The Lamar register., 1902-02-05
The Diamond Bracelet
By MRS. HENRY WOOD.
Author Of East Lynne. Etc.

"Cleverly done." quoth Gerard. when
he could get his breath. Il saw a
shark after me, Thomas, and had to
make bolt for 1t. Your having been
at the door saved me-"
Thomas turned pale.
"Mr. Gerard. you have locked 1t. and
I'll put up the chain. If you order me.
but I'm afeared it's going agin the law
to keep out them detectives by force OF
arms
whats the mans head running on
now?" returned Gerard. There are
no detectives after me; it was only a
seedy sheriff's officer. Pshaw, Thorn
as! there's no worse crime attached to
me than a slight suspicion of debt"
I'm sure trust not. sir: only mas
ter will have his own way"
SIS he at hone?"
Hes gone to the opera with my
lady. The young ladies are upstairs
alone. Miss Seaton has been i'll. sir.
ever since the bother. and Lady Fran
ces is staying at home with her."
"IIl go up and see them. II they
are at the opera, we shall be snug and
SAFE"
"oh. Mr.. Gerard. had you better go
up, do you think?" the man ventured
to remark. "If the Colonel should
come to hear Of it"
"How can he? You are not going
to tell him, and l am sure they will
not. Besides, there's no help for 1t;
l can't go out again for hours. And,
Thomas, IL any demon should knock
and ask for me, l am gone toto an
evening party up at Putney; went out
you know by the side door,"
Thomas watched him run up the
stairs, and shook his head. "One can't
help liking him, with it all: though
where could the bracelet have gone
to II he did not take it?"
The drawing rooms were empty. and
Gerard made his way to small room
that Lady Sarah called her "boudoir."
There they were-Alice buried in the
pillows Of an invalid's chair, and Lady
Frances careening about the room. ap-
parently practicing some new dancing
step. She did not see him; Gerard
danced up to her, and took her hand,
and Joined in it.
when the cats away the mice can
play" cried Gerard. treating them to
step.
"Mr. Hope" demonstrated Alice, lift
ing her feeble voice. "how can you in
dulge these spirits while things are SO
miserable?"
"Sighing and groaning won't make
them light" he answered, sitting down
on sofa near to Alice. Here's seat
for you Fanny, come along" he added.
pulling Frances to his side. First
and foremost. has anything come to
light about that mysterious bracelet?"
mot yet," sighed Alice. But l
have no rest; l am in hourly fear Of
it."
"Fear!" uttered Gerard in astonish-
ment. Alice WINGED and leaned her
head upon her hand; she spoke in a
low tone.
"You must understand what I mean,
Mr. Hope. The affair has been pro-
ductive Of SO much pain and annoy
ance to me. that wish it could be ig-
nored forever"
Though it left me under a cloud"
said Gerard. you must pardon me II
cannot agree with you. My constant
hope is that 1t may all come to day
light; I assure you I have specially
mentioned 1t in my prayers"
pray don't, Mr.. Hope" reproved
Alice.
"I'm sure have cause to mention it,
for 1t is sending me into exile; that
and other things"
"It is guilty only who fee, not the
innocent" said Frances. you don't
mean what you say. Gerard"
rryl, xoty hNo
vertised to steam from London bridge
wharf tomorrow, wind and weather
permitting. and 1t steams me with it.
] am compelled to fly my country"
BE serious and say what you
mean"
Seriously, then, I am over head and
ears in debt. You know my uncle
stopped my allowance in the spring
and sent me-metaphorically the
dogs I had few liabilities. and they
have all come down upon me. But for
this confounded bracelet affair, there's
no doubt the Colonel would have set
tied them; rather than let the name of
Hope be obviously banded by the
public; he would nave expended his
ire in growls and have gone and done
it. But that is over now, and I go to
take up my abode in some renowned
colony for desolate English, beyond
the pale of English lock-ups. Bou-
logne or Calais, or Dieppe or Brussels
may see; and there may be kept for
years"
Neither of the young ladies answered
Immediately; they saw the facts were
serious. and that Gerard was only
making light of It before them.