Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-11-14
DORA'S CONFESSION.

brick house standing behind row OF
scraggy poplar trees on dreary stretch
of seashore. where the rocks broke the
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 a deaf old
man who came to work in the garden
and bring coal and water, lived Mrs.
Calgett, my fathers cousin, and hither
l 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
n 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,n | could hear my moth
or whisper 10 my father, lit 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 victim as | was. 1t 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 a rolling stone
who would gather no moss. Ny moth
err 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 /
couldn't help it,
So when Mrs. Cadgett's summons
came | thought | might as we'll be
unhappy at Tide Hall as on Twenty
seventh street.
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 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
the Cadgett jewels. There was n soli-
taire diamond as large as cherry
stone, set in a ring. There was an odd
cameo brooch and n pair OF sleeve but
tons of pigeons blood" rubies, and
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? 1 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 masculine
figure emerged out OF the flying spray
and deepening twilight close to the
back door. | gave great start Owen
had trudged to his home and l was all
alone, amusing myself, as | often did
on the sly, by looking at Aunt Cadgetts
ornaments and trying their effect on
myself, before the hall mirror, with u
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 had the jewelled 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. l saw face
flattened against the window glass. A
mans face.
For a second my heart stood still. 1t
was for n second only. however, for l
instantly recognized the heavy black
moustache and merry, sparkling eyes
of-Jack Mornington.
"Oh, Jack! oh, Jackp' | cried, flying
to open the door and let him in.
disappearing, eh?" said Jack, af-
ter he had given me n hearty kiss.
"Please don't tell of me, Jack. was
only trying on Mrs. Cadgett's jewels.
One must do something in n lonely
place like this" pleaded /.
by Jovel though, it is lonely"
said Jack. II thought never should
find it, and don't know now how I'm
ever to get back to the mainland"
''How came you here, Jack?" 1
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.