Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-02-24
mode, a fashion among us. Besides,
Edith was now an heiress.

mode, a fashion among us. BesldeS,
Edith was now an heiress.
"As soon as have fulfilled dearaunt's
last wishes,' said Bertram-he talked,
the silly fool, as if aunt had wished him
to find the HEARTH shall be only too
glad to accompany my Cousin Edith on
any excursion she may propose"
$50 shall t. said William.
So Edith and I went to the ruins
alone together.
81 hope it does not seem like disre-
spect to poor aunt's memory" she said,
as we drove snugly back in the dog
cart that evening, "our going out like
this. But couldn't bear to stay in the
old house alone where she was so kind
to me- It's better to go out, and I'm
sure she would have wished it,
I felt that it was foolish of me not to
make an effort to find the ruby heart.
So next morning I got up very early and
came down before the servants were
about. I had pulled out half the drawers
of the Chinese cabinet and looked into
them, when my heart leaped into my
mouth at the touch of hand on my
houlder-Edith's
''Still after that wretched ruby!" she
said. "How you waste your time!"
"Why? Don't you think I shall find
TIP"
II don't know" she said, looking at
me with her eyes wide open, "but I
don't think you will find it there, be-
cause Bertram has been through that
three times already. Did you ever eat.
strawberries before breakfast and
gather them yourself"
So we went into the kitchen garden
and ate Strawberries till the gong rang
for breakfast. Bertram and William
were getting quite sulky and savage
from the non-success of their search,
and the little time had devoted to it
annoyed them.
81 believe" said Bertram, with an
air of gayety, little overdone, "that
Wilfrid thinks he knows where the
heart is, and that he can put his hand
on it at any moment
81 wish I could" T said.
$50 do T." said Edith, almost in the
same breath.
"You wish Wilfrid to find the heart!"
said William. "Why?"
ooh, no. I don't mean Wilfrid; I
meant-at least Well, we shall all be
glad when it's settled one way or the
other, shan't we?"
I had never told Edith I loved her, be-
cause didn't know how my aunt was
to leave her money, and if Edith was to
be heiress Of the whole-but anyone
will understand my reasons.
It was week after aunt's funeral
that l went into the rose garden, where
Edith was shipping roses into basket.
give been looking for the heart
again. said, "but I haven't found it,
NO." she answered, land I don't sup
pose you will. Would a Gloire de Dion
be any compensation?
She began to stick one in my coat as
she spoke. Her slender waist, in it's
black gown, was very near my left arm
where she stood.
II will take the bud," said, "but not
as compensation for the heart"
Don't you Think" she asked me,
"that it might be possible to live hap
PLY without charm to help you?''
mo" said, mot without charm to
help you. But ruby hearts are not the
only charms in the world"
My arm fell on her waist.
"Let them find their ruby heart! Let
them chop it into pieces and divide it
between them and sell the bits" said I.
"And you are content with what you
have?" she asked.
II am content with what I have"
answered, and my other arm went
around her.
They never found that ruby heart,
though the old house was tapped and
tested from top to bottom. At last,
wearied out, they took the portion of
goods that fell unto them, and went,
fortunately for us, into far country.
And Edith and I were married.
We didn't go on wedding tour, but
came straigh back to the dear old house.
On the evening of our wedding day
we walked in the moonlight through
the rose garden to listen to the night
ingales. I stopped to hold her in my
arms, on the very spot where I had first
kissed her, and the light shawl she wore
round her head and shoulders fell back.
"What's that you have round your
neck?'' I said, for something darkened
the white laces on her breast.
She did not answer. I put up my
hand, touched with thrill the white
ness of her neck, and found in my
fingers the ruby heart!
"Then she gave it to you," said; ''it
is yours?" ~
"She gave it into my keeping" an
swered Edith, dropping her chin till her