The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-12
THE DRAGON CANDLESTICK.

WNAG dS Dluc anu the Nil0S WCAC do SUI
as those Of Italy and though the marrying
hand of civil war had given the house a
look of premature antiquity. made patheti-
cally beautiful by empowering trees and old
fashioned flowers, yet the eery bit of ro--
coco did not seem at home in its new world
surroundings.
In the late afternoon Of a drowsy South
ern June, It stood between Dorothy Randall
and her mother the table by the window;
and under glass case similar to those that
are sometimes placed over small clocks and
wax flowers to protect them from the dust,
1t looked quaint and beautiful. The design
was that of a medieval dragon, with scales
and wings of vari-colored metal. In the
dragons mouth, which formed the socket,
was candle OF pink wax, the sides of
which were embellished by a delicate ira
Gerry of vines and flowers; and the bit of
wick at the tip of the candle, which had
never been lighted, had grown yellow with
age, so that it looked as If it were of silk.
From the manner with which it was re-
garded by mother and daughter it was clear
that the table by the window was not it's
usual resting place, but that it had been
recently brought forth from safe keeping
for an especial reason.
1T Is marvelously Beautiful" said the
young GIRL after deep-drawn breath; and
with a wondering look in her pretty gray
eyes she carefully lifted the glass case from
the curio. See, mother, see!' she added,
clasping her hands III admiration as the
wind, softly shifted the rose vine that
clambered over the western window, let in
a tiny sunbeam, which gaily fiickered and
danced upon the dragons wings and scales
of many colors.
The two women were attired in black, and
the shadow that fingered on their pale
Southern faces and subdued even the young
girls tones of admiration showed that they
had recently suffered some heavy affiiction.
Mother why have you never let me see
1t before?''
Mrs. Randall sighed.
For the reason, my child that your
father would never suffer it to be shown,
and but rarely mentioned it, because It
brought to mind his cousin Tom, of whom
he was very fond; and since your father
died the thought of the dragon candlestick
has not occurred to me till to-day
Ibid it belong to Cousin Tom? asked
Dollie, for so most people continued to call
the girl despite her increased inches and
eighteen years.
YES" said Mrs. Randall, and her glance
passed quickly from the candlestick to an
old yellow envelope sealed with green wax
which she held in her lap. So interested
was Dole in the candlestick that she had
not observed this latter object.
i've heard it limited that Cousin Tom
was not in his right mind; is it true, moth
err"
Nor Mrs. Randall said decidedly. Then,
after short pause, she continued with
somewhat less decision: Tom Randall was
never out of his mind. He was merely diff
ferent from other people,
I'm what way did he betray his eccen-
tricity?"
IT prefer that you should not use the
word eccentricity in connection with your
cousin Tom, my dear. 1t does not seem
quite the appropriate word, and jars upon
"People say that the wound in his head"
'I know what people say" interrupted
Mrs; Randall, Tom was no queerer with
the bullet in his head than before
How did Cousin Tom come into possess
sion of the candlestick?" the girl went on,
with growing interest.
over and Tom came back from the army,
he said he could not begin life In the midst
OF SO much desolation 60 ne SOLO ms pr1P;er-
of him for seven years"
Where did he COZ
II don't know. When he came back he
didn't give any detailed account of where
he had been or what he had done. In.
know he possessed the dragon candlestick
till the day before ne died; and the facts
connected with this candlestick constitute,
in my opinion, the only evidence against
poor Toms sanity. When he was near his
end he made this bit of bzic-a-brac the
center of mystery which is still I'M
solved"
Mrs. Randall began again to finger the
green-sealed envelope in a nervous manner.
looking the while at the yellowed paper and
eagerness. But Dollie continued to be en-
crossed by the candlestick on which her
cd fhcr,a a1xyac in ~
Outside the window the f1uting of the breeze
sank to mournful cadence and the rose
the little sunbeam which had danced about
the candlestick. making the little dragon
glimmer with eery luster.
did you get it?" said Dollie, waking from
her reverie and reaching eagerly for the
time-yellowed document on her monthers
Mrs. Randall. with alittle start, moved it
out of her reach
feel little unnerved this afternoon. The
sight of these things makes poor Toms
memory so vivid it almost seems as If ]
could see" The quivering voice broke
and could not finish.
A new thought thrilled Dollie. Had her
9uires something more than the desolation
of his country to make a strong man
silent exile for seven years.
Let us put the candlestick and envelope
by till tomorrow, or another day when you
feel stronger; mother ,.,, n,.oo,,.
mo- said Mrs. RANDALL, WIFI ptIeOuS
resolution. Il must open the envelope to-
day You do not know ali that it means to
me. 1t is my last hope, and the future is
so dark It seems as IL the claims arising
from your fathers failure would never
cease. The executor tells me now that our
home must be sold, for 1t also Is mortgaged,
and the note falls due in a month"
Yes, mother, / know: but what DO you
expect from the candlestick and envelope?
II hardly know. Tom was strongly OPP
posed to your fathers mercantile venture,
and tried 10 prevent 1t, so can't help hop
Ing that his kind foresight may come to our
rescue, even after his death, in some way
through this envelope or candleStick.
Mrs Randall looked at her daughter with
more of fear than hope in her troubled race.
Do!lie drew little footstool to her side,
and, sitting down, took her mothers hand
in both her own.
through much together: don't let us be
down-hearted. Something will turn up, be
sOh my child. i don't know. Everything
seems to be failing us. If / could only be-
iieve what Tom said the day before he died!
But suppose the people are right who think
that he was deranged!
Dollie's heart ached for her mother, but
Il was clear to her that the story must be
told and the envelope opened before Mrs.
Randall could be restored TO calmness;
What did Cousin Tom say the day before
TOMS health failed gradually, Mrs:
Randall began. "It came to us slowly ana
without being told that he could not get
we'll For several days he had lain almost
IN a stupor when one afternoon he bright
ened up and called your father and me to
him He told us he knew he could not live
,,,an1y davs perhaps not many hours, and