Nevada County picayune., 1889-11-13

myself, as l often did on the sly, by by To ooking at Aunt Cadgett's orna. ments and trying their effect on my self. before the hall mirror, with a strange breathless sense the while of tr ansgressing some unwritten law for the old lady never knew but that they were safely locked in her chif- fonier, of which 1 kept the key. Of course it was wrong, but l was only seventeen, and l led such a solitary life.
 l had the jewclled dagger in my hair, and the necklace clasped around my neck, and was holding the glass first this way and that way to catch the cornscations of the tiny facets, when, chancing to turn my head, saw face tlattened against the win dow glass-a mans face.
 For second my heart stood still It was a second only, however, for 1 instantly recognized the heavy black mustache and merry, sparkling eyes of-Jack Warrington.
 "Oh, Jack. oh, Jack." l cried, flying to open the door to let hlm in.
 "Masquerading, eh:" said Jack, after he had given me q hearty kiss.
 ''Please don't tell on me, Jack. 1 was only trying on Mrs. Cadgett' s jewels. One must do something in lonely place like this,' pleaded l.
 By love, though, it is lonely" said Jack. ''I thought l never should find it, and don't know now how I'm ever to get back to the main- land"
 ''How came you here. Jack?" I asked.
 ''I wanted to see you, Dora, to tell you goodbye. Those beastly bank people have turned me out. Pm go- ing to seek my fortune"
 Where, Jack?' questioned.
 ''IIeaven only knows, 1 don't"
 And, like two silly children that we were, we looked at each other, and burst out laughing. I still in the glitter of Aunt Cadgett's jewels, Jack warming his chilled hands at the kitchen fire.
 And then he explained to me his plans for the future, and 1 promised to wait for his fortune to be made, even if it were seven times seven years And the rain drove in sheets against the side of the house, and the thunder of the rising tide filled the silence like the constant discharge of artillery.
 You can never go away from here in this storm at this time of night, Jack" said I. ''It's all one can do to keep out of the quicksands by day light, Owen says.
 twill the old lady keep me?"
 l shook my head.
 "She has horror for strangers. !" said I. But 1 won't ask her Jack. I'll make you a 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 discover you. And, Jack, there's plenty of bread and meat and new milk in the cup board, and' -
 "lou are q darling" said Jack.
 There's Aunt Cadgett's cane humping on the floor,'' cried I. "Her signal. She wants me-"
 Aunt Cadgett was unusually ex- acting that night. thought l never should get her settled to her satls- faction, and in the midst of it l re- membered that l had left the jewel casket downstairs. Suppose that she should take a fancy to inspect it, as she often did at night. 1 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 unconsciously graceful attitude, with his cheek pillowed against his arm, and there where I had left it, after we had both admired the antique or naments, was the leather case on the dresser shelf.
 "Thank goodness! !" said to my self, as l put it back into the chif- fonier drawer and noiselessly turned the key.
 1 sat beside Aunt Cadgett's bed that night catching what scraps and fragments of sleep l could, for her ..-... .u-.l...l Lc,. Enrnnl.. and