The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22

Ec&k1 Saturday. The assiZes were to
e commence on the following Mon
day morning in the prosperous town of
Brookville. He was to occupy the bench
OH this occasion. and Tracy had long ago
asked him to make his house his head
quarters.
Peter Tracy was rich man. and owned
a lovely estate in the neghborhood of
Brookville. The time was the middle OF
summer splendor. When Greenfield step
ped from the luxurious carriage whlch
Tracy had sent to meet him at the fall-
way station, and took the smooth young
hand of his hosts only daughter in his own,
he could not help giving sign OF Weds-
urc.
thought, land need give no thought u
crime and its attendant miser1es
Evelyn raised her full, dark eyes ana
smiled in his face. 1T is nice 10 nave
You here again. Uncle Algernon.' she said.
She was no relation, but from her baby
hood she had called him by the familiar
And it is very nice to come, Evelyn"
he replied. After the tolls and the noise
and fuss of London, this place seems like
heaven. But haven't you some news to give
me- or did that indefatigabe little bird
which flies over the world to East and
West. to North and South. whisper in my
ear in vain?
The girl blushed very wildly. What did
II tell you?' she asked
well. that / should soon have to put my
hand in my pocket and present some one
with a wedding present
Evelyn smiled. and then she sighed. II
am going to say very reasonable thing, =
was her next remark. Il hate wedding
presents. / have had a great many. and
the most expensive of all has put me into
fearful trouble. l should like to tell you,
only"
"Only what Evelyn? Why, should you
not let me share your anxieties? That is.
If you really have any"
Il have indeed. Only Christopher and
father both said that 1 ought not to tell
you: 1t might be unfair; it might, in fact.
prejudice you.
1T sounds very serious and alarming, but
pray tell first if Christopher is here, and
are you very much in love with him?"
"Yes. Christopher is here; he is coming
down the walk to meet US. l will introduce
him.
good-loodng man of about eight-and-
twenty years of age came forward. His
name was Christopher Selkirk. He had
loved Evelyn for years, and their marriage
which was TO take place In few months
time, was regarded by the friends on both
sides a singularly happy one. Judge
Greenfield was pleased TO meet the young
man. and soon they were chatting together.
Evelyn walking beside them, with her hand
laid lightly on the judges arm. They ap-
preached a small summer-house, and the
1t was then that Judge Greenfield for the
first time remarked that his favorite's eyes,
Notwithstanding her real and great happi-
ness, were full of subdued anxiety, and that
her pretty face was paler than its wont.
What is this mystery, Evelyn" he
said. pinching her ear You must tell me,
whatever Nj. Selkirk happens to say to
the contrary: You have made some strange
remarks with regard to the wedding pres
ents; one In particular has given you
trouble. May l not hear?'
Indeed you may. Uncle Algernon, even if
you are twenty times a judge.
You ought not to tell. Evelyn" said
Selkirk, but Evelyn did not mind
We are very unhappy about it," she
said at once. "Oh. here comes father.
Perhaps he will tell you. II just can't
when IL comes to the point.
To me judges CONSERVATION Evelyn burst
into tears, Mr.. Tracy, who had been absent
when the judge arrived, now hurried for
ward.
Delighted to see you. my dear friend.
Evelyn in tearsi What about?'
You must tell Uncle Algernon," said
Evelyn. Il am so miserable; / miss her SO
much. wish there were no such terrible
things in the world as wedding gifts"
She left the summer-house, Selkirk i'm
mediately following.
Poor little girl said Tracey. when he
found himself alone with his friend. II
did not want to tell you Greenfield, for
you Will lave to judge the poor. miserable
creature"
But you must tell me. my friend. Your
dear little daughter miserable-so miserable
that even in the presence of her betrothed
she bursts into tears, What has happened?
i shall not have an easy minute until find
out
1T is this-and the trouble is pretty
big, although we try TO make light of it.
know that when her mother died. my little
girl was not year old. My dear wife's
last words were to commit her TO my care,
and also to the care of faithful nurse of
the name of Rebecca Hickson. From that
moment Rebecca was trusted as one would
trust member of ones own family. A
She was married at the time of my dear
wife's death. and her son was our Evelyn s
foster-brcther. When he was a baby he
was allowed to be good deal here. and
ne and Evelyn used to play and romp to-
gether. When he got older 1 paid for his
schooling and by-and-bye apprenticed him
to a stonemason. He was clever. and ap-
parently an upright young fellow, and for
long time did we'll In his trade. But
soon after his eighteenth birthday he took
an extraordinary turn. got with wild, un-
scrupulous companions and gave his mother
great deal OF anxiety. He became heavily
In debt. and the poor woman used up the
savings of years to set him free from this
INCUBUS. In the end | persuaded her to let
the young man go to America. arranged
10 pay his Passage out, and gave him a
little money to start afresh in another coun-
try. He went, and L hoped that / had seen
the last of him. but about three months
ago he returned Unexpectedly. Evelyn told
me. for Rebecca would not herself. men,
ton the fact Evelyn him skulking
about the place after dark. and evidently
waiting to see MS mother. / spoke to Re-
becca on the subject. but to my amaze
ment she denied that Jacob was back in
England. Evelyn mantsins stoutly, how
ever that beyond doubt she saw the man
We did not give the circumstance great
many thoughts, however. for my child was
just then engaged to Selkirk. and we were
all SO full of this. and the preparation for
her marriage. that even more important
things than the return of Jacob Hickson
would not have concerned us.
For the last month Evelyn has been
the recipient of some beautiful and valua-
bic gifts. Among other presents Selkirks
mother. Lady Esther sent the child
magnificent diamond and ruby necklace.
The necklace was of immense value. III
had been in the Selkirk family for genera
tions, and was said TO have been presented
by Queen Elizabeth TO the then reigning
lady Of the house on her marriage Christie
pher is the eldest son. and will i'm due
course inherit Sekirk Towers; Evelyn was.
therefore. the right person TO receive the
necklace She wildly delighted when
she found herself the possessor of such
valuable trinket. 1t reached her by special
messenger exactly four weeks ago.
We'll Greenfield. you can Judge of our
horror when l tell you that a week later
the ornament lost, evidently stolen;
how, or by whom We could not at first
imagine. Detectives could afford us no
ciew, and the fact remained that the neck
lace OF incalculable value was no longer
TO be found. Lady Esther arrived on the
scene IN a fearful state OF mind. All posi-
Die steps were taken To get clew TO the
robbery. but without success. until just at
the eleventh hour-namely. a week ago
when suspicion Of undoubted character was
shed upon the doings of that unfortunate
woman. Rebecea Hickson. Lady Esther
III