Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-02-24
THE RUBY: HEART.

A. UNIT JESSICA had beeen round the
~ world more than once. She had
been what is vulgarly called "globe
trotter." In her day she had collected
many rare and curious and beautiful
things; but now she was an old woman,
and her time was come to die in the
great silent house, filled with the furni'
ture that had belonged to Aunt Jesslca' S
forbears many score years ago, and en-
riched by the spells of many lands,
brought home by the energetic hands OF
EAunt Jessica herself.
There was one treasure above all that
Il coveted, and that I would have sold
my soul to have had for my own-my
iccusin Edith.
As for the money, we'll, [ am not more
'disinterested than most people; but 1
hvould rather have had Edith without
Ia penny than all Aunt Jessica's money
without Edith.
William and Bertram and were sit
ting in the dining-room. Edith was
above, helping poor aunt in the hard
floor. We knew they were signal that
I'VE were to go up, and that aunt had
asked for us, and up we went.
81 have left ything divided among
jyou four" she said; "and the ruby heart
is to go to whichever of you three boys
can find it, She spoke slowly and
with difficulty.
remembered the jolly old days when
ske used to come and see us at school
r cl n hot nj
thine could have been more merciful.
EShe went on:
"You know it has charm to make
you happy in your love. It would have
made me happy, but he died, and it
hadn't chance to do it's work; and now
my times comet has been weary
waiting."
And with that-the first and. last hint
I'VE ever had of romance in my aunt's
1ife-she turned her wrinkled old face
ito the pillow with sigh like tired
child's and there were only four of us
Eleft in the room.
After the funeral and the reading of
THE will we three men set to work to
find the charm.
81 shall take the library and aunt's
bedroom first" said Bertram. AS these
were the rooms she had most used, I
Imagined he thought he had made the
Ebest choice. ''You other fellows can
ARRANGE as you ike!"
William chose the drawing-room and
Hhe guest chamber, and they took the
|whole day searching Systematically
inch by inch for the ruby heart. I be-
lgan to look in the dinin e room, but
Edith came in.
''Do you care so very much for the
ruby hearth" she said.
81 confess I should like to find it, I
answered. -.
"shall I help you to loolz?' ..:-
She pulled out book or two from the
shelves in an aimless, desultory way.
land then said:
cts very sunshiny out of doors, don't
you thinlk?"
! So we went on the river.
The next day I began to look for the
heart again. Edith sent her duenna
companion (who had once been her gov
|erness) to ask me if I did not think it
would be nice to drive. Of course said
u thought it would, and off we went.
That evening she asked Bertram and
William if they would like to come out
next day to see some ruins.
'Thanks," said Bertram, ''but think
my first duty to my poor aunt's memory
bis to find that heart"
'Besides," said William, who. never
had much sentiment, like Bertram, s'it's
worth thousands of pounds, believe
''To, say nothing Of the charm,''
added.
i: "But you'll come, Wilfrid?" she said,
hooking at me with her soft gray eyes.
'Of course" answered.
Bertram and William scowled at me.
Theywould have given their ears, their
lives. anything, in short, but their
chances of a ruby heart worth thou
sands Of pounds for the privilege that
WAS to be mine tomorrow.
To be in love with Cousin Edith was
ass f 49, K