Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-10-31

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
beauhet, and here's the wardrobe key,
and the little one with the glded top be-
longs to the jewel box
The jewel box !" said Eudora, with
sparkling eyes. ''Oh, Meta, that will be
the very thing | am going to a ball
to morrow night, and I've pink dress
and wreath, and a set Of imitation lew
els. Oh, if | could only wear real ones.
just this once Only for one evenil 9,
and Mrs. Darkedale would never know
1t. I've always heard that hers are such
beauties -
Meta turned pale and red.
"Oh, Eudora, | dare not !"
Where would be the harm?" boldly
demanded the milliner and dress
maker. No one would be injured
and | should be SO proud Mrs Darke-
dale never wears the stones--a regular
old miser she is. And you've always
told me, Meta with sentimental ac-
cent, " that you loved me-
SO do faltered poor Meta.
And you won't grant me this one
favor-so trifiing "A one too. Oh, Meta,
what wouldn't do for you?"
Slowly Meta unlocked the jewel case;
square box Of inlaid wood, which oc-
cupied one of the shelves of Mrs. Darke-
dales wardrobe.
There can be no harm i'll looking at
them, at all events" thought she.
Mrs. Darkedale kept her costly and
antique set of iewelry in 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.
If you please, miss said she,
there's IA lady below who desires to see
you Immediately.
Eudora held out both hands plead
ingly.
"Only for one night, Meta" she
urged, "Ill be personally responsible
Dear Meta, please"
Meta Cray hcsitated 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 |
oughtn't to let you have them, | know
| ought not, but-yes, yes, Hannah, |
am coming y
And, relocking the Jewel box and
wardrobe, she dropped the keys into
her pocket and FASTENED down stairs,
followed by the eXultaiIt Eudora Fen
ley
The lady whose haste was so imme-
date proved to be only poor friend of
the Darkedales, and, when she had
taken 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 - 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 a bow, found herself checked at
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 it?'
have got no money.
/ A smothered execration burst from
between his lips.
Hush" said Eudora, impaticntly
"Do hear me out. said | had no
money; neither have |, but I've got
better than that, Mrs Dark cdale's Jew
els"
She opened fold of her dress just
wide enough for him to perceive, in the
debths of her pocket, the furnished red
velvet case.
His face frightened.
Good he said, briefly; you're
! clever But don't 60 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 90 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 Darkedales jewel
case in her hand.
Meta waited until towards night, max
ing all due allowance for Eudora Fen
ley's fatigue after night of merry
making, and then with throbbing heart,
and strange, vague fear besetting her
brain, hurried to the private dressmak-
ins 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,
! i L e