Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-10-09
THE.nTSTERT. T.oF.THE
INN*aBIsln;r; !; ;;:1E;aHI j; lE;sl;5I; q; SHQRE
lrnnvrisht 1905. by Rnb ert Donners Sons ::

man to call me. that it was some ruse
of hers" he said. "You see, Mr..
King" he went on. as the young man
rcddened with surprise, II know her
tricks. II have waited-for some
such end as this - for twenty-five
years"
An exclamation, in which astonish
ment and sympathy were blended, es-
capped from Clifford's lips. Colonel
Bostal rose from his chair. and un
locking a cupboard in the corner of the
room. took from 1t an old desk. which
he unlocked, and taking from it bun
die Of cuttings from old newspapers.
put them into Clifford's hands.
They all referred to cases of "klcp-
tomania" which had come before the
West End magistrates from twenty
three to twenty-five years before, in
which Il '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
octors.w suggested Clifford in tone
of relief.
"Frankly, my own belief Is that she
is fully responsible. She is highly
intelligent woman. and her astuleness
"A i,,,r hln TbnI'n
is some moral twist in her nature
which causes her to 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, and
at last ] brought her here, where it
seemed that she must De honest for
want of opportunity to be anything
else. And l thought, unn a few
weeks ago that l had succeeded. l
swear to you l never had suspicion
that she was mixed up with the thefts
ut the Blue Lion until the inquest on
young Stickels. Then, when l saw that
It lay between her and poor little Nell
Claris. | knew who was thc-thc cul-
prit But how could | confess it? My
heart bled for the poor girl, but |
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
turcd to ask:
do YOU know where she has gomez
"All | 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 a 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.
Co. said he, gravely, but kindly.
"You have done all you could for me,
for us, and l thank you. Now you
must leave us to take our chance. And
remember what l have said: There Is
very little cause to fear on my 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 at the County Lu-
matte Asylum, sixteen miles from
Stroan, weird, WAN object, shoeless,
wild-eyed, voiceless 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
In"
1t was Miss Theodore.
No lunatic who had ever been ad-
miited within the walls of the asylum
had looked half so mad IS 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
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 Majcsty's pleasure, every one
concurred in the justice of the deGi-
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 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-
ening 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 tnts We're
on the trees. Clifford took his pretty
and gentle bride away from the inn by
the shore.
The End.