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

had been three months at Tide Hail.
1t sounds like grand place, but Il
wasn't grand at all-only ruinous old
brick house standing behind a row OF
scraggy poplar trees on a dreary stretch
of seashore, where the rocks broke the
tide into white sheets of foam when II
thundered up twice q day, and the very
shrubs in the garden were sprinkled with
salt spray when the wind camc from the
cast.
Here, all alone, except for deaf old
man who came to work In the garden
and bring coal and water, lived Mrs.
Cadgett, my fathers cousin, and hither
had been sent to take care of her when
she was stricken down with rheumatic
fever. Jenny, my elder sister, had re.
fused to leave New York. "Just when
I'm getting along so nicely in my art
school," said she; and Georgiana had
laughed at the idea. "Me shut myself
up at Tide Hall like clam In its she'll
Not while the Euterpe sociables are go.
ing on!" And my father and mother
had decided that Dora must go. Dora
was generally the victim of the family,
and there was nothing for it but for Dora
to submit.
"And BESIDES" I could hear my moth
er whisper to my father, cit will be a
great thing to get her out of Jacks way
for the present.
She thought didn't hear, but did.
Poor Jack! He was, in his way, as
much of victim as was. It really
wasn't Jacks fault that the officers of the
bank where he was employed declared
that he had no financial talent. Nothing
seemed to go right with Jack. My father
called him rolling stone who would
gather no moss. My mother said he was
thoroughly inefficient. Jenny and Georgy
laughed at him, and wondered what Dora
could possibly see in him. But I liked
him, and couldn't help it.
So when Mrs. Cadgett's summons came
I thought l might as well be unhappy at
Tide Hall as on Twenty-seventh street.
had plenty to do. All the housework,
except what old Owen could do, fell to
my share. and my old relative required
endless waiting on. But then, when she
was In her more genial moods, she would
tell me the history Of her old tapestries
and antique furniture, show me her jewel
casket, and even permit me to clasp
around my neck certain old necklace,
stained purple with the glow Of anne
thysts, and outlined around with tiny
white diamonds.
"It has been in the Cadgett family for
a hundred and fifty years." said she.
"My husbands niece, Jemima Cadgett,
expects to inherit it, but it is mine to
leave to whom l please. And though
Jemima wants my jewels she isn't will
ing to come here and live with mel"
Nor was the amethyst necklace all of
the Cadgett jewels. There was soil.
taire diamond, as large as a cherry stone,
set in ring. There was an odd cameo
brooch and u pair Of sleeve buttons of
pigeons blood" rubies, and a quaint
little dagger with its hilt incrusted in
small brilliants. was never tired of
looking at these trinkets.
"Yes, child, yes, they're pretty
enough" Mrs. Cadgett had said, "but
what use are they to an old woman like
me? / sometimes think it isn't safe for
me to keep them here in this solitary
place, and only two women in the house.
Only, to be sure, nobody knows of
them!"
"Are they very valuable, Aunt Cad !
gettT asked /, for by that name she had |
hidden me to call her.
They're worth thousand dollars at
the very least" said she.
So that ole stormy night when a mas
,uline figure emerged out Of the flying
spray and deepening twilight close to
he back door, j gave q great start. |
Owen had trudged to his home and
vas all alone, amusing myself, as often
lid on the sly, by looking at Aunt Cadg-
it's ornaments and trying their effect
m myself before the hall mirror, with
TRANCE breathless sense the while Of
ransgressing some unwritten law, for
he old lady never knew but that they
we're safely locked in her chiIfonier, Of
which / kept the key. OF course. it was
vrong, but was only II, and led such
solitary life.
HAD the jeweled dagger stuck through
ly Lair, and the necklace clasped around
~ neck, and was holding the candle
rst this way and then that TO catch the
oruscations Of the tiny facets, when,
hancing 20 turn my head, / saw a face
aftsned against the window glass A
lan's aHcei
For a second my heart stood still Il
as for q second only, however. for I in
.anfly recognized the heavy black mus
che and merry, sparkling eyes Of
sck Noruingto1-
"Oh, Jack Oh. Jacki- cIied, flying !
open the door and let him IN !,
''Nzs7ueradinz, eh2- sid Jack, after !
: had given me q hearty lisa :
sPleass douf tel of ne, JACK Iwas !,
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