Year: 1878




vited by Mrs. Hall, my godmother, to pay
her visit before going to boarding school,
where I was to remain for few years. My
mother had died when was very young, and
nv father thought it better for me to be at q
nice school, where I would be among girls of
my own age, than in house with only his
sister and himself. Mrs. Hall was very fond
of me she had no children of her own, and,
had nv father consented, she and Mr.. Hall
would have taken me to live with them en-.
tirely. ~ ,


It was a lovely day in June when 1 arrived
at my godmother's, and she was delighted to
see me. The house was beautifully situated
on high ground, surrounded by grand old
trees, and on one side was flower garden.


One morning godmother said to me:


"Come up stairs with me, Lillian, and |
will show you some Indian jewels that my
uncle left me lately She opened the. draw
of inlaid sandel.wood cabinet and took out
a small case, in which were pair OF ear.
rings, brooch and necklace of most beauti-
full diamonds. I thought l had never seen
anything so beautiful before. my dear Lii
ian," said she, Il intend to give you these on
your sixteenth birthday. | see, however,
there is a stone loose in one of the earrings,
80 will take it to town to-day and have it
repaired" She folded it up carefully and
put it in her purse; the case with the other
diamonds she put in one of the drawers OF
her dressing-glass.


After lunch Mr. and Mrs. Hall took me
with them to the town, which was about four
miles distant. The earring was left at the
jewellers and as we were to- spend the day
at a friends house we arranged to call for it
on our way back. But you will say, what
has all this to do with your dream2 Well,
wait little and you will see. ,.


We spent pleasnt day, called for the ear
ring on our way, and arrived home about
half:past nine o'clock. As l was taking off
my bonnet, godmother came into the ROOM
Lillian" said she, II cannot find the case of
diamonds anywhere Did not leave it in
my dressing glass before l went out? | went
to put in the other earring now, and 1t was
not there Who could have taken it?'


"You certainly left it in the dressing-glass
drawer" said. "Could any Of the servants
have taken it, do you think p


II am sure they would Lot" she answered
II have had them with me for years, and
never missed anything before. :"


Are there any strangers about that could
have come in through the Window"


"No, Lillian; there are no strangers about
the place except the gardener, aud he seems
a most respectable man. got very high
character of him from his last place in fact
we were told that he was most trustworthy
person"


Next day there was wonderful commotion
about the missing jewel case. The police
were sent for, and every place was searched
over and over again, but to no purpose. One
thing however puzzled US; on the window
sill was a foot-mark, and near the dressing
table little bit of earth as if of a shoe or
boot which led as to think that the thief
must have come IN through the window. But
how did he get up to it?


1t was good height from the ground, and
the creeping plants we're not in the least bro
ken, as would have been the case had any one
climbed up by them. A ladder must have
been employed, and it was little to the credit
of the police that this fact had not been prop.
erly considered. AS the matter stood it was
a mystery, and seemed likely to remain so,
and only one earring was left Of the val aluable
set.


In few days left for school, where re-
mained for four years. | spent every vaca-
ton between my home and my godmother's.
We often spoke of the stolen diamonds, but
nothing had ever been heard of them, though
a reward of ESQ had been offered BY Mr.. Hall
for any information that would lead to the
detection of the thief On my sixteenth birth
day my godmother gave me beautiful watch
and chain and the diamond earring, which
she had got arranged rs necklace.


"I am so sorry, Lillian" said she, that
have not the rest of those diamonds to give
you but if ever they are found, they shall be
yours. my DEAR"


| must now pass over siI years, which went
by quietly and happily, nothing very impor-
tant taking place until the last year, during
which time had been married. My husband
was barrister. We lived in the north of
England. My mother.in law, Mrs. Benson, and
Mary, one of her daughters, lived some miles
away from US, near the sea.coast 1t was
very lonely place, long way from the little
fishing town, or rather village, of Burnley.
I confess often fel; very nervous about Mrs
Benson and her daughter living alone Cher
husband having been dead many years.)
Except three women.servants in the house
and the coachman and his family. who lived
in the lodge, there was no one nearer than
Burnley, four miles off. Besides, it was
known that there was large quantity of
plate in the house and the little seaside vii
lage was often the resort of smuggl lers and
other wild and lawless characters. One day,
while thinking of them, felt so uneasy that
said to my husband: 81 hope, Henry,
there is nothing wrong with your mother she
has been in my mind all day.


"Oh |" said he, "why should you feel so
anxious about her to-day? saw her last
Tuesday and if she were i'll, Mary would be
sure to let US know. 1t is onl y one of your
'fancies,' little wife.


Still did not feel easy, for more than once
before my so-called "fancy" had proved to he
reality 80 / determined that in a few
days would 90 and see Mrs. Benson. All
that evening I could not get her off my
thoughts, and it was long time before
went to sleep. I think it must have been
about three o'clock in the morning that /
woke in state of terror. l had dreamed
that saw Mrs. Benson standing in the win
dow of her bedroom, beckoning me to come
to her, and pointing to a female figure who
was stealing along under the shade Of the
trees in the avenue, for the moon was shining
brightly.


started up, thinking l heard her calling
me. And there is the most extraordinary
part of it although l was now quite awake,
heard, as thought, a voice saying to me: {:
go tell Mrs. Benson, Martha is deceiving
her; tell her to send her away at once.


Three times these words seemed to be re.