Geneva's Trouble.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 208, 25 June 1887, Page 2

Geneva's Trouble.

' It's the 1 only time that Neva ever deliberately disobeyed me,' said Mrs, Bayliss. * STd/s a good girl,, in general-,-^-a very good gjrl ; but I can't overlook this.' Pretty Geneva Bayliss looked at her step-mother with .forge velvet-blue eyes, dfl'ated with dismay. It had seemed ! only a frolic to her — the moonlight sleigfe ride to Astott- Park, the dress : borrowed from Jemiette Aston, the merry dance in honour of Jennette's own birthday, the stajping all night because '* Flicker' had gone dead lame, and another horse couli-not be obtained to take his place before morning. ' We'll' get there bright and early before the old lady has- scoured the morning mist from her ej^glasses,' said Charlie As-ton. 'She'U never know. It will be all right, Neva/ So Geneva had stayed' all night, sharing her* room with i-he beautiful Miss Clara Perceval, who had come with the B&rnhams from the city, although her* heart had lulled within her at the idea of being compelled thus to set Mrs. Bayliss's authority at naught. I But it really wasn't my fault,' she pleaded to herself. ' I mea:at to have returned before midnight. And, after all, lam with friends ; and a girl must have a little enjoyment, now and then. And everybody says how -*cry strict mamma is with me/ Clara Perceval was a gay>, brilliant young creature,, who talked a great deal, and seemed; to know all that could possibly be known of New Y.ork and its vicinity. She pitied Geneva loudly because she had never been to -the opera nor seen a ballet. She declared, that life without bals. masques and' theatrica) spectacles was a barren wilderness. And she only stopped her lengthy description of the skating rink when she perceived, by the faint glimmer of the night taper, that little Neva- was feat asleep. But Geneva did not dare to tell her step-mother she had worn* her new white brocade wedding dress,, softeaed down a little with scarlet sash drapery, and vividly tinted geranium blossoms, and the diamond crescent which had descended to- the old lady kom a long line of Southern ancestuy. Fortunately, she had been able to get to her own room aiad change her dress before Mrs. Bayliss> sent for her,, but her heart stood still when, unfastening the scarf of white tujle ftom her neck, she missed the half circle of diamonds. I 1 know I laid it on the pincushion,' she said to herself. ' And I thought I put it under my pillow. Oh, dear, oh,, dear I what can have become of it ?' Fortunately Mrs. Bayliss, now something of an invalid, seldom wore her jewel, and Neva, after, receiving an hourlong lecture from her step-mother, and promising never, never to be guilty of such a wild caprice again, was at length allowed to retreat to her own room, i like Niobe, all in tears. * All the parties in the world are not worth such an hour as this,* thought our little penitent. ' I've felt like a wretch and a burglar ever since Charlie Aston met me at the hemlock hedge at nine o'clock last night. I've bartered away my own ?elf-re§pect, tqrnec] thiefand deceiver, told a dozen little falsehoods to screen one big one, and now the diamond crescent is gone. I do really think it would serve me right to send me to the penitentiary.' The tear-blotted little note which she sent over to Aston Park was answered by an encouraging billet from her friend Jennette. *It was such a pity. The room had been thoroughty searched,' wrote that young lady 'and nothing in the semblance of a diamond crescent had been found. Clara Perceval had returned to New York that very morning, but she had telegraphed to Clara. It was just possible that Clara might, by mistake, have packed the crescent with her things in the hurry of getting ready. She (Jennette) would send to dearest Neva at once, just as soon as she heard from Clara Perceval.' Poor Neva ! Words are powerless to describe the despair that rilled her soul when she had perused this note. She could only watch and wait now ; nothing was to gained by any further effort. But she felt that she could not look her kind step-mother in the face, lest her eyes should betray the secret that was weighing down her heart. Mrs. Bayliss herself took pity on the wan, trembling girl. 'My dear Neva,' said she, ' don't look so heartbroken. It was a wild escapade, I grant you, and a foolish one, too, but it is really no laughing matter. I have said that I forgave you. There's an end ot it. Come here and kiss me, and not another word shall be said about it.' ( Oh, if mamma only knew,' thought poor Neva to herself, ' she never, never would kiss me again ! ' But in two or three days Jennette Aston herself came over, and — oh, joy of joys ! — she brought with her, in a tiny box, the diamond crescent. ' Clara was so vexed about it I ' said she. ' And she particularly wishes me to explain that it was caught in the border of her lace handkerchief, and that she only discovered it when she began to unpack. She hopes you haven't been much annoyed about it.' 1 « I have,' said Neva, sadly, ' very i much, indeed ; but of course, that is no fault of Miss Perceval's. lam so glad to get the trinket back again ; it is only another link in the chain of my

