Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-02-17

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ling ana tears hung on her thick iringed
lashes.
"Oh, Max I have a terrible PRESENT.
ment Of evil II you ever enter that place
agsin. On, my dearest, l implore yoC
not TO GO" she cried, anxiouslv.
But / only smiled at her fears.
I was Sc elated with the prOspec be
fore me that l was as gay and happy as
a schoolbOy on a holiday. Nothing
would have kept me from following
Druzy into the cave.
Then you must promise to let me
90 with you sobosd Elsie. III any
thing happens l wish TO share your
fate.
loved her all the more dearly for
her unsel 6sh affection, and as l saw no
danger ahead Of Us, / readily agreed 10
her wish.
We spent the greater part OF that
day rambling over the mountains, and
when we parted at sunset our plans
were all laid for the night.
Elsie was 70 retire early rs usual,
aud while pretending TO be asleep.
would note the movements Of tie old
woman, so that when she entered the
cave Elsie could steal out and inform
me, whereupOn we would Immediately
follow and surprise her secret.
How bright the future began 10 ap-
pear. / dreamed golden visions OF how
Elsie and ! would enjoy our wealth.
We would travel extensively, Tor that
was the desire OF both our hesrts.
waited most patiently for nlghtfall,
and with it came patter OF sullen rain
followed by thunder and lightning.
For several hours severe storm ragged
over the mountain. II I had been the
least superstitious / should have taken
il as an evil omen, but not even the
chilly rain that kept on after the storm
exhausted It's fury, had power 10 daunt
my Joyous spirits.
CIasalsy buttOued in my thick MACK
intosh' / sought the cabin and waited
impatiently benaath . shelving cliu for
Elsie's appearance.
Soon she stole lightly to my side and
whispered that Druzy had taken her
lantern aud gone into the cave.
WIKI wildly beating hearts and glow
ing expectations, we followed upon the
old croue's track.
We traversed at least one half OF the
cave in the most thrilling suspense, eX-
Dscting 20 come upon Druzy at any
moment. and at last low malignant
cackle OF triumph brought Us TO an
aHrighted pause, fearing ourselves dis
covered.
But we had stopped just in time
I While Elsie crouched GREATNESS by
NV side abruptly turned my lantern
So that it could throw no light around
Ius aud cast a keen searching glance
about Tor our triumphant foe.
/ Again aud again came that chuckle
| Of ghoulsh g,ee, and with IL blended
sound most charming TO my ears-the
|clia6 of gold pieces that old Druzy was
pouring from Que skinny claw 10 the
other, then down into her apron-tho
sWe9test sound ! ever heard, except the
music of nv Elsie's voice.
But where was Druzg Crone?
The sound Of her ghoulish cackl!ng
at last drew my eyes upWaro-good
heavens,
Who would have dreamed OF climbing
I'D there on those frail shelving proJec-
tfons for ANYTHING? The thought had
certainly never occurred 10 me.
Yet there SAT the old witch perched
on a shelving projection close TO the
roof-s drapery-liks shape that l had
often admired for its fragile, rainbow
like beauty Of coloring.
Psrched securely on this shelp TO
which she had climbed like a cat Druzy
was reaching far back into what seemed
like 4 cayernous hole beyond out or
which she taking the store OF gold
that clinkered so unsteady in her lap.
Mixed with my extreme delight was
an extheme DISGUST 81 my own stupid
ity. ,.
What fool I had been not to explore
the roof projections as thoroughly as l
had done the lower parts OF the cave.
Instead 1 had ruthleSsSlY deshayed some
Of the most beautiful formations with
nv vandal Ratchet, and all 10 no pur-
pose.
Drawing Elsie softly back into
sbaltered alcOve, I waited IN eager SuS-
Dense for Druzy 10 decend and 90 away
But the old nag was too happy 70
leave. Believing herself quite alone
sbe zIoated over her wealth, clinNing
n iu her apron In exuberant delight.
"Ha. bsl Woudn't Max Wentworth
ike 10 have all this 20 make him ana
Elsie rich! But he shall never know i
have found il, He and his children ana
his children'S children will all be seeN-
ing 10 in the long years TO come newer
dreaming OF old Drugs golden secret
Ha Ia, ha,"
She laughed with demOniacal giee'
and held ~ a carved silver casSet from
which she took rich jewels.
oAb. these gems. How they glitter.
They are graRder than the diamonds
Miss Van Lew wore last night under
her dark cloak! / will shine in these
sometime, and people will forget that
Druzy Crone is old AID ugly when they
sea her decked in silks and Jewels
~oppe on her cheeks aud golden aye on
ber bair,-SOme handsome young man
sucb as l had dreamed OF In M youth,
but who never came TO court me, Will
WOO me FOR his bride, and i shall, be.
happy! l will not let MIN prove a
traitor ike the one thai made me steal
Mrs WentwOrth's money and lewe.S
and then deserted me aud ran OH win
the booty, All, but BE was Villain
that man! wept till l was blind out
he never came back. But my next
lover shall be true, or he will md 4
knife in his heart"
Elsie shivered in the stiffness and l
drew my arm closer about the slender
form. whlsderlng fondly against her
cheek:
poor old wretch, she has had her
sorrows in life as we'll as other people,
and her brain is hslf-distraught. am
tempted to let her go free with the hrst
LAY OF gold, Elsie. for then there will
bs plenty left for US
yes. let her keep it, poor soul, II 1t