The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-07-26

"Il be personally responsible. Dear Meta,
please"
Meta Gray hesitated in an agony of per-
plexity.
Hannah knocked again.
"She is in hurry, miss, said Hannah.
"There. take them, cried Meta, pushing the
case into Eudoras hand, "and OH be careful
of them oughtn 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
hastened down stairs, followed by the exultant
Eudora Fenley.
The lady whose haste was SO immediate
proved to be only poor friend Of the Darke-
dales and when she had taken reluctant leave
our poor little heroine found herself with abun-
dant 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 so out OF my hands
again
Meanwhile, Miss Eudora Fenley, speeding
homeward, like an arrow out Of bow, found
herself checked at street corner by the gem
tleman who gave guitar lessons and wore his
hair curling down on his neck.
"Well, said he, in low, imperious voice,
"have you got it?"
II have got no money"
A smothered execration burst from between
his lips.
"Hush," said Eudora, impatiently. "Do
hear me out. I said had no money neither
have /, but I've got better than that, Mrs.
Darkedale's jewels"
enough for him to perceive, in the depths Of
her pocket, the tarnishedred velvet case.
His face frightened.
"Good," he said, briefly "you're clever.
But don't so home. Our little plans are dis
covered; the police are on the scent. I've got
all the valuables, such as they are-and, with
your windfall, we can 60 where We please.
After this little insight into the private life
and conversation of Mr.. Oswald Fenley and
conjecture that Miss Eudora did not return the
next morning with Mrs. Dsrkedale's jewel
case in her hand.
Meta waited until toward night, making all
due allowance for Eudora Fenley' fatigue after
night of merry making, and then, with throD-
bing heart, and strange, vague fears besetting
her brain, hurried to the private dressmaking
and millinery establishment.
But, to her dismay, the apartments were
vacated, and "To let stared her in the face
wafered on the panels Of the door.
ga bad lot miss" said the landlady, in
dienantly shaking her head "and II I'd any
idea of what they was like I'd a-let my rooms
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 quarters rent into the, bar
gain 7" e. &T.Et- - ss&.
"But where have they gone ?" gasped Meta
"That's what I'd Like to know myself, said
the landlady sand what the police means to
find out, too" s.E
Meta Gray went home with her heart feeling
like lead within her.
For an instant she, too, felt almost inclined
to follow the example Of Miss Fenley and her
guitar playing brother, and disappear mysterl-
ously.
For now how could she ever face Mrs. Darke-
dale after this 2"
And Meta cried herself to sleep, not only
that night, but every night for week.
"Tm afraid it don't agree with you to De
left alone, miss" said old Hannah, inquisitire-
IL scanning her young mistress wan face and
tear swollen eyelids. "But there's one COM
fort-Mrs. Darkedale will soon be home now."
EYES," feebly assented Meta:
But she didn't appear to brighten up very
much at the immediate prospect OF this " COM
fort"
Mrs Darkedale came at last.
"Why, Meta" said she, "whats the mat
ter? Ny poor child, you are as pale as
ghost and you've been crying, too. Has any
thing happened?" ,.
"Yes,' said Meta, striving to brace herself
up for the confession which she knew must be
made. "You left your keys! J"
"I know it, said Mrs. Darkedale, quietly.
90 I missed them before I had been gone ap
hour"
"And-and lent your jewels to Eudora
Fenley She only wanted to borrow them for
one night to go to ball. know did wrong,
but she coaxed them from me before l knew
what was about. And she has disappeared
and-and, Mrs Darkedale, the jewels are gone =
Can you ever, ever forgive me? Will you
allow me to work for you, like servant, until
I have made restitution
And Meta sank on her knees at the old ladyls
feet. with streaming eyes and voice choked with
sobs.
Mrs. Darkedale pat out her hand and stroked
the girls hair kindly.
"My dear" said she, "don't fret. There's
not so much harm done after all. There would
have been if the jewels had been In their case,
but they were no."
"Not in their case?'
"No," said Mrs. Darkedale, 81 took them
out wishing to show them to a friend of mine.
I left the case because it was too cumbersome
to carry. They are now being reset"
Meta drew long breath OF relief.
Miss Fenley had been cheated of her booty,
after all, then, and had disappeared with only
an empty case.
but was Just as much to blame as if they
had been in the casket, she uttered, sadly.
"Why yes," said Mrs. Darkedale, ''only
your loss has not been quite so expensive
one, and my jewels are safe. Now, Meta, lay
this to heart, and don't let's ever speak OF it
again."
And at the end of the year. when Meta Gray
married the young hero of the coffee and
sugar trade, Mrs. Darkedale marked her esti-
nation Of Metas character by giving her, as
a wedding present, part OF the jewels
"For she is a good girl" said Mr:. Darke-
dale, "and she has chosen well and wisely"
A Russian Hospital Train.