Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-23
THOSE RUBIES


circumference. Heart disease, the doctors
said, when she was found one morning with
smile Of peace frozen on her stern and
withered features. The relatives accepted
the verdiot with due resignation, following
the remains OF the dear departed" to their
final resting place amid an ostentatious
display of Grape and black bordered hand
kerchiefs.
But when the will was read the excite
ment Of the heirs-at-law rapidly ascended
to fever heat. Miss Demorest had retained
her eccentricity TO the end and woven It
into her last will and testament.
With the exception Of few bequests TO
her servants, the whole of her property,
landed and personal, TO the amount Of $780,
OOO. was 70 pass into the possession OF that
one among her kinsfolk who should dis
cover ths hiding place of the II Dsmorest
rubiss.
Should the gems remain undiscovered
after the lapse Of one year from the date Of
her death, che estate was TO be sold and =
home for old maids founded with the pro-
oesds.
II shall contest the will )" said thin Tipped
Reuben Gray. 1T cannot stand"
Mrs. Meredith was Miss Demorss1s niece,
and Reuben Gray her nephew. The two
were brother and sister, and the nearest
akin DO the dead woman.
Next came Margie Vane, child Of the IA
vorite nephew, who was to have been the
heir had he not displeased his aunt by
marrying. against her will, girl Of OBJ
scure parentags-"a pauper." Miss Dsmor-
est termed her.
Harold vsne had died, closely followed
by his wife, and the one daughter, Manga
ret, was left alone In the world and utterly
penniless.
Mrs. Meredith had taken her-for the old
aunt remained obdurate-and she was now
serving In the capacity of maid to her beau
tiful cousin Maude.
MarRie Vane was not present at the read
ing of the will. Mrs. Meredith considered
1t unnecessary, and Margie 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 an account Of
the wording Of the will, Margie's hazel eyes
opened wide In wonder.
That afternoon and many ensuing after
moons Mrs Meredith, Maude and Margie
walked over to Stony Lodge and wandered
fruitlessly about amid the treasures Of brio
a-brac, statuary. books and rare old china.
Will Demorest, cousin several times re-
moved of her fathers. He was a frank and
handsome young fellow, with dark blue
eyes and close curling fair hair. His was
the genuine Demorest face, the index Of q
strong, noble character.
BY occupation he was an artist In glass
blowing, having learned the art In Venice.
He had done considerable work for Miss
Demorest. with whom he was a prime fa-
vorite.
$50 you thought you would have look
for the rubies with the rest of u.s." said
Mrs. Meredith, with sneer, as she found
the young glassblower examining the
books In the library one morning. "Yet
thought you abhorred mercenary consider
ations."
II am not In quest of the gems" Will re-
piled as his blue eyes rested in unmistaka-
BILE admiration on Margie's fair, sweet face.
"Humphl l hope you don't take me for
a lunatio or fool, Will Demorest," }" was
the soathing rejoinder.
For neither, / assure you," said VIII.
with bow. "Only at present / am more
Interested In pearls than rubies. Cousin
Margie, may l show you the houssi / be-
lieve know 1t more thoroughly than most
people,"
Margie shyly aoquiesced. and the two
went off together, leaving Mrs. Meredith
and Maude to continue their search.
"Are you anxious to find the rubies alsof"
asked Will as they paused In the china
closet to admire the cut glass.
81 have not even looked for them," an
swered Margie, with bright smile
"Yet you have an equal right with the
rest" persisted the young man. watching
her face keenly.
"Oh. no, have not indeed" she said
simply. Papa displeased Aunt Demorest,
as you know, and she has never taken the
slightest notice of me. This being the case,
I should not feel entitled to join in the
search for the rubies even IL desired to
do So"
"They are magnificent gems" said Will,
"and were never set. saw them Just once,
and they nearly took my breath away"
II should like to see them," Margie said
musingly, "but, oh, VIII, were they any
more beautiful than these exquisite cupsf
Surely that is impossible"
The cups In question were indeed exqui-
site. Blown of the costliest venetian glass,
lily shaped, with curled leaves for saucers,
and glowing with rainbow tints, they re-
sembled nothing so much as a bed o!
gorgeous troplcal flowers.
"How lovelyl How daintyl How fairy
like" she exclaimed breathlessly. 'See,
VIII, this one is exactly like an opal with
a touch Of fire, and here is an amethyst,
and here Is a glowing emerald"
AS she spoke she took the ruby cup into
her hand. Will half started forward as II
to prevent her, but drew back again with
pale, startled face.
Mrs. Meredith and Maude appeared upon
the scene.
"Margie," cried the former, put down
you would have more pride than to dawdle
here all day talking with Will Demorest"
Margie's soft hazel eyes filled with tears
"a Lawyer Fay entered the room and from
under his bushy brows glanced sharply at
each OF the group.
Margie's hand frightened on the cup, her
rosy forefnger pressed a raised stamen in
the calyx OF the lily bell, when, prestol
shangel IL sank beneath her touch, and her
startled eyes gazed straight into q small
sayity where glowed ruby Of inestimable
value, like drop of rosy fire,
Solved" shouted Lawyer Fay as his eyes
also beheld the gems.
Will, very white, shrank back against
the wall, while Mrs. Meredith and her
daughter pressed closer to Margie and the
lawyer. ,,..,,o
an, making a dive for the other cup.
But the lawyer placed himself In her way.
~ beg your pardon" he said. THE dis
covery is Miss MarHes, and In accordance
with the terms Of the will of my deceased
client she is hsiress TO the Demorest es-