The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-05-28
MARLBOROUGH

old King William, ScatOrth, taciug the
salt marsh and tianked by the ricefeld
Thither went, in his rage, the son of
Robert the Devil.
BY his direction the mistress coffin
was dragged out, wrapped in the pail
and sunk in the edge of the marsh,
with not stone to do it reverence.
By night came Niobe's son-who,
mindful of his life interest. felt asham-
ed of his cousins poor revenge-dug
| up the coffin and replaced it, dripping
in the vault.
A slave of his let slip the thing to a
fellow belonging to Robert.
Again the vault was opened, the
carket was dragged out by slaves, and
in the flare of pine knots was deliver
ed to the marsh-this time in the spot
where the salt tides rose daily and
flooded the place.
Then the avenger of disappointment
and family dishonored met his cousin
in the city street and triumphed over
him. NO easy matter, either, he
concluded, 'for the old mummy case
was heavy as lead. Find it again, if
you can
He passed sneeringly.
Niobe's son let the marsh keep its
secret and bided his time.
When the year had expired, the
various heads of the tribe met, as if bv
appointments, ill the private office of
the president of the bank.
But each one, as he entered, looked
haughtily and inquringly at the others
At midday the large and ponderous
strong box was brought into the office
and the key was inserted in its intri-
cate lock.
The men and women crowded about
the table, squeezing and jostling each
other, the women showing aside their
Grape wells to see better
For so years and more no one had
laid eyes on the once famous Cheva-
licr diamonds
The box lid was thrown back-all
the necks were craned.
The mans fingers itched for the gold
and silver, the women's for the prec.
ious stones.
The box was empty.
Empty-savc for q folded square of
paper, sealed and stamped with an
Arabic cipher.
"Shall l open it?' inquired the pres
ident of the bank, looking from one be-
wondered face to another.
"lf you please" answered Niobe's
son.
as there no addrcss?'
"None whatever
Broken open, the letter ran:
| My DEAR RoBERT-Sixty years ago
wronged your father To-day repair the
wrong as far as l am able l intended
leaving my plate and jewels in this box
for you, but l prefer to give them to you
from me. Your affectionate grandmother
JUANA DE RILvAsCHEvAIER.
A card with a morning border drop
ped from the letter to the table.
Bobert picked it up mechanically
and read: Mistress Geotfrey Robert
Chevalier. At home. The Chevalicr
vault, King William, Seaforth."
"Great Scott!' he ejaculaled, star
ing at Niobe's son.
Then he siezed his hat, pushed his
wife aside and rushed from the back.
From the city to Seaforth station,
st. Peters parish, from the station to
the marsh.
The tide was up.
For hours he sat looking at the
slowly receding water.
Niobe's son touched him on the
shoulder
"Fool." he asked politely, "where did
you bury her.
"There,, said Robert doggedly point
ing ahead of him.
The marsh was drying, with sucking
sounds, under the sun. A slave near
by murmured to himself.
They caught one word, then waded
to the spot and dug, sank spade, a
log of wood and several other heavier
things and watched the quicks and suck
them out of sight.
Then scrambled to the marsh bank
and went each his separate way.