Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-02-20

nave Oo0n 8OO0 IOt uer. Dut Aunt no
solve thought differently, and the girl
knew nothing of the oyster-beds and
the crops that we're hers.
The girl stood in the rose path again
upon the following evening, her garden
hat in her hand, her eyes unconscious.
~ fixed upon the yacht Mermaid in the
offing, She was in an unusually
thoughtful mood. There had come to
her for the first time the thought,
whittier her life was tending. To wear
away the seasons from youth to age in
uneventful monotony, forever and for
ever alone, her heart unoccupied, her
soul unsatistied, did not suit her. But
spell, fate seemed upon her.
Probably it would never be otherwise
and sadness no words could express
spread through all her consciousness.
A step upon the gravel. She turned
and encountered The CLEAN of two blue
eyes. Capt. Somers bowed low.
Your pardon; more missing prop
erty, Miss Westerly" he stammered.
What is it now?" asked Adelaide,
IN amazed tones.
"A ring dropped yesterday. All,
here it is, STOPPING to hide guilty
blush, and Immediately, with strange
good fortune, discovering diamond
ring at the edge of the grass plot.
He showed it to her a diamond
quantity set; his property for fifteen
years, he said. the gift of his dead
mother.
The heiress of the jumpers was as
gulleless as child. She never
thought of fear; and what was there to
suggest it in gentle words and courtly
tones? And fortunately, Capt. Somers
was an honest man aud honestly in
love.
They chatted among the rose vines
for long hour. The young man made
practical use of his time. With un.
due stress he told her who he was-the
younger of two orphan brothers left
early to find their fortunes. The elder
had succeeded better than he; perhaps,
because less scrupulous. 1t was God
frey's yacht Gordon commanded, for he
was the better sailor of the two. He
had no money, bat had not vice, and
the good will of all men.
And when he had gone, ske found
that he had left with her letters highly
complimentary, recommending him to
stations of trust, so that she was able
to afford the astonished and alarmed
Aunt Resolve all the assurances she
needed.
And now Adelaide was no longer
alone. She had lover.
Week after week the yacht Mermaid
remained in the offing. Day by day
the young people hoated on the sum-
mer tide, or strolled in the garden, or
sang at the old piano songs ringing
and full of sweetness.
Perhaps no happier hearts existed
under the sun. Then Godfrey Somers
sent for his yacht, and Gordon must
needs obey and speed north.
"Oh, Gordon. you will forget me u
Forget my little oriole? Never
Child, you do not know how I love
you. Wear this ring for me, Ade-
laide."
1t was rich and yellow, and bore in
deeply engraved characters the word
always" And so they parted for a
few weeks, betrothed lovers.
The summer waned but Adelaide
was 80 happy she did not mind when
the rose. petals fell and the fruit was
gathered.
Aunt Resolve, who watched her con-
stantly nowadays, saw that she was wrap
ped in dream of love. Her nature, Of
great sweetness, was alive, and her
lover and her love-life was all to her.
And now, for Somers' sake-that was
very plain-she began to take an in
terest in the tasks and plans at the
jumpers.
Where does the money come
from that pays the plantation hands
for their work, Aunt Resolve?"
They have their cabins, and corn,
and sweet potatoe patches. I pay
them small wages out of the fruit
CROP"
"What does that consist of ?"
Strawberries, pears, melons and
grapes"
Where are they sold ?"
81 send them north, by the boats. /"
What buys our shoes and dresses ~
"The oyster beds. They are great
deal of cure, assure YOU"
"For you. You have the care of
everything, Let me learn to help you,
dear auntie-let me try to be useful"
And Adelaide grew busy, painstaking
and thrifty. She was busting an old
cabinet one day, when a panel, which
had always seemed secure, slipped from
its groove into her hand, showing a
cavity filed with compartments behind.
In one was bit of folded yellow paper.
1t was not worth disturbing, at first
Adelaide thought.
At last, with reluctant curiosity, she
drew it forth, unfolded and scanned it's
faded characters and, as she read, her
dark eyes dilated. her cheek paled. she