Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-08-01
cided to dismiss it from my mind and to


self constantly thinking of the words
had seen traced by the mysterious hand.
They were meaningless to me. "Search
for the box in the old WE'LL" knew of
no box that had been lost and certainly
I knew of no old we'll. The affair had a
flavor of ''Lady Audley's Secret" aboutlt,
and it was not hard to picture grass
grown well concealing in its depths some
ghastly secret.
If I could have laughed the matter off
as dream should have RECALLED Tom
and Constance with the story at break
fast, but could not bring myself to
speak of it.
"By the way, Lester" said Tom,
''we are expecting another guest to-day
Miss Mabel Saunders. Charming girl,
too"
"And the Oranges rightful Mistress"
said Constance.
Hooked up in surprise.
sIthought you bought the place, Tom,
so who could be the rightful mistress but
Constance9"
"Oniy leased it, old fellow. The own
er, Lee Harcourt, would not sell, though
he is ashamed to show his face about
here. 1t is my opinion he hopes to
come back and marry Mabel when the
feeling against him has died away"
.'Tell me the story, Tom," l asked,
"for that there is story is evident"
"Easily told. Lester. Mabel Saunders
is the daughter of an old army comrade
of Colonel Denison, the late owner of the
Grange, and when her parents died, in
her infancy, Colonel Denison and his
wife took the child to their home. She
was not legally adopted, but as they had
no children of their own Mable was
looked upon as their heiress, and the
Colonel's attorney AYERS that he drew up
will four years ago leaving the property
to her. Two years ago Colonel Denison
was brought home dead from the hunt
ing field, and his wife, who had been for
years an invalid, survived the shock less
a month. When the Colonel's papers
were examined no will was found, and
Lee Harcourt, the next of kin, came into
possession. Many of the Colonel's friends
were not slow to express their belief that
Harcourt had destroyed the will, as he
had been visiting at the Grange at the
time of the ColonePs death, but there
was no proof. He wanted to marry
Mabel, probably to end the gossip, but
she refused his hand, and for more than
a year now has been governess for Mrs.
Stanton's three unruly boys. Now, those
precocious youngsters arc to have vaca-
ton, SO Mabel comes to us. Indeed, we
would gladly give her home, but she is
too proud to accept it. There's the
story, and now for our drive. Here are
the horses"
A glorious gallop it was in the bracing
autumnal air, and visit to the stables
followed, so that did not see Constance
again till l came down to lunch. Meet
ing Tom in the hall, we entered.the room
together, to find Constance awaiting us,
and by her side tall straight girl with
the sweetest face had ever seen.
Tom greeted her warmly, and then
Miss Saunders was introduced to me, ex-
tending her hand with some pleasant re-
mark.
What she said do not know, for on
the hand that was laid in mine glistened
ruby-a ruby held between two golden
serpent's heads.
/ must have seemed strangely embar-
rased for moment. But l saw Constance
look at me oddly, and with determined
effort put aside all speculations for the
time being.
That evening in the drawing-room, as
Miss Saunders and were looking over a
book of engravings, seized the oppor-
tunity to comment upon the ring, saying
1 had never seen that design before.
The sweet face grew sad as she an
swered: "It was my mothers ring She
placed it on my finger the day she died."
By her mother understood of course
that she meant Mrs. Denison, the only
mother she had ever known, and almost
seemed to hear the words: H'Search for
the box in the old we'll" Could there
be any connection between the mis-
sing will and my strange visions
The days went on, every hour bring.
ing me nearer that unhappy day when I
must leave the Grange and Mabel and
return to my Office drudgery. I had
often declaimed against sudden attach
ments, had often argued that love should
be growth, and here were all my
theories completely shattered. At a
glance from Mabels blue eyes fame
had been kindled in my heart that grew
brighter and brighter as we walked or
drove together in the long, pleasant
days. Still, did not mean to ask her
to be my wife, for what had to offera
Two or three rooms in dingy London
house perhaps. But one evening in the
garden, as the moonlight fell upon her
appraised face, I lost my head completely
and avowed my love, to find it frankly
returned. And when told Mabel how
little had to lay at her feet, she drew
such picture of little home in London
that the two or three shabby rooms be-
came the brightest spot on earth.
Tom and Constance were delighted,
and indeed / shrewdly suspect that the
whole affair was one of my cousins wife's
match making schemes.