Alicia if she would have the kindness
to show Madame Lacroix the Marie An
toinette necklace-she had been so much in
terested when he told her about it. Afte
bringing the cabinet 1 was about to leav'
the room, but 1 had hardly reached tn
door when Lady Alicia gave a cry an'
screamed out:
Its sonei The necklace is gonei Tn
box has been stolen!' Then, forgetting he
rheumatism. she rushed across the room
laid her hand roughly on my shoulder, an
cried: Where is it? Quick-quick! 70,
know all about itr'
The suddenness of her attack stupefie,
me. 1 crimsoned with Indignation, an
stammered out:
Lady Alicia! What can you mean
What have I to do with it?''
Everything! You appeared to covet !
so much when you saw it-Maxwell notice
it. You brought it to me last-you put
back-you brought it to me again to-day
MY dear Lady Alicia said the vicar. i
his quiet voice. pray calm yourself Yo
have not yet seen whether any of you
other jewels are missing" And he led he
back to her couch. 1 waited. anxious to b
gone, but the thought that any movement
to leave would be construed into a desire (
escape, kept me rooted to the spot. Lad
Alicia counted over all her possessions
nothing else was missing. The French lad
sat with her cold eyes fixed on me.
The vicar said: 1T is very strange.
your cabinet has beer robbed, why shoul
that only have been taken?"
''Oh, that's easy to see," replied Lad
Alicia, In her hard, deep voice. 1T woul
not be missed for long time in the ord
nary course of things, for seldom shew tn
~
! mystery will soon be solved she adde,
and going to her writing table she filled U
: a telegraph form.
! May 1 trouble you to leave this at til
postoffice for me as you go homer she sal
I handing 1t to the vicar. II shall allow II
member of the household to go out of thes
gates until the necklace has been found"
The telegram, as / guessed. was to SEQ
! land Yard, and at breakfast-time ne,
morning a detective named Duckworth a
rived. He had travelled by the night trai
: and lost no time in beginning his investig;
! tons.
My position, from the moment the necl
r lace was missed, was one of the utmo
5 misery. Lady Alicia made no attempt
conceal that she suspected me of beir
the thief. The detective. a smooth-face
t smooth-tongued man, with hideously OF
g manners, examined and cross-examint
| me in the presence of Lady Alicia. A
the circumstances under which the jewe
< had been brought out and shown to Il
Q boys were described and discussed ad ma
( seam. The fact that the cabinet bore
e sign of having been broken open and
z Lady Alicia having the keys always Z
h her watchchain. appeared to have no si
;, nificance for either Lady Alicia or Il