Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-09-25
DORA'S CONFESSION.

IL sounds like grand place. but It
wasn't grand at all-only ruinous old
brick house standing behind row Of
scraggy poplar trees on a dreary stretch
of seashore, where the rocks broke the
tide into white sheets of foam when 1t
Numbered up twice day. and the very
shrubs in the garden were sprinkled with
salt spray when the wind came from the
east
Here, all alone, except for deaf oIsa
man who came to work In the garden
and bring coal and water, lived Mrs
Cadgett, my fathers cousin, and hifheT
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. sJust when
I'm getting along 50 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 shelN
Not while the Euterpe sociables are go
ing ONT And my father and mother
had decided that Dora must 60. Dora
was generally the victim of the family,
and there was nothing for it but for Dora
to submit.
And besides, could hear my moth
er whisper to my father, sit win be a
great thing to get her out of Jacks way
for the present.
She thought didn't hear, but I did.
Poor Jackl He was, in his way, a.
much Of victim as was. T. really
wasn't Jacks fault that the officers o. the
bank where he was employed declared
that he had no financial talent. Nothing
seemed to 90 right with Jack. ny father
called him a rolling stone who w0nld
gather no moss. NV mother said he w.na
thoroughly inefficient. Jenny and 0eorxy
laughedat him, and wondered wkat uora
could possibly see In him. Dut hkea
him, and couldn't help H.
SO when Mrs. Cadgetf' : summnnsc asr
thought might az wei tle unharpv "A
Tide HaH as on Twenty seventh strneA
had plenty 10 do. Aufae houwwQlA
except what old Owen could a. EN- -
my share, and my old relative required
endless waiting on. But then. when ahf
was in her more genial moods. she wouid
tell me the history Of her old tapestries
and antique furniture, show me her iewral
casket, and even permit me - clasp
around my neck a certain old nccklace.
stained purple with the glow Of anne
thysts, and outlined around with tiny
white diamonds.
ut has been in the Cadgett family for
a hundred and fifty years" said she.
Ny husbands niece, Jemima Cadgett,
expects to inherit 1t, 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 melr
Nor was the amethyst necklace all Of
the Cadgett jewels There was soli.
tairc diamond. as large as cherry stone,
set in ring There was an odd cameo
brooch and a 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.
Eyes. child, yes, they're pretty
enough, Mrs Cadgett had said, ssbut
what use are they to an old woman like
me2 sometimes think it isn't safe for
me to keep them here in this solitary
place. aud only two women In the house.
Only, to be sure, nobody knows of
themg~
Are they very valuable. Aunt Cad
getts 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 one stormy night when mas
culine figure emerged out Of the flying
spray and deepening twilight close to
the back door, gave great start
Owen had undged to his home and ]
was all alone. amusing myself, as | often
did on the sly, By looking at Aunt Cadg-
ett's ornaments and trying their effect
on myself before the hall mirror. with a
strange hreathless sense the while Of
transgressing some unwritten law, for
the old lady mover knew but that they
were safely locked in her chiffonier, Of
which kept the key. OF course, IL was
wrong. but I was only IL. and led such
. solitary life.
. had the jeweled dagger stuck through
my hair, and the necklace clasped around
my neck. and was holding the candle
frst this way and then that to catch the
coruscations of the tiny facets. when,
chancing 10 turn my lead. saw face
nattened against the window glass 4
mans .acel
Tor q second my heart stood still. Il
WAS for q second oniy. however, for / In
slantly recognized tie heavy black mus
lache and merry sparkling eyes Of
jack Harrington.
oh. Jack oh, Jackln | cried. firing
- open the door and let him u.
Iasqueraaing. chr sid Jack, after
BE haa eisenkEne hearty kia -
pse den1 ten ~ n3e &@ck ! WIS
emily trying IN Elzn EstseEss jewels
Elle as Ia nssetlling in 3 lonely plleel
Eke t'' nsaaillsl
Jsksl thoush' 1 3 lonely I'D