The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-09
MONBYED MOLLUSKS.
By f. e. D.

know what from IdLlSTS aunt IN NtW
York; ! know she will make ME a valuable
present because she said wnen L came
away that l might expect TO hear from her
= at Christmas"
lis she very rich?" asked Maud,
"Oh, yes, awfully SO. Her husband left
her two or three hundred thousand dollars
when he died twenty years ago, anu she has
not spent half the income since"
We Will call tomorrow night. Cecil, and
see how you have Jared" said Flora.
= ado. The parcel viii arrive tomorrow
: afternoon, and if can control my curiosity
-. I will not open it until you come" laugh
ingly replied Cecil.
Cecil proved to be q true prophet for on
the next afternoon an immense packing
box, addressed TO Miss Cecil Ray, was de-
. posted at her door. and she signed tire eX-
press-bO0k with hand shaking with eX-
element.
"What can it be?" cried her widowed
mother Il do hope 1t is something worth
while, for it seems as II we were badly
enough in need Of everything necessary or
comfortable"
A long struggle with poverty and sickness
had made Mrs. Ray somewhat depressing IN
her manner.
well, anyhow, I promised the girls not
10 open IL dH III LHt1 thlNCt 50 IL tlA W III
= help ME get the cover Oh we VIII nave sup
per and then wait for Maud and Flora be-
. fore exploring further"
Two hours after five eXpectRut faces were
gathered around tie box from which Tom
had removed the boards, aud IN which
nothing was visible but excelsior.
The fist layer was carefully removed, and
then various small bundles most carefully
packed became visible. Not a word was
spoken, though every one was on the uDtoe
OF expectation.
Most gingerly these were opened, and in
= speeches. surprise Cecil laid the contents
of each upon the table, until the box was
-'emptied.
Then five pair Of eyes became riyeted
upon the collection amid a silence that was
= louder than trumpet tones.
=. Here's something you did not see, said
Tom, in a sepuichIal voice. He had TO
speak that way or explode IN laughter, and
he didn't want TO hurt his sisters feelings.
Poor Cecil! This is what the note he hand
ed her said:
=: Ny Dear Cecu: You remember l said once
tina, you might look for a gin from me al Christ
mas. l lole you Will be pleased Will what /
. have sent you.
You know I have many other relatives who
lock Tor tnlS from me, so yours cannot be so val
liable as you deserve.
You remember saying to me once that you did
d. not care for money, but would rather seek your
own fortune than 10 receive one from sons one
else.
hoping YOU VII ENJOY these SErl s HON LOT
eigu lands ,sll of whicu were brought me 10y my
husband go his youJE1 is much as have, send
them 90 YOU with This one Injunction: never part
With them, but lei them descend 10 your cAll-
. Give ny love to your mother and brother and
seek ana fud Your own fortune. Your loving
auuL. HULDAH JANE Jones,
so much for your indepeudeRce!' from
"What = conceitai little fool I was! I
hadn't tried earning my own living then
and Gid not know the felicity OF rising at .,
working all day from Z 10 g Tor the magn b
cent sun Of s. a week" sighed the little
seamstress what shall l do with themT
On tie dining-tsble were i've dozen OF
those common, speckled brown and white
and yellow aud white shells every b0dy's
grandmother used to have in the good old
days when Salem and New Bedford were
% seaport towns In truth.
"Giye them TO some museum" suggested
Flora.
"She can't give 'em away" said Tom.
There's room ia the attic" said Cecil,
trying 10 smile through the tears oil dISap-
pJintment that filed her eyes.
MAY take thrm for a few days?' asked
Tom, and was at once appointed sole Gus
todian Of the useless things.
Next day cool little note Of thanks was
sent Aunt Huldah, who smiled oddly when
sbr read It.
One of an extremely eccentric family she
distanced the rest in queer actions.
At the end of week, when Cecil retired
10 her modest little chamber at night she
was surprised to see quite pretty cabinet
hanging On her wall, and containing the
despiStd shells; the shells were inciTcled by
freI-wOTk in an original design by Tom,
composed Of various Sea-plants and animals,
IN which appeared this legend:
pride goeth before fall"
'TEa.s why the jig-saw has been worked
so late the last few nights, IS it, Tom, you
Togue?" said Cecil next morning, pinching
his ear
Yes. I thought such gems Of ocean
should have an appropriate acting"
So, in making joke of their djsappOint-
ment its bitterness passed away.
Early in March Huldah Jane Jones was
gathered to her fathers and mothers! No
will was found, ami, as no property beyond
a few thousands al sundTy savings banks
was found. it was supposed she had given
away the bulk or it during her lifetime, as
she had often sail was her intention.
Tie biting winds Of her poverty were
tempered to that shorn lamb, Cecil Ray,
during the winter by the attentions Of a
young professor Of natural history, who
boarded in the house opposite.
Oh. What did she care if her gloves were old
and thin when returning home from lect-
uTes or pTayer-meetlngS If her hands were
closely pTisOned in the ulster breast-pocket
Of Charlie Raymond, while his tender words
sent the blood couTsIng warmly through
her veins?
Neither did she care any longer that their
parlOr was small and shabby; that their
best lamp gave but a faint light, and the
only comfortable seat 10 the room was a
large easy-chaiT drawn up to the little CRATE
p fire. Love and youth laugh at poverty, just
as they always did and always will, thanks
be 10 GodI
One evening in the latter part of Deem
Der. despite Charles watchful care Cecil
slipped on the icy sidewalk and badly
spfajned her ankle.
She was carried to her room, which she
did not leave for three weeks.
Christmas eve came aud with it Charlie
Raymond, bringing his arms full Of loving
gifts for his darling, and also for Mrs. Ray.
During the absence Of the latter on some
eTrand for Cecirs comfort. Charlie opened
The subject Of their early marriage.
Why can't We be married quietly in
January, and go away for little trip?
can be away from the academy for a fort
night then as well as not!'
Thus Charlie pleaded, as he had many
times before. Only to be put off again and
again.
1t would be pleasant, Charlie, dear but
Impossible" said Cecil in the caressng tone
OF one who finds 1t hard to deny the prayer
Of the loved one. l may as we'll be frank
now and tell YOU why cannot say yes
am poor, too poor TO afford the necessary
outfit OF even the humblest bride. BE mar
lied without it can not, and allow you 10
provide IL VIII LOt! Forgive me, Charlie,
l am proud"
Fondiy caressing the dear hand extended,
Professor Raymond urged his suit no more,
but slroye in every way to make the evening
a pleasant one, and TO make Cecil forget the
suffering his words had unintentionally oc-
casi0ned.
Looking round the room, which be had
seen but once before, he remarked on the
beauty Of the design on the cabinet contain
ing the gift of Aunt Huldah. and so Cecil
told him the whole story. Mechanically
placing one to his ear, as the children do,
be said, 81 never saw specimen Of the lu-
uonia tigris inswhich the sea song was so
nearly mute"
'sPerhaps the original inhabltant has not
moved out" laughinglY replied Cecil. You