Anonymous - The Loves of Lord Roxboro

“Oh, no, no, sir!” she answered, “nothing like that. What I am about to tell you, sir, is something that I have held in my heart since the incidents occurred. I have never told anyone and after I tell you about it, you will see why it was necessary for me to remain silent.

“You see,” she started, straightening herself on the couch and gently disengaging Roxboro's hands from her breasts, which she tucked back into her waist and rebuttoned, “it is a long story.”

“Proceed,” said the lord. “I am anxious to hear it.”

“Well, when first I ran away from Jim, I proceeded to Manchester. I had spent all of the money, which you accused me of stealing, in various forms of amusement and in traveling, also in the purchase of food and shelter, and finding myself without a farthing, I looked about for employment in order to support myself.

“I had walked about all day and was tired out and quite weak, not having eaten all day. After making a round of the places where I might find work, I was wretched and despondent at my lack of success. Noticing a placard on a building stating that an employment bureau was conducted therein, new hope arose in me and I mounted the steps and rang the bell.

“The door was opened by an elderly female, who ushered me into the front room, which was fitted up as an office. We were alone, but upon seating myself at the command of the elderly woman, she left the room and there presently entered the room a striking brunette lady, somewhat advanced in years, but stylishly dressed, who stepped behind the desk and inquired as to my mission.

“I informed her that I was in search of a situation, and after a few questions as to my experience, references, etc., regarding which I was obliged to tell her quite a few falsehoods, she requested me to doff my wraps and to enter the adjoining room.

“The weather was cold and I was wearing a heavy coat, a fur piece, and my gloves and hat. Doffing my outer apparel and hanging it upon a hook, I entered the back room. In those places it is sometimes customary for servants to wait in the back room, where they are inspected by prospective employers.

“As I was hanging up my clothes, I noted a peculiar action on the part of the lady, who, taking a roll of bank notes from her reticule, placed them upon the desk in a disordered manner. She then motioned me to follow her and I entered the back room. This action of hers meant nothing to me, I being concerned only with the location of the position that would clothe and feed me and save me becoming a public charge or a streetwalker.

“Proceeding into the next room, which was sumptuously furnished, I seated myself at a desk and, at her direction, busied myself at filling out a sheet, which is required from all applicants for positions.

“For obvious reasons I gave an assumed name and my brain was taxed to manufacture enough false answers to fill the numerous spaces on the sheet. But necessity drives and I finally succeeded in answering all the questions propounded.

“At the conclusion of this task, I looked about for my companion but found she had absented herself. Presently she returned, however, accompanied by the elderly lady who had met me upon my entrance. Oh, better had I never entered that den, which was to be my abode for some time to come!

“But I am getting ahead of my story. Upon their entrance, both the ladies seemed quite flustered and excited about something and were shouting in loud tones.

“After they had entered, I noticed they were accompanied by a uniformed officer. Upon entering, the women shouted, 'There she is! There she is! The little thief!' I sat dumbfounded, knowing not the meaning of this dreadful accusation. The elderly woman turned to him, demanded my arrest, and he advanced to my side and seized me firmly by the arm.

“I strove to free myself, but in vain. I thought my wretched husband had followed and found me, and that I was to be brought back to Middleboro. 'Come, woman,' said the officer, 'come with me to the magistrate.' My face must have blanched with terror and I nearly fainted in his grasp.

“'What-what is the matter?' I stammered, and at this the stylishly dressed woman laughed callously. 'What is the matter, indeed! You stole my money, you little hussy!' she shouted, shaking her finger in my face. 'You stole my money off the desk, there.'

“'Oh, it's a lie!' I shouted, thinking how easily I could remove this false charge. I had not stolen her money; I had not even been in its vicinity. I shouted forth my innocence. By this time we were all in the outer room and the elderly woman, stepping to where my jacket hung on the hook, drew forth from the outer pocket the roll of money I had seen the other woman place on the desk!

“I was confounded at this apparently indisputable sign of my guilt and stood, my mouth open, unable to say a word in my own defense. The old harridan then ransacked my pockets, at length bringing forth certain personal papers of mine setting forth my identity in Middleboro and I knew that comparison of these papers with the false application I had signed would bring about my conviction! I was doomed!

“What a cruel chain of circumstance. Entrapped by my own lying pen, I was about to suffer for a crime not of my doing. 'A bad example,' said the officer, starting to drag me toward the door. 'Come, you, to the magistrate.'

“'Madame!' I cried, turning to the woman that had accused me; 'You know well that this charge is unfounded. Surely you will not send me to jail for another's acts! I beg you; let mercy kindle your heart and dismiss this officer and allow me to go my way in peace!'

“Little fool as I was. If I had only known! The 'officer' was one of the inmates of this dive, masquerading as such to intimidate such poor innocent fools as I!

“At my impassioned plea for mercy, the woman seemed to hesitate. Upon seeing this sign of relenting, I redoubled my pleas and she finally motioned the officer away and directed that I step into the inner chamber.

“Inside, she motioned me to a seat and after gazing fixedly at me for a moment, said, 'My child, you are in a bad situation. If you are carted away to jail, you will be severely punished, with perhaps a long time in the workhouse.'

“'I will do anything, anything you say, only please let me go. I haven't any friend and I am nearly starving, but I really didn't steal your money and will do anything, if you will only let me go.'

“She considered a moment. Finally, she said, 'Perhaps we can do something about this.' Going to a table, she prepared a paper which she indicated I was to sign. It was something similar to the one I signed for you this morning, my lord, only that it was a purported confession of my theft of her money from her, together with a full confession of the affair with my husband in Middleboro. Frightened and cowed as I was, I could only sign it, hoping it would bring about my release.

“Upon my appending my signature to the paper, she motioned to the officer and told him she had decided not to press my case and that she would give me a chance to redeem myself, etc.

“He, in turn, informed her that she was foolish to be lenient; that I was no good, that harm would come of it, and so forth, but he finally took his leave.

“Immediately after his departure the lady placed the incriminating paper in a strong box and, motioning me to follow, proceeded to the rear of the house.

“No longer caring what happened to me, I slowly followed her and was ushered into a splendidly furnished room. Here the lady paused and, after bidding me seat myself, departed. I awaited her return for some time and, not seeing her, advanced to the door through which we had entered, finding, to my terror, that it was securely bolted! I ran to the window and, parting the heavy shades, found them blocked in, no stray beam of sunshine permeating their sturdy thickness!