Nevada County picayune., 1890-10-02

my strange uisiOii'
 The days went on, every houl bringing me nearer, that unhappy day when l must leave the Grange and Mabel, and return to my office drudgery. 1 had often acclaimed against sudden attachments, had of. ten argued that love should be g growth, and here were all my theo- ries completely shattered. At a glance from Mabel's blue eyes a flame had been kindled in my heart that grew brighter and brighter as we walked or drove together in the long, pleasant days. Still, I did not mean to ask her to be my wife, for what had to offer? Two or three rooms in dingy London house per haps. But one evening in the garden, as the moonlight fell upon her sweet, upraised face, 1 lost my head completely and avowed my love, to find It frankly returned. And when I told Mabel how little l had to lay at her feet, she drew such picture of little home in London that the two or three shabby rooms became the brightest spot on earth.
 Tom and Constance were delight ed, and indeed l shrewdly suspect that the whole affair was one of my cousin, $ wife's matchmaking under takings.
 "Ah, Lester,' she said, ''lf that will would only turn up you might have fortune as we'll as bridc.- Oh yes," as l protested that l want ed no fortune, II know you are dis interested, but you would still love Mabel, would you not, if yon were rich?''
 By Jove!" said Tom, it is a shame about that will. Let's have another search for the box"
 "The box! What box:" l cried, jumping to my feet, in my excite inert.
 Why, the tin box the will was in, together with the papers. Didn't l tell you the whole lot were miss ing:"
 For moment lost sight of Tom and Constance. and before me saw pallid hand, with It's gleaming ru- by, and it traced the words; Search for the box in the old we'll"
 turned squarely upon Tom, who was watching me somewhat curious ly.
 "Why don't you search the old we'll" I asked abruptly.
 It was Toms turn to jump to his feet,
 "The old well! What put that into your headi But it shall be searched before the sun goes down. And, by love. Constance, don't you remember whe we leased the Grange that iuscourt spoke abont the old well as dangerous, and suggested that we have it filled up?'
 There was we'll, then, and wanted to ask where but Tom had taken it for granted that l knew all about it's existence, and l did not want to tell them my strange experi- ence on my first night at the Grange. The search might reveal nothing.
 Tom would not wait a moment, but hurrying off to the stables, returned with two or three of his men, and marshalled the party to the old well in remote corner of the grounds. The promise of sovereign to the man who would make the search quickly, secured a volunteer, and he descended, the stones on the sides giving him foothold. Tom lit a lantern to be lowered to him. The well was quite dry, and if the box was there at all brief search would discover it.
 And we had not long to wait.- Soon we heard the man clambering up the we'll side, and when his head ] rose above the curb Tom seized him and fairly lifted him out. And there was the tin box protruding from his pocket
 There is little more to tell. The will was found to he uninjured. Lee Harcourt never returned to England, thereby confessing virtually that he had stolen the will, and Mabel in due time was installed as mistress of the Grange.
 And I--well, tried to be mag unanimous, and told Mabel l was no match for her and that she was at liberty to break the engagement, whereupon she declared that she would give tho property to an orphan asylum and be once more the dover less girl l had loved and won.
 So 1 became the master of the Grange, and Tom and Constance are among our most frequent visitors. i only the other day Tom said, as we were enjoying our after dinner