The Delta independent., 1889-11-05
DORA'S CONFESSION,

scraggy poplar trees on adreary stretch
of seashore. where the rocks broke the
tide into white sheets OF foam when it
thundered up twice a 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 a 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 refused to leave New York.
"Just when I'm getting along so nice
ly in my art school," said she; and
Georgiana had laughed at the idea.
'Me shut myself up at Tide Hall like
clam in its shell! Not while the
Euterpe sociables are going onr' And
my father and mother had decided tn at
Dora must go. 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, "it 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 a victim as l was. It really
wasn't Jacks fault that the officers Of
the bank where he was employed de-
clared 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 moth
er said he was thoroughly inefficient.
Jenny and Georgy laughed at him, and
wondered what Dora could possibly
see in him. But l liked him, and 1
couldn't help it.
So when Mrs. Cadgett's summons
came l thought l might as we'll be
unhappy at Tide Haul as on Twenty
seventh street.
l had plenty to do. All the house.
work, 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 furni-
ture. show me her Jewel casket, and
even permit me to clasp around my
neck n certain old necklace, stained
purple with the glow of amethysts, and
outlined around with tiny white dia-
monds.
at has been in the Cadgett family
for hundred and fifty years." said
she. My husbands niece, Jemima
Cadgett, expects to inherit it, but it is
mine to leave TO whom please And,
though Jemima wants my jewels, she
isn't willing to come here and live with
mel" --
Nor was the amethyst necklace all Of
fha Na1natf inyval,
taire diamond as large as cherry
cameo brooch and pair of sleeve but
tons of pigeons blood" rubies. and a
quaint little dagger with its hilt in
crusted in small brilliants. was new
er 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? l 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
gett?" asked !, for by that name she
had hidden me to call her.
They're worth $1,000 at the very
least" said she.
So that one night when n masculine
figure emerged out of the flying spray
and deepening twilight close to the
back door. gave a great start Owen
had trudged to his home and I was all
alone, amusing myself, as 1 often did
on the sly, by looking at Aunt Cadgett's
ornaments and trying their effect on
myself, before the hall mirror, with a
strange breathless sense the while OF
transgressing some unwritten law, for
the old lady never knew but that they
were safely locked in her chiffonier, Of
which kept the key. or course. it
was wrong, but was only seventeen,
and led such n solitary life
l lad the jcwelled dagger in my hair,
and the necklace clasped around my
neck, and was holding the candle first
this way and then that to catch the
coruscations OF the tiny facets, when,
CHANGING to turn my head. saw IL face
flattened against the window glass A
mans face.
For n second my heart stood still. 1t
was for II second only, however, for l
instantly recognized the heavy black
moustache and merry, sparkling eyes
of-Jack Mornington.
"Oh, Jack! oh. Jack" l cried, flying
to open the door and let him in.
"Masquerading, eh?" said Jack, af-
ter he had given me a hearty kiss.
please don't tell OF me, Jack. was
only trying on Mrs. Cadgett's jewels.
One must do something in d lonely
place like this" pleaded l.
"By Jove! though, it is lonely"
saidJack. II thought never should
find it, and don't know now how rm
ever to get back to the mainland"
chow came you here, Jack?" i
asked.
II wanted To see you, Dora, to tell
you good-by. Those beastly bank people
have turned me out. And I'm going
to seek my fortune"
Where, Jackp" ] questioned.
"Heaven only knows, don't"
"And, like two silly children that
we were, we looked at each other and
burst out laughing. still in the glitter
Of Aunt Cadgetts jewels. Jack warm
ing his chilled hands at the kitohen
fire.
And then he explained to me his
plans for the future, md promised to
wait for his fortune to be made, even
II 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 ar
tillery.
ssYo,, fuu uavor m owov f.o,v, l,o.o