The Lincoln County herald., 1872-07-03
THE DARK FACE,


rubbing her plump, white little hands
until tho rings that encircled them
sparklsd like dew drops IN the morning
sun, we've got a splendid day for our
journey, haven't We p
Clara Champfort, Mrs. Hyde Chester :
companion" was sitting by the window
thoushtfully watching the yellow sun.
shine creep across the pavement. She
was q tall, pale girl, with heavy black
hair, deep hazel eyes, and complexion as
coloress as the outlines Of Greek statue
"A girl full Of odd, peculiar character,
concerning whom the servants talked
mys,eriously and whom the old Scotch
housekesper hesitated not to pronounce
"uncanny." But Mrs. Hyde Chester
liked her, and Mrs. Hyde Chester's will
was law in her household.
~ wish you would not 60 to day, Mrs
Chester" said Miss Champion abruptly.
mot 60 to day! Why bless my heart
alive, child, what do you mean ?"
81 had dream last night--oh, such a
troubled dream, with blood in it aud the
shine Of daggers, and mans face, dark
and square, with overhanging brows and
a cast in one eye And the darkness
seemed closing, closing around you aud
me, and, somehow the diamonds were
sparkling through it all |"
but, my dear, what nonsense all this
is" said Mrs. Hyde Chester, laughing.
because you had dream last night is
no reason that We should postpone our
journey"
at is a reason, Mrs. Chester"
"Now, Clara" laughed the pretty,
good kumored lady. "you are really get
ting too absurd for anything"
Mrs. Chester, | never drea u. ed such
. dream as that before, and then"
"Then what happened ?"
Clara Champfort's voice fell to a
whisper.
ut was the night before my poor
father Was summoned out to visit sick
patient. The night was dark aud stormy.
The horse, missing his road, wandered
too near the old stone quarry in Wan
stone woods, and both were dashed in
pieces"
Mrs. Choster's cheek turned a little
pale, but she clung resolutely to her
theory.
But, Mrs. Chester, you will q. least
lot me persuade you to send the Jewels BY
some safe hand ?"
Nonsense, Clara; why should I?
They will be q great deal safer with me,
and l want to give them to Geraldine
myself the evening before she is married.
There's another good reason for not
postponing our journey; 1 want the
evening for o good chat with my favorits
niece, instead Of arriving just at the last
minute before the ceremony.
Clara looked wistful and uncouyiuced
but she said no more.
Mrs. Hyde Chestsr's niece, Miss Cor.
aldins Raymond, was to BE- married the
next day but one and Mrs. Hyde Chss
ter had set her warm, impulsive heart on
being present at the ceremony and,
moreover, on presenting the bride with .
very beautiful set Of diamonds which
with their antique case Of dark green
morocco, lined with sandal wood scented
satin, had descended from generation to
generation in the Chester family, until
the present inhsritrix OF the name, hav
ing no daughter Of her own, had resolved
to give il to her favorlte niece,
81 never was supsrstitious," said Mrs.
Chester, laughing land l don't mean 10
begin now. Are the tyuuks and things
all ready, my dear ?"
"Yos, ms'am, they are all ready"
"Then, Isuppose, We may 40 we'll ordst
shs carriage. l cant bsss to be behind
Al sailroad station. Look I YOU see I
carry the diamonds IN my own morocco
travelling. bag, so they cannot possibl, 30
stolen. Does that content your"
"On'y half, Mrs. Chester" said Glare,
smiliug . very faint, iudistinca hind Of
shadowy sasie.
Mrs. HYDE Chester, . tsistsiag tinS Of
person, vas not Satisfied until the, we're
at the citation, had purchased their tickets,
and safsly bestowed themselves in the
tsais. Clara Chsmpfo't vas leasang
sgaiest the Wiadss. idly %s.oh;us The
huryipg tArOug, ~ they psryetually
cswS and Wsnt, vixen sv6dssly sis With