The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-09-28

you up 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 dis
cover you. And, Jack, there's plenty of
bread and meat and new milk in the
cupboard, and"-
"You are darling" said Jack.
"There's Aunt Cadgett's cane thump-
ing on the floor" cried I. "Her signal.
She wants me-"
Aunt Cadgett was unusually exacting
that night thought 1 never should
get her settled to her satisfaction, and in
the midst of 1t remembered that had
left the Jewel casket down stairs. Sup
pose that she should take fancy to in.
spect it, as she often did at night
trembled at the idea.
Fortunately, however, she did not, and
cpept 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 1 had left 1t. after we had
both admired the antique ornaments,
was the leather case on the dresser shelf.
"Thank goodnessr said to myself, as
put 1t back into the chiffonier drawer
and noiselessly turned the key.
sat beside Aunt Cadgett's bed that
night, catching what scraps and frag
ments Of sleep could, for her rheuma-
tism racked her Hercely and she was to
take her medicine every two hours.
And when woke in the early morning
she was sweetly sleeping, the sunshine
streemed cheerily across the floor, and
Jack was gonel
Dora" said Mrs. Cadgett to me the
next day, "bring me my jewel case"
obsyed, thinking but little of the
order.
"Open It," said the old lady.
opened 1t. There was only the faded
velvet lining with its worn compart-
ments. Not trinket remained. Igave
great start.
"Ohl" cried, "where are the jewelsp"
81 suppose you haven't stolen 'em2"
said Mrs. Cadgett.
"I?"
"Nor old OwenP
''Of course not"
mo one else has been In the house?"
looked at Mrs. Cadgett. She looked
at me with eyes that glittered like
piercing dagger points. / fell, sobbing,
on my knees, and buried my face in the
bed clothes.
"Jack has been here" said /. "He
slept In the kitchen that rainy night.
He saw the jewels. I was trying them
on Ohl Aunt Cadgett, it was very
wrong and wicked of me, but 1 meant
no harml Obi I'm quite, quite sure of
thatl And II any one has stolen your
| jewels"-
"No one has stolen them, child" said
Mrs. Cadgett, with sort of low, chuck
ling laugh. They're safe here, under
my pillow, where put them that night
after you brought them up here. Imam
aged somehow to take the key out of
your dress pocket and hobble to the chif-
fonier after you were asleep. l knew
there was q man down stairs-I had
heard bis voioe-and thought my treas
ures would be safest under my own hand.
Besides, couldn't bear the idea Of hav,
ing a sly traitor In the house. You
haven't been sly, Dora; you have been
confessing it all. Don't cry, little girl;
forgive you"
"But don't deserve to be forgivenr'
I sobbed out. 81 have been sly. Give
your jewels to Jemima Cadgett, please
give her everythingl"
Mrs Cadgett smiled and shook he,
head.
"Now," said she, "tell me all about
this Jack"
And told her, and she comforted me
with words Of sympathy and kindly Ca
resses such as 1 never had expected to re
ceive from her.
That was last year. Jack and were
married month ago, and Aunt Cad
gett's wedding gift to me was the leath
ern case Of jewels. Jack is to be overseel
Of the great Cadgett orange orchards
down in Florida, and Miss Jemima says
she don't care a straw who wears the
jeweled dagger and the amethyst neck
lace, 80 long as Aunt Cadgett is suited
She Is 20 good about it. And as soon as
Aunt Cadgett is able to be moved we are
all going to Florida together.
And I am 30 happy But Jack ant
Aunt Cadgett both say deserve it,
Shirley Browne in The Fireside Compan
ion