Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-30
THOSE RuBIES.


amilo OF peace frozen on her stern and
withered features. The relatives accented
the verdict with due resignation, following
the remains OF the dear departed TO their
final resting place amid an ostentatious
display OF Grape and black bordored hand
kerchlrfs,
hut when the will was read the exbite.
ment OF tho heirs at-law rapidly assembled
to fever heat Miss Demorest had retained
her eccentricity TO the end aud woven IL
into her last will and testament.
With the exception OF few heauests To
her servants, The whole OF her property,
landed and personal, Ia the amount Of $500.
900, was 20 pass into the possession OF that
one among her kinsfolk who should dis
cover TIT hiding place OF the IL Deinorest
rubles.
should the gems remain undiscovered
after the lapse of one year from the date OF
her death, the estate was to be sold and a
home for old maids founded with the pro-
ceeds
II shall contest the will. - said thin Tipped
Reuben Gray. 1T cannot stand.
Mrs, Meredith was Miss DemoreSts niece
and Reuben Gray her nephew. The two
were brother and sister, and the nearest
akin to the dead woman
Next came MArgie NRne, child Of the IA.
vorite nephew, who was to have been the
heir had he not displeAsed his aunt by
marrying, against her viii, a girl OF OBJ
scure parentsge-"a pAuper," Miss Demon
est termed her.
Harold Vaue had died, closely followed
by his wife, and the one daughter, Marga.
ret, was left alone in the world and utterly
penniless,
Mrs. Meredith had taken her for the old
aunt remained obdurRte and Ahe was now
serving in the capacity Of maid to her beau
! tiful cousin MRude
Margic Nane was not present at the read
ing Of the will. Mrs. Meredith considered
It unnecessary, and MRrgie herself had not
the faintest hope OF being remembered
kindly by her fathers stern old relative.
When, therefore, they returned IN anger
and disappointment and gave sn account OF
the wording OF the will, MarHe's hazel eyes
opened wide In wonder
That afternoon and many ensuing after.
moons Mrs. Meredith, Maude and Mnrgic
walked over TO stony Lodge and wandered
fruitlessly about amid tho treasures OF brio
a-bEac, statuary, books and rare old china
On one OF these occasions Margle met
| VIII Demorest, a cousin several times re-
moved OF her fathers he was frank and
handsome young fellow, with dark blue
eyes and close curling fair hair. His was
the genuine Demorest face, the index Of a
strong, noble character.
BY occupation he was nm artist ia glass
blowing having learned the art In Venice
| He had done considerable work for Miss
| Demorest, with whom he was n prime ia
vorite
$50 you thought you would have look
| for the ribies with the ret OF us, said
Mrs. Meredith, with sneer, as she found
! the young glgssblower examining the
hooks In the library Que morning. "Yet |
thought you abhorred mercenAry consider
ations."
81 am not in quest Of the gems. VIII re-
piled "a his blue eyes rested In unmstaka-
bile admiration on Msrgie's fair, sweet face
'Humphl hope you don't take me for
n lunatic or a fool VIII DomOrest,n WAS
the seAthinE rajoinder
For neither, | assure YOU said Will
with bow, only at present ain more
Interested in pearls than rubles. Cousin
| Msrgio, may | show you the house' / be.
lieye know Il more thoroughly than most
people"
Msrgis shyly aequieseed, and the two
went OH together. leaving Mu. Meredith
and Maude to continue their search.
Are You anxious to fpd the ribes also"
asked WIN AS they paused in the china
closet to admire che cut glass
~ have not even looked for them, an
swered Marge with bright smile.
yet you have an equal right with the
rest. :" persisted tho young man, watching
her face keenly.
"Oh, no, have not indeed she said
simply. "Pspa dlspleased Aunt Demonest,
rs you know, and she has never taken the
slightest notice Of Inc. This being the case,
! should not feel entitled TO Join in the
search for tho rubles even II ! desired to
do so"
They are magnificent gems, p said WIN,
land were never sat. l Saw them Just once,
and they nearly took my breath away"
~ should like 70 see them, Margie said
muslugiy, pbnt, oh, VIII, were they any
more beautiful than these exquisite cupsi
Surely that is impossible"
The cups in question were indeed eNqui-
site. Blown Of the oostlieat venetian glass,
lily shaped, with cutled leaves for sauuerA,
and glowing with rainbow tints, they re-
ssmbled nothing 40 much as bed OF
gorgeous tropical flowers,
"IIow lovely How dainty How fairy
| IKE hhe fNtlhAHtu uttAlulthE1s f9ttf
VIII. this Que is exsctly like All opal with
touch Of FIRE, aud here 10 an amethyst,
and here Is glowing emerald
A she spoke she took the ruby cup into
her hand. VIII half started forward as II
TO prevent her, but drew back again with n
| male, startled face.
Mrs Meredith aud Msude appeared upon
the acene
"Margie, - cried the former, put down
that cup and come along. should think
| YOU would have more pride than TO dawdlo
here all day talking with VIII Demortst.'
Margies soft hazel eyes nlled with tears
A LAWYER Fay entered the room and from
nder his bushy brows glanced sharply at
each Of the group.
Margies band tightened on the cup, her
rosy foreilnger pressed raised stzmen in
The calyx OF the lily bell, when, prestol
change IL sank beneath her touch, and her
stArtled eyes gazed straight Into small
cavity where glowed 9 ruby Of inestimablo
value, like drop OF rosy nv;
solved shouted Lawyer Fay as his eyes
also behcld thr geme'
Will, very white, shrauk back against
the wall, while Mrs Meredith aud her
daughter pressed closer TO Megie and the
"fhe rubissip g1ped theayRricious wom-
an. making dive for the other cup.
Hut the lawyer placed himself In her way.
~ leg YOUR pardon he said. The dis
coyef.y N Miss MArg1e'sr and Ia Aceordanee
! Win tbe Terms OF the will OF my deceased
client Ale "a hercns 70 the Detnorest 60