The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-14
THE BLACK STOCKINGS.

many q io"g mile under the baking
Afrcau uu. and when Jacl; succumbed
10 fever anf diet. there was not a dry
eve in tae regiment.
Larry, old man. he said to me,
watching. through the opening in our
tent. tle last sunset his mortal eyes were
10 l0oe uron. II can trust YOU 10 give
these uiu,e,s % my sister Mora, can't II
She viii pri1e them. She always had a
tendc, spot in her heart for her good for
nothing brother Poor child! She will be
alone now-Quite alone. \ risky fate
for a pre- cirl Of 20. Dysart has writ
ten 10 her telling YOU would hand over
the ht,le maps; All have TO leave. He
viii be to the fore If anything goes
wronc: but Dysart is not Well,
never mind. Ny little Mora--Larry, l
wish
The sentence was never finished, and
the voice which, with its merry ring, had
given courage and hope to many a faint
ing heart of late, sank into eternal
silence.
Reverently took charge Of the poor
BOYS legacy TO his sister, his medals and
crosses. won at peril Of his life. and soon
afterward fate led me back to Europe.
JACK sister was i'm Paris. and thither
was eager 10 hetakc myself with all
possible speed. to resign my charge, and,
if possible. ON tsc strength of my init
macy with Jack, 80 win place in bis
sister regard.
liza fellow ran fab in love wi il pho
tograph and % glowing description, |,
thanks TO poor jack alIectiouate elo-
quencc. was in love with Mora Moncrief.
| believed that my comrade' S half uttered
wish when OWN. was that | might win
the night to protect Mora. But, then,
there was Dysmt. Who was Dysart,
anyway? Clearly ! bad better remove
all uncertainty upon this point as soon as
possible
Arrived at Marseilies. 1 found a letter
from my aunt, Mrs. Cauiston. begging
me to visit her for a few days at Men
tone. as she had an important matter to
discuss with me. This invitation. inter
fermg as 10 dlI with my desire to seek
out Mora al once. was most unwelcome;
particularly as strongly suspected the
reason of my aunt's ardent wish 10 see
me. She had doubles been PLAYING "A
little too rochlessly at Monte Carlo the
love OF gambling being "a long established
infinity with hcr-and wanted me to
help her ont of tight place. Well, one
good turn deserves another; IN my bread
and Jam days many "a nalf sovereign has
found ITS way from Aunt CaIiston' 5
purse t. my JACKET pOcbCt-why should
| not nut a cheerful face upon the matter
and lcirend her now though | de
voutlv wished the summons had come at
any other time.
Accustomed as / had been Of late to
the very hight attire Of African ladies on
their native soil. my auuts toilet and APP
pearance struck me tOrcibly. She was
handsome woman, perfectly aware Of the
fact, and the ustling. tin6lng and faint
odor of paichOul which accompanied her
movements attracted an attention which
was not. on the whole. I'LL paid for the
trouble it took to look. She wore her
silky wi ite hair high above her still fair
forehead. some soft tinted shawl hung
usually about her sllken shoulders III
loose. picturesque fashion; a glittering
profusion Of costly rings detracted from
the beauty of her hands. and pendant
from hen waist dangled a bewilderlng ar
ray of ornaments, mostly of considerable
value-a velvet bag with massive silver
clasps. embossed and jewel studded scent
bottles. end a chatelaine 50 loaded down
with trinkets that ii was as If she had
dragged a silver graphing hook across a
jewelers. counter, retaining all the mis-
CellancOus haul.
thought this display vulgar in the ex-
IRENE, but contentcd myself with ex-
pressing fear that she might be robbed
some Gne day on one of her walks abroad,
as she persisted IN wearing all tins war
paint indoors and out
Don't be a fussy old granny before
your lime, Larry, dear was all the
thanks | got for my solctude. Il
haven't lived ten years on the Riviera for
nothing she had not, as her losses at
Monte Carlo could tcstify-''and I'm
quite able 10 take care OF myself and my
property. We have, fortunately, outlived
the DAYS of highway robberies upon pub
lie thoroughfares.
NJ, aunt had known Jack Moncrieff's
family in past years, and was deeply
interested in my mission to Paris. Very
reluctantly, to satisfy her almost childish
pleading, | showed her Jacks souvenirs,
placed in my hands in trust for his sister
1t seemed "a sacrilege 10 produce them III
such an atmosphere. My annoyance was
extreme when Aunt CarristOn begged 10
be allowed the custody of these yaluables
until evening, as she particularly desired
to show them to friend refused at
first, but her voluble pleading at last
made me weakly give IN.
4 few hours later, as | was partlcu-
larly distinguishing myself over game
Of billiards, fellow brought me note
summoning me to the Hotel DIES Pal
miers, where my aunt lived, with all
possible speed.
Here found pretty state of commo-
ton. Mrs Carriston, my aunt, had been
attacked in the avenue and robbed, the
thief escaping with his plumber As soon
as | had ascertained that my respected
relative had come oil without bodily
hurt. | could not repress an unworthy
faaliue, of inward triumph AT my astute