Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 264: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

gently, “this is not the one you wore last night. Do you not remember my exclamation of surprise when I saw your necklace, and that I asked you where you got it?” “Yes, l remember that you were very much ex- | eited, andtbat your hands shook when you fastened jt about my neck; but that circumstance only adds to the conviction that you have robbed me, I thought it very strange atthe time; the purpose nist have taken possession of you then,” the woman returned, severely. “No,” said Hazel, “you misconstrue my emotion entirely, “I was almost on the point of claiming y/ony’ necklace as mine. T, like youraesf, could not believe there were two inthe world alike. Haye you forgot- ten how readily I fastened the clasp and you remeni- bered it with surprise 2” “T remember that,” Mrs. Stewart admitted, looking disturbed. “Aah!” remarked the detective, “is there anything pecniiar about the clasp?” “Yes. it is quite complicated?" “And she fastened it without any showing?" “Yes, she happened to; but it must have been ull by chance.” “No,” said Hazel, “I am as familiar with it as I am with the simple winding of my watch. I have clasped it a hundred times, and the moment you weut away last night, I rushed here and unpacked umy truuk to see if my treasure was safe; Miss Stewart saw me in the avt when she came back for Belle’s wrap,” and the young girl turned to Helena for corroboration of her Btistement. “Yes,” she admitted, coldly, ‘I found her here on her knees, with her clothing lying in confusion all about her; but, of course, no one is going to credit such an unlikely story. What is more probable, she was getting ready to conceal the thing when she could get possession of it.” “But I had it here, I held it in my hands after you were gone,” persisted Hazel, steadfastly. “You will have to prove that before we shall believe it,” retorted the girl, seornfully The officer was watching them both closely—the proud, imperious beauty who was so intolerant, and in whose eyes there was an unmistakable gleam of malice, and the gentle, lovely maiden who never once forgot to bea lady, and who told her story in § uch & straightforward, unimpassioned way, Culcseeks.com