The Delta independent., 1889-11-05

keep out OF the quicksands by daylight,
Owen says"
"Will the old lady keep me?"
shook my head.
"She has u horror OF strangers"
saidI. "But won't ask her, Jack
I'll make you up q bed of blankets
and soft pillows on this kitchen settee.
You'll be very comfortable. and you
must be off beforo daylight, lest Owen
Ringgan should discover you. And,
Jack, there's plenty of bread and meat
and new milk in the cupboard, and
"You arc darling" said Jack.
There's Aunt Cadgett's cane
humping on the floor cried |. "Her
signal She wants me-" eta,
Aunt Cadgett was unusually exact
ing that night. l thought 1 never
should get her settled to her satisfac-
tion, and in the midst of it | remem-
bered that | had left the jewel caske,
downstairs. Suppose that she should
happen to take II fancy to inspect it, as
she often did ut night. / trembled at
the idea.
Fortunately, however, she did not,
and l 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 goodness"' l said to myself
as l put it back into the chitfoniel
drawer and noiselessIy turned the key,
l sat beside Aunt Cadgett's bed that
night catching what scraps and frag-
ments Of sleep could, for her rheuma
tism racked her tiercely, and she was
to take her medicine every two hours.
And when | woke iE the early morn.
ing she was sweetly sleeping, the sun
shine streaming chcerily across the
floor. and Jack was gone.
Dora" said Mrs. Cadgett to me
the next day, bring me my jewe
box"
obeyed, thinking but little of the
order.
"Open it, said the old lady.
l opened it. There was only the
faded lining with its worn compart
ments. Not a trinket remained. l gave
great start.
"Oh!n l cried, "where are the
jewels?"
Il suppose you haven't stolen emp
said Mrs. Cadgett
..I?'
Nor old Owen?"
"Of course not"
mo one else has been in the house?"
looked at Mrs. Cadgett. She look
ed at me with eyes that glittered like
piercing dagger points. l fell, sobbing.
on my knees, and buried my face il
the bedclothes.
Jack has been here" said |. "Hc
slept in the kitchen that rainy night
He saw the jewels. l was trying then
on. Oh! Aunt Cadgett, it was very
wrong and wicked of me, but | mean
no harm! Oh! I'm quite, quite sure oI
that! And ii any one has stolen your
Jewels"
"No one has stolen them, child,
said Mrs. Cadgett, with a sort of low
chuckling laugh. They're safe here
under my pillow, where | put then
that night after you brought them W
here. managed somehow te take the
key out OF your dress pocket and hobble
to the chitfonier after you were asleep.
l knew there was IL man down stairs,
had heard his voice, and l thought my
treasures would be safest under my
own hand. Besides. | couldn't beal
the idea OF having II sly traitor in the
house. You haven't been sly. Dora
you have been confessing it all. Don'I
cry, little girl; l forgive you"
''But don't deserve to be forgiven.'
l sobbed out II have been sly. Give
your jewels to Jcmima Cadgett, please
give her everything!"
Mrs. Cadgett smiled and shook her
head.
Now" said she, tell me all about
this Jack"
And l told her, and she ccmforted
me with words OF sympathy and kindly
caresses, such as | never had expected
to receive from her.
That was last year. Jack and were
married a month ago, and Aunt Cad
getts wedding gift to me was the
leathern case of jewels. Jack is to be
overseer of the great Cadgett orange
orchards down in Florida, and Miss
Jemima says she don't care a straw
VINO wears the jewelled dagger and the
amethyst necklace, so long rs Aunt
Cadgett is suited. She is so good
about it. And as soon as Aunt Cadgett
is able to be moved we are all going to
Florida together.
And am so happy! But Jack and
Aunt Cadgett both say l deserve it
Shirley Browne, in the Fireside Com
panion.
Pretty Women, Bless En-.
A Pennsylvania Young lady while