The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-18
Copyright 1898 BY the 4u0or,l
THE JgwELED 0 o

the Rev. Matthew Madison anu his SIS
tor at the Vicarage. Paul Meredith had
gone away over a week ago, Sir Sydney
and Lady Carslaud had urged him to
stay at the Hall until the Christmas and
New Years festivities were over, but
the young man had insisted upon leav-
ing at the time indicated, saying, in ex.
cuse Of his departure, that his friends
would be put to great inconvenience if
he we're not to join them as he had
promised,
So the lovers said goodbye to each
with dim eyes, trembling hands, and
fast throbbing hearts; and he turned
his back upon Thorrell Moor, while Sa-
lone resolutely set her mind upon the
work before her,
The girls new home and surround
ings we're all that she could desire, She
was well housed and sumptuously fed,
had as great q command OF fine gar
ments as il she had been born in the
purple instead OF having had to work SO
lately on the pit.top for her bread; and
there was no reasonable craving Salome
could not have gratiiied, for before go
ing away Paul had placed in the Wears
hands a large sum oil money for his
sweetheart's sole and absolute use,
MI. Mallison's spinster-sister was a
tall, angular, sweet.faced and kindly
souled woman OF thirty-fve, who took q
great fancy to Salome from the mo-
ment they first met; and Margaret Nal
lison's kiss and warm wards OF welcome
put the girl at her ease the moment she
entered her new homo.
Miss Madison was in every way quail
fed for the task of improving SOlome's
education. She was q lady Of sound
learning and varied accomplishments;
and being patient aud klndly-natured
was Just the sort OF teacher the young
girl required.
Salome was very eager to begin the
work OF self improvement, but Miss
Madison insisted that no work should
be undertaken until they had passed u
week together under the same roof.
Her brother had supported her in that
resolution, and so Salome settled down
in her new quarters feeling that fate
had been very kind indeed to her in
placing her mon such friends.
That first week at the vicarage was
q really happy one for the White Gypsy.
Day after day she and Miss Madison
made visits to Earlsford for the pur-
pose OF purchasing the thousand and
one things Salome was supposed TO need
in her altered station OF life. She smil.
ingly protested that she did not require
heaps OF costly garments and articles OF
personal adornment which her COM
panion ordered 80 la%vishingly and re-
CARELESS Of expense, but Miss Madison
answered that it wal Paul Meredith's
desire, and so Salome resigned herself
to the inevitable out-pouring Of good
things.
Ere her lover had been absent a fort
night, Salome had accustomed herself to
her new surroundings, and was sedul-
oHsly deyoting q portion Of each day to
the lessons and studies Miss Madison
set before her. She was the most eager
OF pupils, and her quick intelligence
enabled her to grasp readily and with
case the various tasks she was called
upon to master. So rapidly indeed did
she assimilate knowledge OF all kinds,
that her informal governess predicted
that in q year or 30, ii she pursued her
studies with a like avidity ahe would be-
come a highly accomplished-even q
brilliant woman.
So things stood when one morning
shortly before Christmas, Salome re-
ceived a surprise in the shape OF u
small parcel. The girl was hard at
work in a small, pretty furnished and
bright looking room set apart for her
and her tutor, and was struggling with
the intricacies Of somebody's grammar
when the servant tapped at the door
and entered the moment afterwards,
bearing in her hands the small parcel
already mentioned.
ut is Tor Miss Birmingham" said the
maid, as she placed the square parcel
upon the table, and vent away.
"a present, 1 suppose. salome," Miss
Madison remarked. "WeIl, while you
are opening it will just run away, as l
want to speak to my brother"
With that sheglided away, and Salome
turned to the parcel. She lifted it first
OF ali, and thought that it was rather
heavy. What did it contain? Some
fresh evidence, she felt sure, Of pauls
HNAOAlk huCNkAOLs 4ilGh uAlO ElhllGtu Nv
the address, and saw her own name
written in q thick, large. s~prawling
hand, totally unlike tho neat writing OF
her lover. She next glanced at the
postmark, and saw that it was South.
ampton, the port from which her sweet
heart and his comrades were to set out
on their voyage OF adventure.
With Paul's name on her lips she cut
the parcel open, and after removing the
outer covering-a box Of strong card.
board-ahe came upon a pretty casket
OF rosewood with brass mountings. The
casket was locked, but the key was
attached thereto by means oil a cork,
and, cutting the string, she fitted the
key, turned the lock, and lifted the lid.
A sheet Of paper first met her eager
gaze, and on lifting II q cry Of astonish-
mont left her lips. There before her
lay u Offering heap Of jewelry-rings,
bracelets, brooches, and necklaces OF
rare stones set in solid gold, and wor-
thy, the amazed lass thought, OF deck.
ing the person Of an empress.
She lifted tho sparkling gems with
one hand, while she grasped tho sheet
OF notO.papor with tho Other, and her
heart went out to tho lover who had
left her TO cross the sea. For a moment
or two she forgot the note in her hand
In tho contemplation Of hor precious
gifts, but suddenly remembering II she
spread out tho sheet and mastered lie
contents. This is what she read;
"DEAR SALoME;-Whon YOU read this
/ shall be crossing the sea. l send you
those towels ~ u slight token OF tho love
have for you. When you wear them
YOU will sometimes think OF ono who
would have laid down his life for your