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


Meta" said Mrs. Darkedale, land oil
course | feel that [ can leave everything
III your charge, without the least anx-
iety"
OF course you may, Mrs Darkedale, "
said Meta, a flush of gratifed pride man
Ting her cheek.
One favor, however, [ must ask, "
added Mrs. Darkedale, land that is, you
will not receive any company during my
absence"
She looked keenly at Meta Gray.
The girl colored deep scarlet.
suppose you mean the Fenleys,' y
said she not without some constraint in
her manners; | do not expect to see
them while you are gone"
Very we'll" returned Mrs Darke-
dale; you are good girl, Meta and l
think may trust you"
Mrs. Darkedale was the relict of an
East India merchant, who had left her
two years previous.
Meta Gray was distant relative, who
had come to the Darkedale house, part
ly because her cousins widow had writ
ten her cordial invitation, and partly
because she had nowhere else to go.
She was pretty, enthusiastic young
creature, who had somewhat strange
ideas of the world, and who rather de
spised the promising wholesale grocer
whom Mrs Darkedale had selected as an
eligible match for her, because he was a
wholesale grocer
Sugar and ralslns are so vulgar"
said Meta, turning up her pretty little
nose
No more so than stocks and bonds, 4"
retorted Mrs Darkedale.
And, much to the good lady's vexa-
$ ton, Meta persisted IN selecting for her
bosom friend dashing damsel, called
Eudora Fenley, who fitted dresses and
trimmed bonnets in strictly private
fashion, and had poetical brother who
gave guitar lessons
Meta Gray was not often obstinate, but
this was one of the few occasions on
which Mrs. Darkedale got, as she herself
phrased it, thoroughly out of patience
with the child"
believe they have bewitched her"
said Mrs. Darkedale. However, I'll
say no more about it. Perhaps the
fancy will wear itself out after awhile
and I've always heard that opposition
Is the worst thing In the world to fan a
fame"
So Mrs. Darkedale went away to her
friends sick bed, and left Meta Gray in
possession, with only old Hannah, the
maid, to share the honors.
1t was a novel and rather pleasant
responsibility to order the dinner and
no C0rf. nd ~
was settled, Meta went up stairs to tidy
up" Mrs. Darkedale's room, straighten
the guipure lace coyerlet, and put away
the various articles that the good lady
had left scattered on chairs, sofa, and
dressing table in her haste of prepare
ton.
AS Meta folded up cashmere scarf
something dropped with clink on the
floor.
Mrs. Dorkedale's keysr she ex-
claimed, aloud.
1t was true.
The little bunch had somehow caught
on the fringe of the scarf and got ;erked
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 soft tap at the door,
and Miss Eudora Fenley rustled in
bringing with her general impression
of sparkling bugles and futtering rib
bons, and decided odor of patchouli.
Eudora % exclaimed the girl.
How you did start p said Eudora
with an affected little giggle. ''No,
didn't ring. Hannah was cleaning the
doorsteps, and 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
beauffet, and here's the wardrobe key
and the little one with the gilded top be
longs to the jewel box"
"The jewel box!" said Eudora, with
sparkling eyes. ooh, Meta, that will bt
he very thing am going to a bal
o-morrow night, and I've pink dress