Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-12-31

careful SearcherS naQ Oeen before me |
where was the marvel if failed to find |
anything?
Slowly and reluctantly refolded and
replaced the scattered garments in the
trunk, laid the work-box, writing case,
and dressing case on the top of them,
closed the lid, turned the key, and put
ting it in my pocket, ran down stairs,
resolved to forget old Stephen Carr and
all his belongings.
| The afternoon was spent, as we had
planned, at the theater, and in the
evening it was agreed that Patience
should read alord while sewed. had
piece of fnery that needed renovatine
"a black cloth coat, the shabby fringe
of which l was going to replace with
fresh and new-fashioned fur trimming
and was anxious to get it done that
I might look my best at church the en-
suing Sunday. got out my work, and
my good sister produced thick, prom
isinG-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."
"How provokingl This black silk
tangies and knots so when it is not
waxed. Patience, there is a nice ball
of wax up stairs in old Stephen Cars
work-box. Do you think his ghost
would come after me were L 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 in the
very next letter I write you. Where's
the candle? 1 have the Trunk key still
in my pocket"
SO / went, and soon returned with
the yellowish ball OF thread-scored wax
in my hand. Then we sat down, and
for some time the work and the reading
proceeded in a merry duet. At length,
growing deeply interested in the for
tunes and follies of the heroine, let
my sewing fall on my lap and sat with
folded hands in state OF lazy enjoy
ment.
was brought back to sense of my
duty by my scissors slipping from my
lap and falling with clatter to the
floor. Patience still read on, while I,
being rather conscience-stricken at my
own Incidence, strove noiselessly to
, collect my belongings. Work, scissors,
thimble, spool, had all found their way
to the ground during my temporary alb
straction. gathered them up, and
prepared to go to work again. But
where was the ball of wax? How
J stupid 1t had rolled under the CRATE,
and now lay in close proximity to two
red-hot Goals, sizzling little from
time to time, and decidedly lessened in
size. / dislodged it with the poker,
: pulled it toward me, and endeavored to
cleanse it from the ashes and TO mold
its softened bulk into shape again. But
as pressed the half-melted wax be.
tween my fingers they encountered a
, hard misunderstanding firm and
with sharp edges-that resisted the
pressure. My hands trembled with
eagerness and nervous excitement as
stripped the waxen shell from this hard
kernel Patiences voice seemed to die
3 away in the distance as l piled my
scissors and my fingers in their hurried
work. At last it was done; the hidden
. thing lay bare before me on my open
{ palm. This was what saw:
3 A stone resembling in size and shape
2 the half of good-sized hickory-nut, if
t the nut were divided transversely, cut
into few broad facets on top, and I'M
derneath cut into similar facets. Its
D shape was perfectly regular, its color a
r rich glowing crimson, or rather deep
rose-red. gazed at it in mute admi-
D ration and bewilderment for moment
!. then l started to my feet, amazing
: Patience, who stopped reading and
= dropped her book as 1 cried ont, in a
a state of almost frenzied excitement,
: Patience, look 1 have found this.
1 What is it? Can it be"
| Quiet, calm, and unruffied as ever,
D my sister rose, looked steadily at the
stone as it lay on my shaking palm,
' then took it in her own hand, and drew
!. IT lightly across the glass shade of the
: little clock that stood on the mantel
r piece. A sharp grating sound wa
{ heard, and when she took her hand
{ away long scratch was visible on the
I surface of the glass. She turned toward
D me then, and her voice had sudden
0 culver and her cheek flushed with un-
a wOnted red as she answered: cit is a
s ruby-an enormous one. Adelaide,
D the missing fortune of Stephen Carr is
/ found at last 7"
!. Whereupon seized my ole cloth coat
and flung 1t straightway into the fire
CT mean to have seal-skin sacque be-
. fore the new year is born. Don't look
g so astonished, Patience. [ am not mad
[ only beside myself with JOY" But
I my excitement died away as Patience
4 bent her gentle head and whispered
I softly: "Let us give thanks to God. y
r