The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-08-14

big rooms | should shiver till nobody
would come within yard of me; and
dare say should she ended, laughing at
this woe-begone picture of herself.
She went on talking about Little Street,
however, hearing all about the two old
ladies with much interest from Mrs. Traf-
ford-how Miss Theodosia was ten years
older than Miss L1vinia, how Miss La
vinia was siXty-two and dressed herself
down to thirty-five, how they were An
thony Staunton's aunts and godmothers
and had promised to make him their heir,
besides having made q handsome settle
ment on him at the time of his marriage,
how their place was managed, what Law
ish house they kept, how many servants.
how many horses, what lovely pictures
and china they possessed, what exquisite
oak and Chippendale furniture, what sill
yer and jewels-"Rubies, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Trafford-''rubies enough to make
any ordinary woman just green with envy.
l always feel glad" she went on, that
though they are co-heiresses, the rubies
belong to Miss Theodosia, because she is
such Il dear sweet little fairy godmother
of a woman You know she has left them
all to Anthony in her will-so my Laura
Will nave Tile lIucoC oteppIlICS
in England"
'sAre they so good as that? What
lucky girl" Mrs Bob cried-then gave
little sigh. "Ah we'll, don't know that
there's much luck about jewels l never
got mine back again, you know"
''No-and | am afraid"
s'That never shall. That is just what
/ tell Bob" she ended. "Well, I shall
T
have now are stolen. Bob bought me
new ring in town the other day and 1 wash
my hands in it because Pm SO afraid of
losing it,
She held out her hand as she spoke and
showed her guest beautiful Marquise
ring, at which Mrs. Trafford uttered quite
scream of delight ooh! how lovely
Well. may be wrong and perhaps if /
had ten thousand pounds given ne to buy
diamonds with. should be in no hurry
to go and spend it. But think | should
go straight off and invest ever, farthing
Of it in iewelry at once"
''Not if you had had your jewels all
stolen" said Mrs. Bob, wisely, "that is the
sort of experience which helps TO develope
the bump OF caution, my dear. At least,
| k,!nW it las don. SO in my case"
Of your jewels, suppose?"
''Never the smallest trace, nor SO far as
I have heard have any OF the others"
Mrs. Bob replied, 'and none Of ia ever
will think the thieves were the clever
i est experts in their line, and L m sure that
the police are awful fools i'll this country,
Pm sure of it. And, of course, the one
accounts in a measure for the other. No.
7 shall never see aOV of them a0ain-l
quite gave up all hope of that long ago.
"Well, as | have said IL good many
times" Mrs Trafford laughed, poverty
has it's advantages. When YOU have moth
ing to lose you can't easily lose it, and [
90 gaily and happily to bed every night
feeling perfectly sure that no thieves will
break in and steal, because there is moth
ing for them to get that is worth having,
must say, though, that | WAS horribly
| ncrvDus all the time that Anthony and
Laura were with me last time, because
Laura had those exquisite sapphires OF
hers and persisted in being quite careless
about them. Really, once or twice was
quite cross with her about them--indeed |
went SO far as to say more than once that
it would serve her right if they were car
ried off one fine day"
oh! my dear, don't say that even in
| joke" Mrs Bob cried, earnestly. "You
make me shiver when you suggest any
thing so dreadful. And, Mrs. Trafford, do
Won see the time-tWenty minutes to eight
aM,l ii man coming to dinner | Shall dine
in 4 tea-gOWn."
And 80 shall ~ rejoined Mrs. Traf-
ford.