Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-07-21
worst thing in the world to fan a flame. "

J
So Mrs. Darkedale went away to he
friends sick bed, and left Meta Gray il
possession, with only old Hannah, til,
maid, to share the honors. 1t was {
novel and rather pleasan. responsible
ty to order the dinner and decide on the
dessert; and, when that was settled
Meta went up stairs to tidy up" Mrs
Darkedale's room, straighten the gui-
pure lace coverlet and put away the va
rious articles that the good lady had left
scattered on chairs, sofa and dressing
table in her haste of preparation.
As Meta folded up a cashmere scarf
something dropped with clink on the
floor.
"Mrs. Darkedale's keys!" she ex-
claimed aloud.
1t was true.
The little bunch had somehow caught
on the fringe of the scarf and got jerked
out of the old lady's pocket, and she
had gone off without them.
Meta was still looking at them, and
bordering to herself Mrs. Darkedale's
CONSERVATION at discovering their loss,
when there came a soft tap at the door,
and Miss Eudora Fenley rustled in,
bringing with her general impression
of sparkling bugles and fiuttering rib
bons, and decided odor of patchouli.
"Eudora!" exclaimed the girl.
"How you did start!" said Eudora,
with an affected little giggle. 'No, /
didn't ring. Hannah was cleaning the
door-steps, and l just slipped in and
came straight up here, as didn't find
you in the parlor. What's that you
have in your hand? Keys?"
"Yes," said Meta, Mrs. Darkedale's
keys. She has gone off and forgotten
them. See-here's the key of the china
closet, and this big one locks the silver
beanfet, and here's the wardrobe key,
and the little one with the gilded top
belongs to the jewel-box"
"The jewel box" said Eudora, with
sparkling eyes. "Oh, Meta, that will
be the very thing! 1 am going to a
ball Tomorrow night, and I've pink
satin dress and wreath, and set of i'm
itation jewels. Oh, if could only wear
real ones, just this once. Only for one
evening, and Mrs. Darkedale would
never know it. I've always heard that
hers are such beauties!"
Meta turned pale and red.
"Oh, Eudora, dare mott"
"Where would be the harm?'' boldly
demanded the milliner and dressmaker.
No one would be injured, and should
be be so proud. Mrs. Darkdale never
wears the stones-a regular old miser,
she is. And you've always told me,
Meta" with sentimental accent, s'that
you loved me-"
"And so l do, faltered poor Meta.
And You won't grant me this one
favor-so trifling a one, too? Oh, Me-
ia, what wouldn't do for you?''
Slowly Meta unlocked the jewel-case;
a square box of inlaid wood, which oc-
cupied one of the shelves of Mrs. Dark
dale's wardrobe.
"There can be no harm in looking at
them, at all events, thought she.
Mrs. Darkdale kept her costly and
antique jewelry in a ruby velvet case,
worn and furnished by age, in one cor
ner, and Meta had but just taken up
this case when old Hannah knocked at
the door
If you please, miss" said she,
"There's lady below who desires to
see you immediately"
Eudora held out both hands, plead
ingly.
"Only for one night, Meta" she urg-
ed. .I'll be personally responsible.
Dear Meta, please"
Meta Gray hesitated in an agony of
Hannah knocked again.
"She's in a hurry, MISS" said Han
nah.
There, take them," cried Meta,
pushing the case into Eudora's hand,
- and oh, be careful of them! ought