Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-03-08
painted kid faded by age into a CHASTITY

stick and drew a table near to her.
"My writing-desk, Parker, and you
may come for the letters in half an hour"
"Yes, my lady," and while Parker
hurried off to rummage out her mis-
tress's long-forgotten travelling equip
ments, Lady Paulett, in her neat old
addressed the one to "Mrs. George
Paulett, Eastholm Hall, Wilmington,
Yorkshire" the other to "R. J. Blackett,
ESQ.,, Lincoln's Inn, London" She had
finished before Parker reappeared, and,
after sitting thinking for few minutes,
drew from her desk folded paper. It
was headed Memoranda for my will,
1862" and contained s1indry notes, over
which she pondered.
"There are the letters, Parker. Let
them go at once but first bring my
dressing-case and jewel-case. They shall
have what I have bequeathed to them
now, before I go. I'll make no differ
ence, and then I've done with them all
forever-ungratefnl set!'
Parker placed gorgeous inlaid dress
ing case and a massive BRASS bound COT
fer before her mistress and departed.
Lady Paulett drew the latter to her with
some difficulty. 1T is time an old
woman like me should be rid of some of
those burdens" she said, smiling grimly
as she turned the key and disclosed case
upon case of morocco and velvet snugly
slowed away. She turned them out and
laid them all open before her-a brave
show in the bright fire and candle light.
Parker meanwhile stepped noiselessly
to and fro in the background, emptying
the big wardrobe of it's contents and
bearing them away to pack in the next
room.
"Let me see. Dora? She's the eld-
est. She's to have my emeralds. She'll
take it as a delicate compliment to the
nationality of the man of her choice.
Bah he'll pawn them; what else can
one expect? Well, we'll, it doesn't mat
ter. always hated them, though they
are the handsomest set [ possess. How
well [ remember Sir Josiah bringing
them home the day before [ was pre-
sented at court, aud L had thought he
meant to give me pearls, and had ordered
q pale amber dress L cried about it,
but [ dared not ask him to change them,
or refuse to wear them, and felt SO dis
gusted. knew they looked detestable,
and heard one old lady whisper to an
other, Eggs and spinach. and the other
said something about City, and they
both Uttered. One feels those things
when one is young. Well, I hope Mrs.
O'Shane may be happy in wearing them.
OShane? pah! dare say, though, she'll
be as proud of the name as L was at that
time of being Lady Paulett-ah me
"What next? Emily-my diamond
brooch? Yes here it is" 1t was one
of those quaint, old-fashioned ones in O
silver setting-a large spray of flowers
and leaves. "Pretty little gentle thing,
it's too grand for her now, but she'll be
fine young woman some of these days.
They say she's something like what [
was, but without my high spirits.
Dear dear what a gay young thing I
was at her age, and what fine things l
expected were to happen to me in my
life land what dreary time I have
had of it. [ must keep an eye on little
Emil y-wherever [ am they are all too
apt to overlook her. Yes, she shall have
the diamonds. Mr.. Paulett gave them
to me on my wedding-day, and I wore
them at the grand ball his company
gave when the duke came into the city
to be made cheesemoDger. | can see
myself now In my white Canton Grape
with the French fringes and the myrtle
sprig embroidery and the Prince of
Wales plume in my hair. Josiah said I
looked quite elegant, only very young
he was sensitive about the difference in
our ages, poor man, I remember hear
ing Lord Henry Murray, the Dukes
alde-de-c camp, ask who the pretty little
bride was, and a minute after he came
up and was presented. He led me out,
right to the head of the room, into the
very set with the Duke and the Lady
Mayoress, and [ thought Josiah would
be SO pleased. I could see him fidgeting
about the whole time trying to catch
sight of us between the people, and
shaking his head and making signs to
me, till [ almost forgot the fgures-and
my dancing used to be greatly admired
in those days." Lady Paulett smiled to
herself at the thought, arched her neck,
and made little movement with her
wrlnk led old fingers as If gracefully be-
slowing the tips on some imaginary
partner.
1T was vexatious, and Lord Henry
was so kind and so droll But Mr..
Paulett gave me such frown as he led
me out into the tea-room that I hardly
knew what he said or how to answer him.
Poor dear Josiah To think that, after
all, he was only afraid that was laugh
ing too much, and Lord Henry might
think me silly schoolgirl. or that some
of the city ladies might fancy we were
quizzing them. [ cried all the way
home, and that was the era of my first
appearance in society"
Lady Paulett laid by the brooch in it's
case after carefully rubbing it with a
silk handkerchief.
Arbaella, my granddaughter, must
have the diamond earrings. I got them
when [ was too happy to care about
them, when our little son was born.
How kind Sir Josiah was then there
was nothing he would not have done for
me or baby. He gave them to me for
the christening dinner, and little Jos
took notice of them and laughed, when
he was brought down to have his health
drunk. Such noble little fellow he