The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-01-06

er was very faint, for she died when
he was the mereSt child; he remember
ed low voice singing in the twilight
soft lace about the throat, deep, loving
eyes. an atmosphere of gentle woman
hood. He knew, afterward, that his
father always spoke of her with perfect
respect and affection; and still there
was mystery about her death. Gil
bert Mayne, and after him his son Will
bur, always wore, attached to the chain
of his old-fashioned English watch, a
Grecian coin of gold-on one side of
which there was engraved, with mar
velous skill, a broken link and an un-
sheathed dagger, in the two halves of a
letter B. Old Gilbert had always prom
ised to tell his son the history of the
coin, but he. died so suddenly that he
only said, clasping Wilbur's hand:
''It holds friendship broken, treach-
cry unspeakable, revenge unfulilled.
There is but one other coin like that in
the world, and it is not quite the same.
The letter is there, but the links are
united, and the dagger is sheathed. l
had mine re-engraved after" Gill
bert lifted his clenched hands-''Tom
Belden," he cried, 81 hope you have
repented your evil deed" and, so say
ing, he died with the tale unfinished.
This was, year after year, the mystery
of Wilbur's life.
The warm summer days came, full Of
color and delight. Wilbur's little farm,
in the heart Of the wide Salinas, was a
wave of golden wheat which melted in
to other waves, and swept in wider and
( yet wider circles until it was one sea of
grain from the rugged Gavilan peaks
to the wooded bases of the Santa Lucia,
| 10 I,s ,f Cov, al CT
Gonzales and Chualar, to the sands of
Soledad and the old Spanish houses
near the river. Wilbur Mayne found
| that Miss Leigh's success as a music
(, teacher was assured, for every one liked
her cultured ways and graceful self
| reliance.
..Sech singin' and playin' was never
| hearn afore," said old man Northup,
after Miss Leighs first concert, in
which her pupils from Hilltown, Santa
Rita, Natividad, Alisal, and surround
! ing districts took part. And that was
the general opinion wherever she was
known.
1t came to pass one afternoon, when
the failing sun lit the Santa Lucia peaks
that Wilbur harnessed his horse, with
much attention TO the straps and buggy
and drove to Miss Leigh's boarding
premeditated A little while later he
had tucked her in with much robe and
attention, and they drove along the
highway toward the rounded Fremonts
Peak and the passes of the hills beyond.
1t was not what might strictly be term
ed love-making. Both of them were
sensible young people, little shy in
that direction. Still it is probable that
they enjoyed each others company.
Monterey county is full of pictur-
esque bits of scenery, and winding,
rocky passes, wherever you leave the
valley to enter the hills. Sometimes,
too, art has helped nature, and the road
they followed past sloping vineyards,
and bits of orchard through which
moon-lit and peaceful roofs showed
clearly. 1t was while they paused by
the scrossing of a silver brook, to let
the horse drink, that Miss Leigh looked
forward to row of eucalyptus which
cleaned against the sky, and said:
Il think it is wonderful how the very
essence of all that is best about a tree
is SO clearly revealed in the twilight.
The willows weeping folds are saddest
then; the mountain live oak wears its
sternest grandeur; even the twilight
beauties of a garden of roses, or of
clinging vines above balcony, are
full of delight -
..Yes," he said, ''that is the way it
seems. AS if the endless universe
were endlessly glad.''
Half an hour later they reached her
home. Il wonder what time it is?''
said Wilbur Mayne; ''my watch is left
for repairs
She drew out her own tiny watch,
and put it in his hands. ''You had
better strike match and look" she
said, for the moon was hid behind q
cloud.
Wilbur lit the match and held it
over the watch, but what the time was
he never knew, for on the chain he saw
Grecian coin of gold, like that which
he himself carried. A puff of wind blew
out the fateful match. He felt cold and
dull, and wanted to be by himself to
Leigh out, hoped she had had a good
time, shook hands with her, climbed in
the buggy, and drove rapidly away.
Five minutes later he halted in the
road, and half turned around.
II was a fool" he said; Il ought to
have asked about it Perhaps it is the
most innocent of heirlooms. l might
have been mistaken. The light was
very shabby. / am not sure about the
links of thesdagger.'
When he reached home he took q
candle. and went into the workshop.
There stood an old chest, and, unlock
ing this, he peered within. The books
his father had loved most, the clothes
he wore, his cane, his long-barrelled
pistols, and some of the simple treas
ures of his own boyhood were here.
Here, too, were his mothers wedding
ring and Bible.
Wilbur Mayne's eyes grew bright
with tears. '.Yes, father" he said, as
if he were speaking to some one who
stood very near, Il shall find out all
about it, no matter what happens"
Business called Wilbur away the
next morning, and several weeks pass
ed before he saw Miss Leigh again.
He thought of writing to ask her about
the coin, but multitudinOus letters were
begun anxiously and torn up in des-
pair. Sometimes he almost thought
that silence and forgetfulness were
best.
ut must be-" he said to himself, ga
story of shame and wickedness. Some
wrong uncondoned, some irreparable
injury lies between her ancestors and
mine.'
But at last he went to Miss Leigh,
earnestly, manfully, putting the coin he
had carried so long into her hands, and
saying, with terse directness:
'.It is a part of my life; tell me the
story"
Miss Leigh sprang to her feet with
swift excitement.
Il never expected to see that" she
cried, and laid hers aside it. 1t was
like his in every line, except that the
dagger was sheathed and the link un-
broken.
cit is like leaf out of an old ro-
nance, blown into this prosaic nine
teenth century, she said, ''1es, L
must tell you; My fathers name was
Beldcn, but he died when Il was an
infant, and, my mother marrying again
her husband stipulated that l should |
take his name. So l am Helen Leigh |
u, IF tL1a alaa,.iaa: NLaa, ,aa,- |