The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-11-14

Gales eyes grew coruscant; but b
looked down, seemingly indifferent
0pals. emeralds, pearls, diamonds
aud amethys:s, representing in them
selves values untold. Gertie pointe'
out Estabroke's selection. A ehrys
|, ophrase set imbedded in dull, Etrus
can gold.
$50 unique." be declared.
Gale admired all, and they wen
back to mingle with the moving
stream.
The crowd had surged away Il
he refreshment tables, and the ga
lights streamed down over the disor
dered furniture and dropping decora
tons Even the Manse was not
proof agains. the demoralizing effects
of society and protracted hours
Some one else had monopolizeC
Nymphea, so Gale fingered behind tC
dream of her; perhaps, also, to es
cape paying devotion at some less
absorbing shrine. Voice aud laugh
ter fioaied back TO him, mingled with
the elatter of china and the ring O
glasses.
/ A easement near him swung silent
lly back, face, smooth-sbaven anC
dare-deuilish, was framed within it.
"Gale, word with you; this way
quick, before prying stragglers spot
me.v
The newcomer spoke 10 hurried
suppressed tones. Gale went out tC
bin mechanically, but with sulIen re
sentiment.
"What are you doing here?" be
questioned. you will ruin all with
your cursed chicanery"
"The Others think you are trying
that game, and that you mean to
give them the slip when your nest i:
feathered. They will not be satisfied
with promises now. Either you
must do for them, or they will tax c
the job in their own hands. We al
know what cleaners the Manse holds
to night"
"Fool." Gale uttered excitedly
"Let me follow nv own plans, and
you shall all share Of them peaceably
before three months have passed"
eve should hear of Madame Gale
sporting them in the midst of Euro
pean bon ton," the other said good
humoredly. "But you forget you
have old hands with whom to deal
Either you must show color to the
tune Of few thousands, or the crib
will be cracked by other hands with
in six hours"
with chances of the whole gang
seeing Botany Bay within as many
weeks. You haven't an expert equal
to the thingn
Eve number you yet" interposed
the newcomer
Gale fumed, but realizing his pre-.
car;ous footing, bottled his wrath
and attempted to make terms. He
went back to the rooms twenty min
utes later, quiet, dark and cool, to ex-
change parting word with Nymph-
ca and take noticeable departure.
1t was three O'Clock in the morn
ing, and the house was still, with
bere and there single light dimly
showing behind cartains The
moon, late risen, shown full and clear
on the Manse, touching the weeping
Niobe with a sheen Of her falling
tears.
As the ormolu clock struck its
three chimes Gertie Wrsy, who was
staying over night, distorted her
pretty mouth with a distinct yawD.
She and Nymphea had been gossip
ping together in the dressing-room
which separated their sleeping cham
bers.
$50 late!" exclaimed the latter in
surprise IL have kept you out Of
bed for an hour. Don't wait for me,
dear, unless you share my wakeful.
ness"
Gertie suppressed another yawn,
and made faint demur.
"ShalI help you put away your
jewels, Nymphea? You must be very
tired"
"Tbey are safe enough" Nymph-
ca said. absently turning the ring up-
on her finger
SO Gertie, kissing her goodnight,
withdrew
Nymphea was neither tired Oh
sleepy. She leaned back in ber
chair, softly caGessing the hand which
wore Gales ring, and gave herself ur
to pleasant thoughts.
Tie clock licked a monotonus re-
frain. The sound of rusiling leaves
! and dripping waters were waited
family upon the breeze which played
about the open easements, Just stir.
ring the curtain within.
Her -gif.s-the sparkling
glittering mass of precious stones
were upon the table. Near them, 10
chrystal case, were the twin came
/ las. TIE cluster of musk pinks Law
waiting in the miscellaneous hear
below Rube had seen them there
during the evening, and ascertained
the absence of the tiny note; had ia.
ken to heart the chilling convictions
that Nymphea Yves quite beyond his
reach.
The clock struck the quarter, then
the half hour, and she reused herself
from her reverie, preparing to retire
Wheeling her chair before the dress
ing-table, with its inclined mirror
she brushed out her hair, conflning il
in close net. She had removed her
elaborate eveniDg-dress, and wore q
wrapper of dead-white cashmere.
at makes me look like a corpse ,
she said half aloud.
a second later the tinge of color
faded from her cheeks, and her lips
grew pale until the smile she had
used was no extravaganza Back o.
her was an aleove, separated from
the room only by heavy curtains
These were slightly drawn, and
through the interstice mans face
peered out at her. The slight sway.
ing of the curtains, and face eau
tiouslv appearing, met her sight in 8