Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-06-19

TO MS friends the 'coastguard cnaps'
think he will be punished enough by the dis
tribution of his little property in the cave.
Ell, Mr.. Jonesg"
Jones only wrung his hands and walled,
thinking of his precious treasure.
''And SO, Matt" continued Brinkley,
There will be no wedding after all. I'm
afraid you're awfully dsappointed@
Matt replied by taking his hand again, lift.
ing it to her lips, and kissing it fondly. The
young man turned his head away, for his
eyes had suddenly grown full of grateful
tears.
-~ CONCLUSION
My tale is told. The adventure of ths
Caravan has ended. Little more remains to
q said
Monk, of Monkshurst, was not brought TO
rial for his iniquities, but he was soreIy
mough punished by the loss Of his ill-gotten
Estates. Before the claim of the founding
was fully proved he left England, never to
return. Whether he is alive or dead can
not tell.
William Jones, too, escaped legal punish
ment A severer retribution came upon him
in the seizure and dispersal of the boards in
the great cave. So sorely did he take his
loss to heart that he crept to his bed and had
an attack of brain fever. When he reap
peared on the scene of his old plunderings his
intellect was weakened, and he showed cur
ious evidences of inbecility. But the ruling
passion remained strong within him. I saw
him only last summer, rambling on the Sea-
shore, talking incoherently to himself, and
watching the sea in search of wreckage as Of
old.
And Matte
Well, her title to Monkshurst and the prop
erty was fully proved For a long time she
did not realize her good fortune, but grad
ually the pleasant truth dawned upon her in
sunrise of nice dresses, jewelry and plenty
Of money. Chancery stepped in like q
severe foster parent, and sent her to school
There she remained for several years; but
Charles Brinkley, who had first taken in
hand the vindication of her claims, and who
never ceased to be interested in her, saw her
from time to time, and took particular note
of her improvement in her grammer and the
gentle art Of speech.
''Matt, he said, when they met last Christ
mas in London, and when he saw before him.
instead of towsy girl, as bright and buxom
young lady as ever wore purple raiment
and fine linen, "Matt, you are 'growed up at
lastp
Matt blushed and hung her head with
touch Of her old manner.
Eyes, am grown up, as you say. Iwon.
der what William Jones would think if he
saw me now"
''And if he noticed those pretty boots, Matt,
and heard you play the piano and prattlea
little in French. Upon my word, it's a trans
formationi You always were a nice girl
though"
''Do you really think sog' asked Matt shyly.
.Did you altouys think sos'
Certainly"
even when told you liked you so much,
and you told me it wouldn't dog"
1t was Brinkley's turn to blush now 1t
was clear that Matt, despite other changes,
still retained her indomltable frankness
Given then," he replied, laughing 'ButI
say you were precocious youngster. You
proposed to me, you knowp'
ST know did" said Matt, land it wasn't
leap-year them
She added still more slyly:
"But it's leap year noao!"
Their eyes met. Both blushed more and
more.
"Matt, don'tl It won't do, you knowl
Yes, say so still. You're a rich woman, and
I'm only a poor devil of painter. You must
marry some great swell"
But Matt replied:
''I shall never marry any one but your'
"You won'ts Do you mean it?"
s'Of course I do"
He caught her in his arms
''My darling Matt-yes, I shall call you by
that dear name to the end of the chapter.
You love me, thens can't believe itr'
II have loved you," she answered, laugh
ing, fever since first came-'to be tookr"
And she rested her head on his shoulder,
just as she had done in the old days, when
she was an unsophisticated child of nature
$50 there's to be wedding after all" he
said, kissing her. "Matt, I've an ideap'
p. ssYes?"
"When we marry, suppose we arrange to
spend the honeymoon ina CARAVAN
THE END.
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