The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1892-12-24
All of a sudden her Fictitious courage !

escaping Wildly from the towel, while
her whole frame shook with sobs and
bright tears trickled down her cheeks.
At the same moment Mrs Ames's soft,
tremulous voice was heard, calling:
"Ellen! Alexia! Where are you, girls9
Your uncle is took dreadful bad! Run,
one of you, for the doctor? And t'other
one, come and help Inc lift him!"
Ellen flew to her mothers assistance
and Alix mechanically tore the towel
from her curls, exchanged it for bon
net and fastened to summon Doctor
Dodd, who lived at the other end of the
village.
''Is it my fault9" she asked herself.
"Was it because 1 repineda Oh, dear,
oh dear, what a wicked girl l must be!
But everything seemed SO hard and
cruel, and-and-I couldn't endure it.
Late in the afternoon she peeped into
the sickroom, shy and shrinking, like a
frightened child. SIS he worse!" she
whispered.
Mrs. Ames came to the door, a slight,
soft-eyed woman, like human dove.
"You needn't speak so low, daugh-
ter" said she. "He can't hear you.
He's quite unconscious"
"Why Goes he keep muttering so?"
81 think he's wandering in his mind
poor old Uncle Eben On, dear-oh,
dear! And can remember him such
portly, handsome man," added the
widow, wiping her eyes. "lIe was the
youngest Of all the brothers. Come in,
Alix, and see him. He's spoken your
name two or three times. Don't look SO
startled, dear. He seems quite happy
and composed. He's talking all the
while about those curiosities of his-the
minerals, you know, and things"
Involuntarily Alix's eyes met the
gently reproachful glance of her sisters.
The sudden scarlet mounted to her
cheek.
son, Ellen. don't look at me so I" she
exclaimed. 81 brought them every one
back-yes, I did-and l put them ex.
actly where they were before. Do you
think could have come into this room
if it hadn't been for thatl"
And she went up aud stood by the
bedside, her eyes full of tender tears, her
voice pitifui and low.
'"Uncle E5en," said she, "do you
know me!"
ats Alix, amt it2" crooned the old
man, after moments silence. 'Alex-
auder's Oldest girl. The prettiest one.
Yes, it's Alix-and she's to have my Gu
riosities-all of them, mind! Nell has
got lover, and that ought to be enough
for any girl. But Alix is alone, and Alix
shall have my curiosities."
"Thank you, Uncle Ebenw said Alix,
rs the invalid paused, expectant of an
swer.
And then he began to pirate of South
American forests and the ruined mission
houses of New Mexico, and shortly after
he died.
And when Alix finished cleaning the
spare room, she left the poor little treas
ures in the drawer of an old-fashioned
bookcase there.
~ couldn't have the heart to throw
them away second time" said she, SAT
ter what he said to me. 1t was like a
child giving one shining pebbles or
wilted buttercups, with the idea that
they were precious treasures. But Pm
glad he said it. 1t seemed to soften my
heart; and, on, it was very hard and bit
ter just then! And l didn't know-how
could I?-that / should miss him SO
muchw
1t was late in the summer when one of
the neighboring girls came in.
"NIiss Alix," said she, "you told our
Becky she could nave a basket of goose
berries, didn't you-them purple, prickly
berries, that grows down by the garden
wall2"
"Of course did," Alix answered,
crisply. 81 knew your grandma liked
gooseberry JAM"
"Well, look here" said Fanny Rice,
opening her closed hand. "Sce what
she picked up there"
"a little sparkling stone, isn't it2"
ats an OPAL" said Fanny, in a mys-
FERROUS whisper.
"A-what?"
can opal
"Nonsense, child. What are you talk
ing aboutl' cried Alix, scornfully.
"But it is an opal. John Lytton, who
works at Tiffany's, in New York, is
down visiting his mother, and he says
it's a real Oriental opal in the rough.
Now the question is, John says, how did
an opal ever get among your gooseberry
busiest Is there jewel mine hidden
down there2" she added, half jestingly.
Alix turned first red, then white. She
knew well how it had come there.
"Ask John Lytton to come here and
see me, Fanny" said she. 81 have at