The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-01-19

Invalid was coaxed down to the sitting
room, where she lay on the sofa with closed
eyes, surrounded by the girls, working and
reading in silence. Kittys eyes were filed
with tears-she could scarcely see to draw
her needle through, but no one noticed or
pitied her.
The first interruption to this dismal scene
was the arrival of mysterious box which,
the servant announced, a man had just
brought and left without any message. It
was addressed to ''Miss Catherine Cant
well"
In great surprise Kitty proceeded to un-
pack it, the members of her family taking
no interest whatever in her occupation
Presently, however, sharp exclamation at
tracted their attention, and moment later
the invalid was sitting upright on her
couch with very wide-awake eyes and the
girls-books and work flung aside-were
leaning across the table, staring dumb
founded at the contents of Kitty's parcel
an ivory casket lined with satin in which
reposed the most exquisite parure of bril-
llants they had ever set eyes on-necklace,
earrings, bracelets rings. 1t certainly was
regal set, and its pure sparkling beauty
had an electrifying effect upon the family.
"Oh, they are too lovelyR' ''Sueh stones
such stones !" "And the setting-why,
it is a work of art r. "Look, looE-there
are your initials in pearls on the bracelet
kitty, Kitty, what does it all mean ?"
Il don't knowI" she replied, in dazed
voice. You know as much about them
as | do"
1T means Mr.. Thompson-that's what
it means, you wicked girl = cried Mrs.
Cantwell bitterly. "He ordered this for
you, little expecting the treatment he" {"
Mr. Thompson Y interrupted Kitty.
''Oh, mother, he never could afford a pres
ent of the kind-it would swallow up a
third of his capitalr'
Then from whom can it be p cried the
girls, blankly.
Kitty could not help them, so they ex-
amined the case attentively, shook out all
the papers, scrutinized the address, but
were not enlightened. Then, Kitty refus-.
ing 10 try 90 the jewels, the girls, with her
permission, each in turn arrayed them
selves, and felt fer the time being in the
golden realms of fairyland
I'VE shall have to advertise in the Times
that's what we shall have to do, said
Zeldie, as the ornaments were being re-
stored to their case, when Kitty, who had
been pressing a spring at the back of
pendant, suddenly looked up, heg face
flushing scarlet, and exclaimed
Il know whom they are from Cousin
Patrick {"
"Cousin Patrick Oh, nonsense y Exit
ty, you're dreaming "Impossiblc PIN
chorus.
Il am making no mistakeI know it by
a word scfibbled inside here. No. Ethel
you are not to see it, 1t is meant only for
me"
"From cousin Patrick Then they're
paste !" said Maud scornfully.
Mrs. Cantwell made no remark, but drew
the case towards her and examined the
diamonds critically and attentiyely.
Il am sure they are real, she announced,
in slow puzzled tome "There is clear
ness, hardness and a weight about them
that could not be initiated And. even
were they limitations, they would be, as
works of art, more valuable present than
/ should have thought your cousin could
afford-that is, if they come from him.
las very perplexing. | think, in the cir
cumstances, Catharine, you had better write
to Patrick tomorrow morning and ask for
an explanation.
With these words Mrs Cantwell took
the mysterious property into her possession,
and retired with it to her room
The next morning, nothing Ioath, Kitty,
Immediately after breakfast, drew her
writing desk up to The window, when her
mother, who had not appeared before, sud-
denly entered the room, dropped into a
chair, united her bonnet strings with an
air Of exhaustion, asked for a glass of wine,
and then said
''My dear children, don't be alarmed, |
have most extraordinary news TO tell you.
Last night | could not sleep a moment,
those diamonds troubled me so. The re-
sponsibility was too much, so | got up very
early and drove down to your cousins hotel,
where | saw him, and also Mr.. Fisher,
his solicitor, who had arrived from town
the night before, and from him, my dear
children, learned that my nephew is not
what | supposed him to be-a young fellow
in struggling circumstanees-bu ON the
contrary, rich man, very rich man, in
deed, owner Of one of the principal thor
oughfares in Melbourne, besides gold mines
up country, which he works himself, anda
lot of other valuable property in various
parts of the world The family, | under
stand, prospered wonderfully from the first
year Of their emigration, and poor Philip
died well-to-do man; and since that time
it seems that everything his son has touched
has turned to gold. | never was 50 sur
prised and delighted, not only on his ae-
count, but on yours, my dear Catharine-
for cannot tell you, my child, how it has
cut me to the heart to have to interfere
between you and the husband Of your
choice; but mothers duty, mothers
cruel experience- Ethel, my dear, I'll
take a cup of tea.
This strange announcement was received
in breathless silence; three of her daugh-
leTs ldiC Cuetho Hunucu uhCdehl ouN SASA
of their hearts, the barrister's bride includ-
ed, echoed mournfully the sorrowful dirge:
"Too late-too late Oh, if We had
only known in time =
Kitty rose to her feet, no sign of triumph
on her troubled brow, and, facing her fam
lily, she exclaimed, in tremulous, bitter
tone
"Well, mother-well, girls-we have
made pretty business of it, haven't we?
This young man with the Midas-like touch
has not at least struck gold on these prom
ising premises, has he? He has been
toiing honestly, good-humoredly, with in
finite forbearance for the past two months
on this kindly soil, and We have all been
found wanting in the very virtues houored
among the lowest savages-hospitality and
gratitude = gratitude" continued Kitty,
with sob, ''for benefits received in by-gone
days, which our deepest affection, our
warmest welcome, could have ill-repaid.
Oh, what must he think of us? How
quickly he fathomed our shallow, grasping
natures Mother, you must not, you can
not expect me to marry him now-I
couldn't l couldn't wear his diamonds
| couldn't share his wealth Would
rather die IL"
uAnd II would rather YOU didn't lust