The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-08-26

won't eat much; and feel myself stiff
fleming into an old woman here alone.
Aunt Jacque will never know"
Emily came, under vow of solemn
secrecy. Emily got acquainted with
Kate Godfrey, the minister's daugh-
ter, and Kate introduced pretty Mar
gerry Dixon; and the quartet contrived
to enjoy themselves hugely, always on
| tiptoe and under their breath"
eff Mrs. Rozellc finds this out, L
lose my place" said Polly.
''But she never shall find it outp
cried the four, in chorus.
Aunt Jacque was very cross this
evening when Mary ran apprehensively
upstairs.
''What's all that noise down below?"
said she, fretfully.
'I'm very sorry that the footstool
got knocked over" faltered Mary,
"And in poking the fire the logs tum-
bled over the fire-dogs, and"
"Why haven't you been up here be-
fore to read to me?" imperiously
questioned the old dame.
81 didn't think it was so late"
Light tho lampr' said Mrs. Ro-
zelle sect your book begin nowl"
Mary obeyed, and when she had
read the old woman to sleep, she sat
looking at the odd little figures on
the lamp shade, wondering-wonder-
ing how Aunt Jacque could ever have
been young and pretty enough to
dance with the first president of the
brilliant Partisan court; wondering
where the famous Rozelle diamonds
were kept; wondering why Aunt
Jacque had not shown them to her
when she displayed the quaint con-
tents of the fiat jewel drawer in the
Japanese cabinet thin old gold
chains, fantastic brooches, more or
less broken, saucer-shaped lockets and
bracelets of curious make, but never a
precious stone in the lot.
The dead gold eardrops, like min
iature globes, were among the most
modern thing among the articles, but
the whole collection, Mary jeeringly
told herself, was not worth five dol
lars.
81 wish she would show me the dia
mondsp' thought Mary.
And at that very instant Aunt acque
awoke, with q little start.
81 was dreaming about the Rozelle
diamonds" said she, sharply peering
toward the bandy-legged Japanese cab
met. "Mary!"
eyes, Aunt Jacque!''
Dorb,,oe tho moo apDoa of last
"Look in the tall blue vase on the
'right-hand corner of the mantel. Is
there key there?"
eyes, Aunt Jacque.'
ooh, then it's safel But the dream
was SO very, very vivid. Ring for
Polly. 1 feel like going to bed"
Aunt Jacque went to bed as usual.
The next morning she did not get up.
She was not sick, she said-only
tired.
But the doctor shook his head and
gave orders that the house should be
kept very quiet.
miss Emily will have to go home,
said Polly. ''And Miss Kate and
Miss Margery mustn't come here any
more AT present.
Emily succumbed to circumstances
and went to stay with Kate Godfrey
for few days before she returned to
the city. Kate was going to have a
party.
"Oh, if 1 could only have something
nice to wear' said Emily. 'Those
gold earrings of madam's! For one
night, Mary! She's lying quite drow-
sy and unconscious; she never would
know And am so shabby and poor
looking among all Rates friends!
And Mary, yer-persuaded, crept
into Aunt jacques room, took the
gey from the blue vase, unlocked the
drawer, and abstfacted the dead-gold
knobs with velvet fingers.
Emily uttered cry OF Joy.
"Oh, you are SO sweet, SO goodF
said she.
'Be sure you bring them back to-
morrow" adjured Mary.
"I'll be quite sure" said Emily.
The next morning Aunt Jacque sud
denly reused herself out of her dream
like torpidity.
"Who is there?" said she.
And Mary answered:
81 am, Aunt Jacque"
81 dreamed, said the old woman,
'sthat some one was tampering with
my jewel drawer. Go, Mary, and see
if the key is all safe. .
And Mary, pale and trembling,
obeyed.
Bring it here, said Mrs. RozellSp
LET me see it. Aye, that's right.
Take good care Of the key, child, Let