The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-27
'@De .% CHANCE
ESTHER AND LUCIA CHAMBERLAIN

ton. The thing was not a tragedy, it
was a grotesque. Blushing more and
more crimson, struggling with strange
mingled crying and laughter, she
slipped out of the bed, and, still in her
nightgown, ran down the hall, and
knocked or Mrs. Herrick's door, until
the dismayed lady opened it.
II thought it was he" Flora gasped.
II thought it was he who had taken
the ring! Why didn't he tell me? Why
did he keep it secret? 1 would have
done anything to have saved it for
him, and I let Harry get it! oh, isn't
it cruel? Isn't it pitiful? Isn't it ride
%ulous?"
Mrs. Herrick, who, for the last thirty
six hours, had SO departed from her
curriculum of safety, and courageously
met many strange appeara aces, now
was to hear stranger facts. For Flora
had let go completely, and Mrs. Her
rick, without limiting at Mysteries, let
her laugh, let her cry, let her tell piece
by piece, as she could, the story of the
two men, from the night when Kerr
had spoken so strangely at the club on
the virtues of thieves to the moment
"AACi't ~ - "lhON w ofh tAASS tARSof
cred that the jewel was gone. Clara's
part in the affair, and the price she
had exacted, even in this unnerved
moment, Flora's instinct withheld, to
save Mrs. Herrick the last cruelest
touch. But for the rest-she let Mrs.
Eerrick have it all-and under the
shadow of the grim facts the two
women chung together. as if to make
sure of their own Identities.
II don't even know who he is Flora
said family.
Mrs. Herrick gave her a quick glance.
She had not a moment's hesitation as
to whom the che" meant. you will
have to ask him when he comes"
DO YOU think he will come back?"
Mrs. Herrick had the heart to smile,
But think of what l have done. |
have lost him the sapphire, and he
loves it-loves it as much as he does
me-
Again the glance. Did he tel, you
that?"
Flora nodded. The other seemed in
tently to consider. He will come back, -
she declared.
Upheld by her friends assurance,
J. iOio lOhld hiiC Cliuui diNt ISSNoooi ~
spend the day, an empty, stagnant
day, in moving about a house and gar
den where a few hours ago had passed
such a storm of events. She reviewed
them, lived them over again, but with
cut taking account of them. Clara had
simply turned the situation over and
seen its market value, and o enor-
mously she had made 1t pay! Flora
herself had paid; and she had seen the
evidence hat Harry had paid, paid fol-
his poor little hour of escape which {
mere murderer might have granted hin
in pity. But Clara could walk beside
them, meet them at dinner with thu
same smooth face. chat upon the ter
race with the unsuspecting Mrs. Her
rick, n even face Flora in 3 s%ecurit,
which had the appearance of serenity
since she knew that nothing ever woul'
be told. AT every turn in the day
business Flora kept meeting that placi'
presence: and it was. not until the en-
OF the day that she met 1t primed 70
departure. Flora was with Mrs. Her
rick, and Clara. coming to seek then
out, had an air of casual farewell. TIL
small, sweet smile she presented benin
her misty veil. the delicate white glove
hand she offered we're symbols OF en-