Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-10-31

what wouldn't | do for your"
Slowly Meta unlocked the jewel case;
a square box Of inlaid wood, which oc
cupied one of the shelves of Mrs. Darl1e-
dale's wardrobe
There can be no harm in looking at
them, at all events" thought she.
Mrs. Darkedale kept her costly and
antique set of jewelry in a ruby velvet
case, worn and furnished by age, in one
corner, and Meta had but Just taken up
this case when old Hannah knocked at
the door,
eff you please, miss" said she,
" there's a lady below who desires to see
you Immediately"
Eudora held out both hands plead
"Only for one night, Meta,' she
urged. "Tll be personally responsible.
Dear Meta, please"
Meta Gray hesitated in an agony Of
perplexity.
Hannah knocked again.
''She is in a hurry, miss" said Han
nah.
There. take them |" cried Meta,
pushing the case into Eudora's hand !;
land oh, be careful of them ! l
oughtn't to let you have them, | know
[ ought not but-yes, yes, Hannah, /
am comingH'
And, relocking the jewel box and
wardrobe, she dropped the keys into
her pocket and FASTENED down stairs,
followed by the exultant Eudora Fen
lev.
The lady whose haste was so imme-
date proved to be only a poor friend Of
the Darkedales, and, when she had
taken a reluctant leave, our poor little
heroine found herself with abundant
leisure to reflect over what she had
done.
''Oh, how wrong it was of me p she
thought, with remorse and anguish
" But she will bring them back again
tomorrow, and then [ will never, never
let them go out Of my hands again"
Meanwhile, Miss Eudora Fenley,
speeding homeward, like an arrow out
of bow, found herself checked at u
street corner by the gentleman who
gave guitar lessons and wore his hair
curling down his neck.
" Well" said he, in low, imperious
voice, have you got 1t p
L have got no money"
A smothered execration burst from
between his lips.
Hush" said Eudora, impatiently.
Do hear me out [ said | had no
money; neither have l, but I've got
better than that, Mrs Darkedale'5 Jew
els
She opened fold of her dress Just
wide enough for him to perceive, in the
depths of her pocket, the furnished red
velvet case
His face frightened.
Good" he said, briefly; you're
clever. But don't go home. Our little
plans are discovered; the police are on
the scent. I've got all the valuables,
such as they are-and, with your wind
fall we can go where We please"
After this little insight into the private
life and conversation of Mr.. Oswald
Fenley and his accomplished sister, our
readers may readily conjecture that
Miss Eudora did not return the next
morning with Mrs. Darkedale's Jewel
case in her hand.
Meta waited until towards night, max
ing all due allowance for Eudora Fen
leys fatigue after night of merry
making, and then with throbbing heart,
and strange, vague fear besetting her
brain, hurried to the private dressmak-
ing and millinery establishment.
But, to her dismay, the apartments
were vacated, and To Let" stared her
in the face, wafered on to the panels of
the door.
"a bad lot, Miss" said the landlady,
Indignantly shaking her head; and if
I'd any idea of what they was like, I'd
a-let my room stand empty afore I'd
a-rented 'em to them. Why, Miss, the
police was here yesterday, and it seems
they're well-known confidence pair
and me out Of a quarters rent into the
bargain p
" But where have they gone p gasped
Meta.
"That's what I'd like to know N.Y.
SELF" said the landlady; "and what
the police means to find out, too"
Meta Gray went home, with her heart
feeling like lead within her.
For an instant she, too, felt almost in
clined to follow the example of Miss
Fenley and her guitar-playing brother,
ana disappear mysterlously.
For now, how could she ever face
Mrs. Darkedale after this?
And Meta cried herself to sleep, and
not only that night, but every night for
week
:" I'm afraid it don't agree with you
to be left alone, Miss" said old Hannah
inquisitively scanning her young mis-
tress's wan face and tear-swollen eye
lids But there's one comfert-Mrs
Darkedale will soon be home now"
EYES," feebly assented Meta.
But she didn't seem to brighten up
very much at the immediate prospect
of this " comfort"
Mrs. Darkedale came at last.
why, Meta" said she, whats the
matter? My poor child, you are as pale
as a ghost; and you've been crying, too.
Has anything happened."
Yes" said Meta, striving to brace
herself for the confession which she
knew must be made. " You left your
keys !"
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