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


neither have I. But I've got something
better than that, Mrs Darkedales jew
els" s
She opened fold of her dress just
wide enough for him to perceive, in the
depths OF her pocket, the furnished red
velvet case.
His face frightened.
"GOOd," he said briefly; you're clever.
But don't go home. Our little plans are
discovered; the police are on the scent.
I've got all the valuables, such as they
are. and, with your windfall, we can go
where we please"
After this little insight into the pri-
vate life and conversation of Mr.. Oswald
Fenley and his accomplished sister, our
readers my readily conjecture that Miss
EudOra did not return the next morn
ing with Mrs. Darkedale's jewel case in
her hand.
Meta waited until toward night, max
ing all allowance for Eudora Fenley's
fatigue after night of merry-making,
and then, with thrObbing heart and
strange, vague fears besetting her brain,
hurried to the private dressmaking and
millinery establishment.
But, to her dismay, the apartments
WtIt fdCslbcus anu III ltt SldIeu lltI III
the face, wafered on the panels of the
| door.
"a bad lot, Miss" said the landlady,
Indignantly shaking her head; "and if
| I'd any idea of what they was like, I'd
alet my rooms stand empty afore I'd a.
rented 'em to them. Why, Miss, the DO
lice was here yesterday. and it seems
| they're well known confidence pair
nd MT Of ~ int he
| bargainp Is u -
But where have they gomez" gasped
Meta.
"That's what I'd like to know myself
said the landlady; "and what the police
means to find out too"
Meta Gray went home with 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 disap-
pear mysteriously. For now how could
she face Mrs. Darkedale after this? And
night, but every night for week.
"Pm afraid it don't agree with you to
be left alone, Miss, said old Hannah, in
quisitively scanning her young mistress
wan face and her tear swollen eyelids.
L
dale will soon be home now"
"Yes," feebly assented Meta.
But she didn't appear to brighten up
very much at the immediate prospect of
| this comfort"
Mrs. Darkedale came at last.
"Why, Meta" said she, whats the
matter? My poor child, you are as pale
as ghost; and you've been crying, too
Has anything happened?"
"YeS," said Meta, striving to brace her.
j self up for the confession which she
knew must be made. "YOu left your
keys"
Il know it," said Mrs. Darkedale, quiet
ly. II missed them before had been
gone an an hour"
"And-and l lent your jewels to EudO
IA Fenly. She only wanted to borrow
them for one night to go to a ball.
know did wrong, but she cOaXed then
J from me before L knew what l wa:
about. And she has Disappeared; and
and, Mrs. Darkdale, the jewels are gone
Will you allow me to work for you, ik,
servant, until l have made restitu
, tiOnp"
u And Meta sank on her knees at the oil
! lady's feet, with streaming eyes ant
Il
| Mrs. Darkedale put out her hand ant
, strOked the girls hair kindly.
"My DEAR" said she" don't fret. There
not so much harm done, after all. Their
would have been if the jewels had beer
in their case, but they were not"
'NOt in their case?"
NO." said Mrs. Darkedale. 81 tool
them out, wishing to show them to g
friend of mine, jeweler, who proposed
to reset them. l left the case because i
was too cumbersom to carry. They ar
now being reset"
Meta drew long breath of relief
Miss Fenley had been cheated of he
booty, after all, then, and had disappear
, ed with only an empty case.
| ''But was just as much to blame a
if they had been in the casket," she ut
/ tered, sadly.
"Why, yes" said Mrs. Darkedale; "on
} ly your loss has not been quite so expen
siYe enc, and my jewels are safe. Nov
l Meta, lay this not at heart. and dom
) let's ever speak of it again.
And at the end of the year, when Met
Gray married the young man of the cOffe
: and sugar trade, Mrs. Darkedale marke,
{ her estimation of Metals character
| by giving her as wedding present
!. part of the jewels.
! 'FOr she is good girl" said Mrs
Darkedale, "and she has chosen well an
wisely"