Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-01-22

den glow of gold or jewels flashed from
the interior. A quantity of masculine
habiliments, carefully folded, greeted my
eyes, and strong odor of camphor as
sailed my nose. That was all.
took the things out one by one, un-
folding each article as / did so, and
scrutinizing it carefully. Old-fashioned
shirts yellow as saffron; coats from which
every vestige of the lining had been mp
ped in the search for the hidden wealth;
trousers with the pockets turned inside
out; stockings not rolled in compact balls,
but stretched out at full length, such
were the uppermost things in the old
trunk. Underneath lay a pair or two Of
old boots, small dressing-case covered
with Russia leather, small flat workboy
containing two spools, one of black silk
and one of white thread, a lump of wax
scored 10y passing threads, a needle-book
shaped like butterfly, and pair OF
scissors) and writing case, also covered
with Russia leather. ! took this to the
light, and carefully examined it in the
vague hope that it might contain some
fragment of writing, some entry in cipher
perhaps, that might prove clew to the
mystery. Vain hope The stained blot.
ting paper, the shabby pen-holder, the
rusty penknife revealed nothing; and all
written papers had been removed long.
ago, had there Indeed ever been any. The
dressing-case, the work box were alike un'
fruitful of discoveries. The heels of the
boots had been cut off and cue in pieces
and | found the fragments laying at the
bottom of the trunk And the trunk
bottom itself had been split omen and
pried apart, in a search for false com
partment doubtless. Truly, careful search
ers had been before me: where was the
marvel if | failed to find anythings
Slowly and reluctantly | refolded and
replaced the scattered garments in the
trunk, laid the work. box, writing-case
and dressing-case on top of them, closed
the lid, turned the key, and putting it in
my pocket ran down stairs, resolved to
forget old Stephen Car and all his be
longings.
The afternoon was spent, as we had
planned, at the theater, and in the even.
ing il was agreed that Patience should
read aloud whilst sewed. / had a piece
of finery that needed renovating-a black
cloth coat, the shabby fringe of which
was going 10 replace with fresh and new.
fashioned fur trimming-and | was anX
ious to get il done that might look my
best at church the ensuing Sunday. | got
out my work, and my good sister produc.
ed thick, promising looking novel.
"What have you got there, Patience'
But stop. Before you begin, can you
lend me piece Of wax"
81 have not bit in the house"
IL. =, Ill L. 90,
giles and knots SO when il is not waxed
Patience, there is nice ball Of wax up
stairs in old Stephen Carr's workbox Do
you think his ghost would come after me
were | TO go up after it!"
"For three cents ! will insure you
against all ghosts"
"Done I'll send you the three cents in
the shape of postage stamp on the very
next letter | write you. Where's the can
die? | have the trunk-key still in my
pocket?"
$50 up ] went, and soon returned with
the yellOwish ball Of thread.scored wax
in my hand. Then we sat down, and fol
some time the work and the reading pro
ceeded in a merry duet. AT length, grow
ing deeply interested in the fortunes and
folies of the heroine, | let my sewing
fall on my lap and sat with folded hands
in state of lazy enjoyment.
/ was brought back to a sense of my
duty by my scissors slipping from my laT
and falling with a CHATTER 10 the floor. Pa
thence still read on, while !, being rather
conscience.strickcn at my own Incidence
strove noiselessly to collect my belong
ings. Work, scissors, thimble, spool, had
all found their way To the ground during
my temporary abstraction. | gathered
them up, and prepared TO go TO work
again. But where was the ball OF wax
How stupid 1t had rolled under the
CRATE, and now lay in close proximity Ia
two red hot Goals, sizzling a little from
time TO time, and decidedly lessened in
size. | dislodged it with the poker, pulled
it toward me, and endeavored To cleanse
il from the ashes and 10 mold its soften.
ed bulk into shape again. But as pressed
the half-melted wax between my ringers
they encountered hard substance-some
thing firm and with sharp edges-that re
sisted the pressure. My hands trembled
:, it'll eagerness and nervous excitement AZ
| stripped the waxen shell from this hard
kernel. Patience's voice seemed TO die
away in the distance as piled my scis
sOrs and my fingers in their hurried work
At last il was done; the hidden thing lay
before me on my open palm. This was
what saw:
A stone resembling in size and shape
the half Of good sized hickory nut II the
nut were divided transversely, cut into .
few broad facets on top, and underneath
cut into smaller facets. Its shape wat
perfectly regular, its color rich glowing
crimson, or rather a deep rose.red.
gazed at it in mute admiration and Devil
derment for moment: then ] started u
my feet, amazing Patience, who stopped
reading and dropped her book as cried
out, in state Of almost frenzied excite
ment, Patience, looki have found This
What is il? Can ii be"
Quiet, calm and unruffied as ever, my
sister rose, looked steadily at the stone a.
it lay on my shaking palm, then took i
in her own hand and drew it lightly
across the glass shade Of the little clock
that stood on the mantelpiece. A sharp
grating sound was heard, and when She
took her hand away long scratch was
visible on the surface Of the glass. She
turned toward me then, and her voice had
sudden CULVER and her cheek flushed
with unwonted red as she answered, II
Is ruby--an enormous one. Adelaide
the missing fortune Of Stephen Carr II
found at last -