The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-30
DORA's CONFESSION.


Il sounds like grand place, but il
wasn't grand at all, only a ruinous, old
brick house, standing behind row OF
scraggy popular trees on dreary stretch
seashore, where the rocks broke the tide
into white sheets of foam when 1t thun-
dered 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.
Cadget. my fathers cousin, and hither
had been sent to take care of her when
she was stricken down with rheumatic
fever. Jenny, my elder sister, had re-
fused TO leave New York. Just when
I'm getting along so nicely IN my art
school," said she; and Georgiana had
laughed at he idea. "Me shut myself
no at Tide Hall like clam in it's shell
Not while the Euterpe sociables are GO
ing on !" And my father and mother
had decided that Dora must go. Dora
was generally the victim of the family,
and there was nothing for it but for
but d IRA to submit.
"And besides" l could hear mother
Whisper W my ldtneij u VIII oe n BiSa'
thing to get her out of Jacks way for
the present"
She thought didn't hear, but did
Poor Jack He was, In his --ay, as
much of victim as l was. II really
wasn't Jacks fault that the officers Ot
he bank where he was employed de-
cl4red that he had no financial talent.
Nothing seemed to go right with Jack.
s.. H., l., rl,,
would gather no moss My mother said
he was thoroughly inefficient, Jenny
and GeorRy laughed at him, and won
dered what DJra could possibly see in
him. But liked him, and l couldn't
help it.
SO when Mrs. Cadgel's summons came
| thought | might as well 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 re-
quired endless waiting.on. But then,
when she was in her more genial moods
she would tells me the history of her old
tapestries and antique furniture, show
me her jewel caskpI, and even permit
me to cl isp around my neck certain
old neckess, stained purple with the
glow of amethysts, and outlined around
with Tiny white diamonds.
at had been in the Cadgst family for
bundled and fifty years" she said.
my husbands niece Jemima Csdget.
Expects to inherit it, but it IS mine to
leave TO whom l please. And, though
J-mima wants my jewels, she isn't will
ing to come here and live with me !"
Nor Was the amethyst necklace all of
the Cadget jewels. There was a SOIL
taire diamond as large as cherry stone
set in ring. There was an 90" cameo
brooch and pair of sleeve buttons of
pigeons blood,n rubies and a quaint
little dagger with its hiIt incrusttd will
small briliants. was never tired OF
looking at these trinkets,
Yes, child, yes, they're pretty
enough" Mrs. Cadget bad said, "bu,
what use are they to an old woman like
me sometimes think it isn't safe for
an old woman like me? | sometime
think it isn't safe for me to keep them
here in this solitary place, and only two
women in the house. OILY, TO be sure.
nobody knows of them"
Are they very valuable, Aunt Cad
get p asked l, for by that name she had
bdden me call her.
They're worth $1,000 at the very
least" she said.
So that one stormy night. when n mas
culine figure emerged out Of the flying
spray and deepening twilight close t.
he back door, | gave a great start.
Owen had trudged to his home. and
MAS all alone, amusing myself as | often
did on the sly, ny looking at Aunt G. d
gets ornaments and trying their ,ff c.
on myself, before the hail mirror, with
a strange, breathless sense the while OF
transgressing some unwritten law, for
the old lady never knew but that they
we're safely locked in her ch,ff Dnier, Of
which kept the key. OF course il was
wrong, but | was only seventeen, and !
led such a solitary life.
had the jeweled dagger stuck
through my hair, and the necklace
casped around my neck, and was hold.
ing The candle first this way and then
that to catch the coruscations of the
riny facets, when, CHANGING to turn my
head, saw face fl tened against the
window glass. A mans face. For u
second my heart stood still. 1t was for
4 second only, however, for | instantly
| reCORniZVu tne uehNy oiaNh inuSIatHF
md merry, sparkling eyes of--Jack
Mornington.
oh. Jack oh. Jack !" l crei. flying
20 open the door and let him in.
"Masquprading, eb p said Jack, after
le had gwen me a hearty kiss.
please don't tell of me, j ok Iwas
My trying on Mrs. Cadget's jewelry
One must do something in a lonely
place like this" pleaded |.
by Juve though. it is lonely" said
Jack. Il thought never should find
y, aud don't know now how I'm ever
o get back to the mainland.
How came you here, Jack ~ asked =.
81 wanted to see you, Dora, to till you
good by. Those beastly bank people
nave turned me out, and I'm going to
SEEK my fortune.
"Where, Jack ?" questioned.
"Heaven only knows; | don't.
And like two silly children that we
we're, we looked at each other and burst
out laughing, still in the glitter oi
Aunt Cadget's jewels, Jack warming his
chilled hands a. the kitchen fire.
And then he explained to me his plans
Tor the future, and promised TO wat
for HE fortune to be made, even If il
we're seven times seven years. And the
rain drove in sheets against the side OF
he house. and the thunder of the rising
de filed the silence like the constant
discharge of artillery.
You can never go away from here
in this storm at this time of night,
Jack :" said l. "It's sll one can do t.
keep our of the qulcksands by daylight
Owen says.
Nv II the old lady keep me ?"
shook my head.
''She has horror of strangers" said
III but | won't ask her, Jack. III
make you up a bed Of blankets and soft
pillows on this kitchen settee. You'tI