The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-09-28

Wont these do as well, I asked,
fastening knot of blue wax flowers at
my throat.
almost" he answered, smiling, st
like flowers nearly as well as jewels. =
] handed him the steel case, with the
key. In a moment the Jewels were
flashing in his hand.
'sHow magnificent !" he cried.
He tool. the ring from his hand, and
we went to window and carefully com
pared them
'eThis is not as pure as any of yours, .
he said, returning his ring to his finger.
81 am going to ask favor, he added
"Will you grant it 2 y
sIf | can" / answered. 'sWhat is it2"
'.Put ON the necklace, and sit here in
the SUM-"
| laughingly consented, and then he
clasped the sapphires around my neck,
and placed chair for me SO that the ar
ternoon sun fell on my bust.
"You look like fairy princess !" he
cried. 81 wish I were an artist, that /
could paint you and keep the picture
forever"
"Another favor" he said at parting,
"Instead of Miss Berne, I beg leave to
call you Titania.
Granted" l said gaily, as / sprang
away, while the supper bell rang
| returned the steel case to my trunk,
fastened the guard, and locked the trunk.
| was sitting upon the piazza that
evening, at dusk, when a musical voice
said
''Of course Titania likes moonlight.
VIII she come down on the shorel |
have shawl for you," Reginald Amber
ly said, as | rose.
took his arm, and we strolled down
the beach.
81 have been wishing that you would
tell me something of your history" he
said, soon; ''for / am haunted with the
idea that your name is familiar"
! demurred. What could / tell him
but that l was drudging school teacher
or paid DEPENDENT nothing engaging.
'sStay!" he cried suddenly. "Did
you ever know Kitty Naples, Of New
York;"
"Kitty dear Kitty |" cried I. In
deed do. Her mother gave me my
sapphires" $"
All, how indulgent fortune had be-
come He had heard tlattering tales Of
me from Kitty; whom he had met in
London, and Kitty was his cousin. All,
now, we were friends indeed
1t was past ten o'clock when we came
up from the beach. The waltz music
was throbbing in the dancing hall;
walters were going to and fro with trays
and pitchers of ice water; couples We're
flirting in corners and on the stairs.
[ went directly to my room and
locked the door.
Removing my dress, put on white
dressing sacqGe, and sat down before
the mirror
While sat alone, thinking, sudden
ly smelled tobacco.
felt myself grow pale as | rose to
my feet Hastily knotting up my hair,
1 went to my trunk, and applying the
key, turned it and unfastened the steel
case containing my sapphires from its
guard.
trembled with apprehension as |
unclasped it, but my fear was needless.
The transparent blue flashed in my face;
I had not been robbed.
But as / rose from the trunk, after
fastening it, my glance fell below the
edge of bed, and every nerve of my
body stiffened like steel, and then re-
laxed, leaving me too weak to stand upon
my feet. clutched at the tall back Of
an easy chair for support.
1t had been quick, side-long glance,
but it had revealed to me a mans face,
with wicked, watching eyes, lying close
to the carpet under my bed.
What to dol | remembered to be
natural. With my face flaming scarlet
with excitement, / commenced hastily
searching my drawers and boxes.
"0h, dear, I must have left them in
the parlor!" | muttered, in barely
audible voice "And l am afraid to go
down, it is so late and lonesome T" |
added. "But | must GO
There was no one on the stairs, and it
wss not the watchman's battered hat
and dusty coat that my dilated eyes fell
upon, but 1.-THE, noble and elegant fig
ure, that of Reginald Amberly.
'Titania," he said, quickly, 81 could
not go to sleep without coming to tell
you to be careful"
'There is robber in my room, under
the bed (" screamed, and fell headlong
into his arms in dead faint
The first words l heard on my resto-
ration were:
"Poor little angel"
Reginald Amberly had carried me
down to parlors, and was bathing my
face with ice water. He was smooth
ing back my disheveled hair and kissing
my lips.
Little Why not As his wife / am
little sunbeam of content and cheer. I
no longer practice wiles, nor have de-
signs upon unsuspecting parties, for I
have no need. | am as innocent and
harmless as he thinks me-a little angel,
indeed
The hidden wretch proved to be Mrs.
Clare's coachman. He was easily Sc
cured and appropriately punished.