San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-10-03

| ~~~s N~e6At ~ so Ao0soAyg puiO
Jack. "I thought I never should find II
and ] don't know now how I'm ever Il
get back 10 the mainland"
"How came you here, Jack?" asked
81 wanted to see you, Dora, to tell yo,
good-by. Those beastly bank people hav,
turned me out. and I'm going TO seel
my fortunes"
"Where, JackY" questioned.
"Heaven only knows, DON'T"
And, like two silly children that W,
were, we looked at each other and burs
out laughing, still in the glitter Of Aun
Cadgett's jewels, Jack warming hi
chilled hands at the kitchen fire.
And then he explained to me his plan
for the future, and | promised to wal
for his fortune to be made, even II 4
were seven times seven years. And tn,
rain drove In sheets against the side oi
the house, and the thunder Of the rising
tide filled the silence like the constan,
discharge Of artillery.
"You can never 60 away from here ir
this storm. at this time of night, Jack,
said I. "Its all one can do to keep ou
of the quicksands by daylight, Over
says"
"Will the old lady keep me?"
shook my head.
"She has horror of strangers" said
"But won't ask her, Jack. I'll max,
you up bed of blankets and soft pillows
on this kitchen settee You'll be very
comfortable, and you must be Off before
daylight, lest Owen Ringgan should dis
cover you. And, Jack, there's plenty OF
bread and meat and new milk In the
cupboard, and"-
"You are darling," said Jack.
"There's Aunt Cadgett's cane thump
ing on the floor" cried I. "Her signal
She wants me-"
Aunt Cadgett was unusually exacting
that night. ] thought l never should
get her settled to her satisfaction, and In
the midst of 1t remembered that had
left the jewel casket down stairs. Sup
pose that she should take a fancy to in
spect 1t, rs she often did at night
trembled at the idea.
Fortunately, however, she did not, and
crept quietly down stairs after she was
asleep.
Jack was asleep, too, lying in an un.
consciously graceful attitude, with his
cheek pillowed against his arm, and
there where had left it, after we had
both admired the antique ornaments,
was the leather case on the dresser shelf.
"Thank goodnessl" said to myself, as
put it back into the chiffonier drawer
and noiselessly turned the key.
sat beside Aunt Cadgett's bed that
night, catching what scraps and frag,
ments of sleep could, for her rheuma-
tism racked her fiercely and she was tc
take her medicine every two hours.
And when woke In the early morning
she was sweetly sleeping, the sunshine
streamed cheerily across the floor, and
Jack was gone!
"Dora," said Mrs. Cadgett to me the
next day, "bring me my jewel case"
obeyed, thinking but little of the
order.
"Open It," said the old lady.
Iopened 1t. There was only the faded
velvet lining with Its worn compart.
ments. Not trinket remained. Igave
q great start.
"Ohl" cried, "where are the jewels2"
II suppose you haven't stolen 'emY"
said Mrs. Cadgett.
"I?"
"Nor old Owenf"
"Of course not"
"No one else has been In the houseY'
looked at Mrs. Cadgett. She looked
ut me with eyes that glittered like
piercing dagger points. I fell, sobbing,
on my knees, and buried my face in the
bed clothes.
"Jack has been here" said I. "He
slept in the kitchen that rainy night
He saw the jewels. 1 was trying them
on Oh! Aunt Cadgett, 1t was very
wrong and wicked Of me, but I meant
no harml Oh! I'm quite, quite sure Of
thatl And If any one has stolen your
jewels'-
"No one has stolen them, child" said
Mrs. Cadgett, with sort Of low, chuck
ling laugh. They're safe here, under
my pillow, where put them that night
after you brought them up here. Imam
aged somehow to take the key out OF
your dress pocket and hobble to the chif-
fonier after you were asleep. I knew
there was q man down stairs-I had
heard his voice-aHd thought my treas.
ures would he safest under my own hand. |
Besides, couldn't bear the idea of hav-
Ing a sly traitor in the house. You
haven't been sly, Dora; you have been
confessing It all. Don't cry, little girl; ]
forgive you."
"But don't deserve to be forgivenr
| sobbed out. 81 have been sly. Give
your jewels TO Jemima Cadgett, please
give her everythingl"
Mrs Cadgett smiled and shook her
head.
"Now,' said she, "tell mo all about
this Jack"
And ! told her, and she comforted mo
with words Of sympathy and kindly ca
resses such as never had expected to re-
ceive from her.
That was last year. Jack and were
married a month ago, and Aunt Cad
sett's wedding gift-to me was the leath-
srn case Of jewels Jack Is 10 be overseer
,f the great Cadgett orange orchards
iown In Florida, and Miss temima says
he don't care a straw who wears the
eweled dagger and the amethyst neck
acc, 50 long as Aunt Cadgett IA suited
;he Is so good about Il. And as soon as
AUNT Cadgett Is able 70 be moved we are
II going to Florida together.
And am 50 hapPyi But Jack and {
Aunt Cadgett both say deserve it-ll
ihirley Browne in The Fireside Compau- I
On