The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-04-06
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the night but one before. "Does it be-
long to your daughter2' he said.
But Sir Gresham was too bewildered
to answer him.
"That2' he cried. "Good heavens
that? Where did you find it? It's a
clew."
GA clew to whatP" cried Homer,
eagerly. He felt on the brink of dis
covering how lady's ornament could
come in SO strange place.
Bnt Sir Gresham was too excited by
some suggestion awakened by the sight
of the stone to have an idea of trying
to satisfy any curiosity but his own,
"Where did you find it2" he re-
peated.
"Is it Jour daughter's?" returned
Homer.
"Yes, it must be hers" and remem-
bering at last to thank the young man
for returning it, he stood with the stone
in his hand waiting impatiently for
| full account of its recovery.
"Does Sir Gresham Laud suppose
that 1 came here for the purpose of
| telling midnight adventure to him ?"
thought Homer, as look of amusement
fitted across his face. "If you will be
so kind" he answered, suavely. Gas to
ask Miss Laud if she will do me the
favor to identify her ornament. I shall
be most happy to tell you, and her if
| she cares to know, how I came by it,"
Sir Gresham hesitated only an in .
stant. Assuredly," he said, and sent
for his daughter.
The young mans heart beat faster at
the sound of light steps behind him.
Suppose Violet were plain and heavy
looking, yet suppose-he turned hast
lily, but not too soon for the beautiful
face that was coming toward him.
"She was named for her eyes, thought
Homer; and there was something else
| he thought, too, that could no more
than this be spoken at the moment.
She greeted him with simplicity that
charmed him; but when she saw the
medallion in her fathers hand she cried:
"Oh, papa, my bracelet-clasp; where
did you get it ? Have they found out
the robbers ~
Homcr's eyes opened wide at her
words.
"Robbers p he repeated. "That's it,
then? Perhaps 1 really did hear and
see something after ALL" And after
moment in which three people stood
facing each other with looks Of inquiry
he began an account of his expedition
to the ruin. He was truthful in every
| detail, yet the story sounded remark
ably we'll as he told it, watching Vio-
let's face and seeing H. aver and
grow pale in imagining the blackness
of the old cellars. If she would but
Glove him for the dangers he had
passed y he knew nothing of wars to
be sure, except of personal struggles
with misfortune, out of place to be told
here, yet having left their mark upon
him in consciousness Of power to dare
and conquer adverse circumstances.
GIVE no doubt they carried their
booty there" exclaimed Sir Gresham,
his thoughts still in the ruins an infinite
distance behind the young mans winged
fancy and supplementing the narrative
which Ashton had just finished. While
Violet was listening to her fathers sc
count of daring burglary committed
the winter before while the family were
in the house, Ashton had an opportun-
ity to study her face more critically, or,
rather, more admiringly. It was posi-
out of his expression as from time to
i time she turned to him to explain more
fully something that her father was
saying.
"Ive no doubt the villains bring
their booty miles to hide it in the ruin, !"
said Sir Gresham. "This medallion
was the clasp of heavy gold bracelet
1t was given to my daughter by q friend
and she is much obliged to you, l am
sure, for finding it,"
Indeed am," said Violet, coloring
little as she spoke
" 1t is / who am under obligation to
fate," answered Homer; " have found
something that Miss Laud values"
"The rest of the bracelet has been
melted down long ago." pursued Sir
Gresham. "That place ought to be
searched"
/" Yes," said Homer; "when will you
do it!"
The baronet looked somewhat taken
aback at this energetic suggestion.
" No doubt" he answered, "and
perhaps, DR.. Ashton, you would like to
be one of the party if go with some of
my neighbors? l suppose it ought to
be done as soon as possible--within a
day or two" he went en-, as the other
assented. lest they should take alarm
at your intrusion upon them. When
should you advise going?"
"This moment" cried Homer. 'It's
a wonder that we Americans have any
grass in our country" he added, smil-
ing, "we are so averse to letting it grow
under our feet"
He met Violet's eyes as he finished,
and read in them an admiration and
interest. In another moment she had
turned away on some trifiing pretext, but,
undoubtedly, she was blushing, How
was Homer to know that she had once
declared she would marry the man who
brought her back her bracelet clasp
That, however, was when she was quite
sure it would never be found.
"Not until after luncheon, papa, will
vou?" she said. "You'd better not
take DIR. Ashton until after that"
Several years later, when the medal
lion had led to more than the finding
of stores of plunder in the old ruins
which gang of thieves had taken care
to make appear haunted, Homer Ash.
ton, physician of high standing, was
living in large American city. A
schoolmate whom he had not met fol
years said to him one day at dinner as
tney were talking of marriages and
deaths among their comrades:
"By the way, Ashton, you never told
me where you first met your wife.
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