The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-12
Author Of 1hs WoH,e w on "a he Warsh," etc.
Copyright, 1896, by Robert E

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die Of cuttings from old newspapers.
put them into Clifford's hands.
They all referred to cases Of "klep'
tomania" which had come before the
West End magistrates from twenty.
three to twenty-five years before, in
which a "ladylike young woman. OF
superior manner and address" had
been charged with shoplifting.
"They all refer to my daughter"
said the Colonel, quietly. And in all
we managed to get her off, on the plea
that she had suffered from hysteria.
And that was true"
"Then she is not responsible for her
actions?" suggested Clifford in a tone
Of relief.
The Colonel hesitated, and then said:
Frankly, my own belief is that she
is fully responsible. She is highly
intelligent woman, and her aStutenesS
and cunning are unsurpassable. There
is some moral twist in her nature
which causes her to love the excite
ment of crime. That is my own opin-
ion. I took her away from London,
but wherever we went she theatened
to get herself and me into trouble, and
at last I brought her here, where it
seemed that she must be honest for
want of opportunity to be anything
else. And I thought, until a few
weeks ago, that 1 had succeeded. I
swear to you 1 never had suspicion
that she was mixed up with the thefts
at the Blue Lion until the inquest on
young Stickels. Then, when saw that
it lay between her and poor little Nell
Claris, I knew who was the-the cul-
prit. But how could confess it? My
heart bled for the poor girl, but 1
knew the truth must come out, and
had not the courage to hasten it's COM
ing"
For long time there was silence in
the little room. Then Clifford ven
tured to ask:
"Do you know where she has gone"
The Colonel shook his head.
"All I know is that whatever she
has done is the best possible thing for
her own safety. I can trust her for
that"
Clifford was shocked. That the little,
faded woman was monster, an un-
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.
60" said he, gravely, but kindly.
You have done all you could for me,
for US, and 1 thank you. Now you
must leave us to take our chance. And
remember what have said: There is
very little cause to fear on my Gaugh-
ter's account"
Thus dismissed Clifford took leave
Of the old man reluctantly and started
for Courtstairs, where he easily found
q lodging for the night. <-~~
On the following morning at day
break there arrived at the County Lu-
natic Asylum, sixteen miles from
Stroan, a weird, wan object, shoeless,
voiceless with cold and
with terror.
The creature cried when the porter
came to her summons:
Take me in, or 1 shall do myself
some harm. Take me in! Take me
in!'
1t was Miss Theodore.
No lunatic who had ever been ad-
mitted within the walls Of the asylum
had looked half so mad Gs 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
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
at the last her trial for murder was
avoided, the doctors all certifying that
she was unfit to plead.
And when it was announced that
Miss Theodore would be confined dur
ing Her Majesty's pleasure, every one
in the justice of the deci-
sion except Colonel Bostal, who said
to Clifford, when they were alone:
Il told you she would get off! 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 no longer able to
say "No" to him. Instead of being a
suspected criminal, she was now a her
oine. 1t was honor and not disgrace
that she could now bring to her hus-
band.
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.
cning of his reason, tending him with
loving care.
And when he was able to return to
the Blue Lion in full possession of his
reason, when the autumn tints were
on the trees, Clifford took his pretty
and gentle bride away from the inn by
the shore.
The End.