own folly ; and the worst of it is • that? mamma has been so 1 - good and sweet about it.' Just a week after fckis occurrence Mrs. Bayliss accepted an invitation to a state dinner party in the neighborhood, 1 1 shall wear my black velvet gown and the old point lace coßtirette/ said' she; 'and the diamonds, of course.' Geneva drew a long breath- of relief. 'Yes, dear mamma/ said she; 'and I'll dress your hair in the pufifs and braids that you like so well.' But when Mrs. Bayliss pinnsdon the crescent of diamonds, one stone became loosened and fell out. 'How very awkward!' said' she. T shall have to wear the aroetbysts,afterallj and it was only six months ago that Giraud examined the setting of those diamonds, and pronounced it perfect. I shall send them to town tomorrow. But it was fortunate that the stone was not lost, wasn't it, Neva*?* ' Yes, mamma/ Geneva answered; in a low voice ; ' very fortunate indeed.' The crescent was sent to New York, the next day, according to Mrs, Bayliss's determination. Mr Giraud himself, a spectacled little Frencbraan, arrived v/ifch'in a day or two, and asked to- sec * Madame.' 'Perhaps/ he said, lowering his voice to a mysterious wMsper, 'Madarse is not aware that tbiss precious old heirloom has been !am&ered with ? ' Tampered with ? ' echoed Mrs. Bayliss. 'That/ went on Mr. Giraud^ *the diamonds have been taken out, ;md replactd with an excellent imitation in glass. 7 c Man/ cried the old lady, f-/©uf -/©u are crazy. Why, the crescent hes- never been out of my possession sines the last time you examined the setting ;, and I hop>e you don't suspect me of. doing such a thing.' Mr. Giraud nodded, screv-ed up his lips, and shook his head. 73 c had no theory to offer, he said. --But these were she facts. The diamonds weregone. In thei? place regained onljjr; bits of brillianily-fasceted glass ! Eh I" 1 What ! Was Mademoiselle ill ? ' For Geneva had fainted away in fche quiet corner of the room. where she w.as sitting. The police were notified. Private detectives were put on, the track at} once. Pawnbrokers were warned ; Jewellers received printed circulars, but all to no avail. Until, one day Jennette Aston sent for Geneva t» come to the Park 'Such a dreadful things Neva?' she cried. 'Do you remember that Clara Perceval who was at our house the night of the party — Miss Burnham's hiend, you know? Well, she has turned out a tegular thief, She has been arrested in New York for robbery and shoplifting. And Blanche Burnham is mortified to death. She says that Clara was her room-mate at school, and she never supposed but that her name was really Clara Perceval instead of Caroline Scroggins/ 'Then/ cried Geneva, clasping her hands, ' it was she that stole mamma's diamonds !' And she told Jennette Aston all. Mrs. Bayliss was ?.t once taken into their confidence, and the three, attended by the family lawyer, proceeded immediately to New York, and confronted Miss Caioline Scroggins. That fair damsel laughed contemptuously. I 'Of course I took them/ said she. IDo you take for ]a fool ? What have I done with them"? You'd better ask me wheie are the biids in lr.st year's nest. I turned 'em into money, one by one, as 1 needed 'em, long ago. Oh, yes, it was a good find. I don't j often come across such a bonanza as that, more's the pity. But you can't j arrest me for theft, seeing I'm in limbo ; already. And, after all, it was that Geneva girl's fault more than it was mine.' 'She is right/ said Geneva, with tears in her eyes. *It was my fault.' But Mis Bayliss took her stepdaughter tenderly in her arms. ' Neva/ said she, ' the diamonds are gone. We will cease to regret their loss. Perhaps it will have taught both of us a lesson — you to trust me more, me to rule you less strictly. Let us forget all else.' ' Mamma/ sobbed Geneva, 'you sre an angel.'