Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-09-11

81 shall not be gone more than week,
Meta" said Mrs. Darkdale, "and of course
/ feel that / can leave everything in your
charge, without the least anxiety"
"Of course you may, Mrs. Darkedale,
and Meta, flush of gratified pride man
Ting her cheek.
zone favor, however, must ask" add
ed Mrs. Darkedale, "and that is, that you
will not receive any company during my
absence"
She looked keenly at Meta Gray.
The girl colored deep scarlet. ;,
81 suppose you mean the Fenleys,
said she, not without some constralnt In
her manner; Il do not expect 10 see tneih
while you are gone"
"you are good girl, Meta, ana tninK L
may trust yOu."
Mrs. Darkedale was the relic of an East
Indian merchant, who had left her Wild
owed and chiIdless in the world about
two years previous.
Meta GRAY was distant relative. who
had come to the Darkedale house, partly
because her cousins widow had written
her a cordial invitation, and partly be-
cause she had nowhere else to go. She
was a pretty, enthusiastic young crea-
ture, who had strange ideas OF the world,
and who rather despised the promising
wholesale grocer whom Mrs. Darkedale
had selected as an eligible match for
her, because he was wholesale grocer.
sugar and raisins are so vulgar" said
Meta turning up her pretty little nose.
mo more SO than stocks and bonds"
rntortad Mrs. Darkedalo. ~
And much to the good lady's vexation.
Meta,persisted in selecting for her bosom
friend dashing damsel called Eudora
Eenley, who fitted dresses and trimmed
bOnnets in strictly private fashion, and
had pOetical brother who gave guitar
lessons. Meta Gray was not often Obstl-
nate, but this was one OF the few 0cca-
sions on which Mrs. Darkedale got, as
she herself phrased it Thoroughly out OF
patience with the child"
81 believe they have bewitched her,
said Mrs. Darkedale. However, III say
no more about it. Perhaps the fancy
will wear itself out, after while-and
I have always heard that opposition is
the worst thing in the world to fan a
fame"
e 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 a pleasant
responsibility to order the dinner and
decide on the dessert; and when that was
settled, Menta went up stairs to tidy. up
Mrs. Darkedale's room, Strengthened the
.guipure lace cOverlet and put away the
various articles that the good lady had
left scattered on chairs, sofa and dress
ing table in her haste of preparation. :.
As Meta folded up a cashmere scarf,
something dropped with a clink on the
f0or.
"Mrs. Darkedale's keysr she exclaim-
cd aloud.
1t was true. The little bunch had some
how caught On the long fringe of the
scarf and got jerked 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, bring
ling with her a general impression Of
sparkling beauties and futtering rib
lions, and decided odor of patchOuH.
"Euaerap exclaimed the girl.
''HOw yOu did startw said EudOra with
an affected little giggle. mo, didn't
ring. Hannah was cleaning the door
steps, and just slipped in and came
straight up here, as didn't find you in
the parlor. What is that you have in
y0nr hand? Keys?"
"Yes." said Meta; "Mrs. Darkedale's
KEYS. She has gone off and forgotten
them. See-here's the key of the chins
oIooo< onI fhfo hi NJ ono IoaHo tho al Two,
beaufet, and here's the wardrobe key
and the little one with the gilded tOI
belongs to the jewel-bOx."
"The jewel-bOx," said EudOra, will
sparkling eyes. "Oh, Meta, that will bt
: the very thingl / am going to ball to
morrow night, and Eve pink SAITH
dress and wreath, set of imitation jew
els. Oh, if could only wear real Ones,juS
this once. Only for one evening, ant
Mrs. Darkedale would never know it
I've always heard that hers are sucf
lbeautiesw
Meta turned pale and red. -
"Oh, Eud0ra, dare not" -
s"Mbat would be the harm?" boldly de
mandsd the milliner and dreSsmaker
~sNO one would be injured, and shOult
be 50 proud. Mrs. Darkedale never wear
the sfsnes-a regular old miser, she is
And You've always told me, Meta" will
= sentimental accent, "that you lOvet
me-" .s- a-- -
$50 do" faitefed poor Meta.
"And you won't grant me this one ia
v0r-sO trifiing "a one. too? Oh, Met
what wouldn't 1 do for you?"
Slowly Meta unlocked the jewel case
a square box of inlaid wood. which Oc
cupied one of the shelves of Mrs. Dark
edale's wardrobe.
There can be no harm in looking a
them, at all events, thought she.
Mrs. Darkedale kept her costly an
antique set of jewelry in a ruby velve
case worn and furnished by age, in on
corner, and Meta had but just taken u
this case when old Hannah knocked q
the door.
"If you please, Miss" said she, there
"a lady below who desires to see you in
mediately."
Eudora held out both hands, pleading
~Only for one night, Meta" she urged
"Pll be personally responsible. Dea
Meta, please" - -, - A
Meta Gray hesitated in an agony
perplexity.
Hannah knocked again.
"She is in hurry, Miss" said Hannal
"There. take Them" cried Meta, pusl
Ing the case into Eud0ra's hand, ian
oh he careful of them! Oughtn't
let you have them. know ougnt nc
but-yes. yes, Hannah. L am coming.
And, relocking the the jewel box an
wardrobe, she dropped the Keys lnt0 n.