The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-03-14

ceived signs that the colonel was ABOUT 10
recommence, 'kindly let me know in what
way can be of use to you.
"Bother take the women = calculated
the visitor, as he recovered his breath
again. eBut you see, Mr. Leslie, it was
all through my niece She caught sight of
that thing-funny looking thing, too-on
your chain whilst we were on the Parade
this evening, and nearly tainted away-she
did. sir, | do assure you, in Mrs. Raby' s
arms. too, sir; and if had not got a cup
of water from the drinking fountain, and
poured it over her head, there would most
likely have been bit Of scene, sir, and
then-we are staying in this house, you
know. We saw you come in just behind
us: and so-of course it's all nonsense, but
the fact is =
"Excuse me-" interrupted Leslie, who
was growing impatient; but may ask the
name of the lady-your niece, | mean ?"
eMy niece, sir, replied the colonel,
rather ruffled at being cut short, lis known
as Miss Margaret Drury; and if you will
only have the kindness to convince her as
to the utter absurdity of an idea which she
somehow entertains that that affair." charm,
t14nket, or whatever you may call it, once
belonged to brother of hers, shall be
extremely obliged to you, for really re
lapsing again-''when the women once get
hold of fad of the kind, mans peace is
clean gone, sir, do assure you"
II am not quite sure, remarked Leslie,
smiling, sthat in this case at least it will
turn out to be fad. How became pos
sessed of this stone, which have every
reason to believe once belonged to her
brother, and which, through long years, l
have held in trust for her and her mother,
is quite capable of explanation, sad though
the story may be. So, sir, l shall be very
pleased to wait on Miss Drury as soon as
it may be convenient to her.
A tall, dark-robed figure, beyond the first
bloom of maidenhood, but still passing fair
to look upon, rose on Leslie's entrance; and
he recognized at glance the long golden
hair, and calm eyes of deepest blue, of poor
Drurys oft-repeated description.
Many sob escaped his auditor as he
feelingly related his sad story.
ePoor Francie," she said at last-'poor,
dear Francie And this is the old Guam
dong locket | gave him as a parting gift
when he left for those terrible diamond
fields. A lock of my hair was in it. Bui
how strange it seems that through all these
years YOU have never discovered the secret
of opening it. See and with a push on
one of the stud-heads and twist on anoth-
er, short, stout silver pin drew out, and
one half of the nut slipped off, disclosing to
the astonished gaze of the pair, nesting in
thick lock of golden threads finer than
the finest silk, beautiful diamond, uncut
but still, even to the unpractised eyes OF
Leslie, of great value.
This, then, was the secret of the Quan
dong stone, kept so faithfully for SO long g
time This was what that dying friend
and brother had tried, but tried in vain
with his last breath to disclose.
1t was little wonder that Leslie's inquir
les and advertisements had been ineffect-
ual, for about the time Drury had received
his last letter from home, the bank in which
was the widows modest capital failed, and
the mother and daughter were both plunged
into poverty dire and complete. In this
strait they wrote to Colonel Raby, Mrs.
Drury's brother, who, to do him justice
behaved nobly, bringing them from Aus
tralia to England, and accepting them as
part and parcel of his home without the
slightest delay Mrs Drury had now beer
dead some years; and though letter aftel
letter had been addressed to Francis Drury
at the Cape, they had invariably returned
with the discouraging Endorsement, "Not
to be found" The Rabys, it seemed, save
for brief interval yearly, lived a very re-
tired kind of life on the Yorkshire wolds
still, Margaret Drury had caused many anc
persistent inquiries to be made as to the
fate of her brother, but, till that eventfu
evening on the Marine Parade, without
being able to obtain the slightest clue.
As perhaps the reader has already divin
ed, John Leslie was, after all, not fated tt
90 through life's pilgrimage alone. Ii
fair Margaret Drury he found a lovine
companion and devoted wife; and as, through
the years of good and evil hap,
The red light fell about their knees,
On heads that rose by slow degrees,
Like buds upon the lily spire,
so did John Leslie more nearly realis'
what rare prize he had won.
At beautiful Kaloola, Mr.. and Mrs. Les
lie still live happily, and the old Quandons
stone, with its occupant still undisturbed
is treasured among their most precious
relics.