The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-25

careful searchers had been 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 nv 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 aloud while sewed. had
piece of fnery that needed renovating
"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
Using looking novel.
"What have you got there, Patience?
But stop. Before you begin can you
lend ne piece of wax?
"I have not bit in the house."
"How provoking! This black silk
tangles and knots so when it is not
waxed. Patience, there is a nice ball
of wax up stairs in old Stephen Carr's
work box. Do you think his ghost
would come after me were 1 to go up
after it ?"
"For three cents 1 will insure you
against all ghosts"
"Done I'll send you the three cents
in the shape of a postage stamp in the
very next letter / write you. Where's
the candle? l have the trnnk key still
in my pocket"
So L 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 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 a state of lazy enjoy
ment.
was brought back to sense Of my
duty by my scissors slipping from my
lap and falling with a clatter to the
floor. Patience still read on, while L,
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
stupid 1t had rolled under the CRATE,
and now lay in close proximity to two
red-hot Goals, sizzling a little from
time to time, and decidedly lessened in
size. l 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 1 pressed the half-melted wax be-
tween my fingers they encountered
hard misunderstanding firm and
with sharp edges-that resisted the
pressure. My hands trembled with
eagerness and nervous excitement as l
stripped the waxen shell from this hard
kernel. Patience's voice seemed to die
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 l saw
A stone resembling in size and shape
the half of good-sized hickory-nut, if
the nut were divided transversely, cut
into few broad facets on top, and I'M
derneath cut into similar facets. It's
shape was perfectly regular, it's color a
rich glowing crimson, or rather deep
rose-red. gazed at it in mute admi-
ration and bewilderment for moment
then l started to my feet, amazing
Patience, who stopped reading and
dropped her book as / cried ont, in a
state of almost frenzied excitement,
" Patience, look / have found this.
What is it? Can it be-"
Quiet, calm, and unruffied as ever,
my sister rose, looked steadily at the
stone as it lay ON my shaking palm,
then took it in her own hand, and drew
1t lightly across the glass shade of the
little clock that stood on the mantel
piece. A sharp grating sound wa
heard, and when she took her hand
away a 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 I'M
wonted red as she answered at is a
ruby-an enormous one. Adelaide,
the missing fortune of Stephen Carr is
found at last
Whereupon l seized my old cloth coat
and flung 1T straightway into the fire
" mean to have a seal-skin sacgue be-
fore the new year is born. Don't look
80 astonished, Patience. L am not mad
only beside myself with JOY" But
my excitement died away as Patience
bent her gentle head and whispered
softly Let us give thanks to God"