The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-02-22
THAT'S THE WAY.
IHE RUBY HEART.

"Still after that wretched rubyl''
she sad. "How you waste your time ?"
why? Don't you think 1 shall
find it?''
81 don't know" she said, looking
Mt me with her eyes wide open; "but
1 don't think you will find it there,
because 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
Tor breakfast. Bertram and William
were getting quite sulky and savage
from the non-success of their search,
and the little time l had devoted to il
annoyed them.
81 believe" said Bertram, with an
air of gayety, little overdone, "that
WIifrid thinks he knows where the
heart is, and that he can put his hand
on 1T at any moment"
Il wish L could said.
So do L" said Edith, almost in the
same breath.
"1ou wish Wilfrid to find the
hearts" said William. "Why?"
"Oh, no. 1 don't mean Wilfrid: I
meant-at least Well, we shall all
be glad when it's settled one way o.,
the other, shan't we?"
had never told Edith I loved her
because L didn't know how nv aunt
intended to leave her money, and il
EDITH were to be the heiress of the
whole-but any ono will understand
my reasons.
1t was week after aunt's funeral
that L went into the rose garden
where Edith was shipping roses into
basket.
I've been looking for the heart
| again, said, "but L haven't found
it."
No" she answered, "and don,
suppose you will. Would n Gloire dc
Dion be any compensation"
She began to stick one in nv coat as
she spoke. Her slender waist, in it's
back gown, was very near my left arm
where she stood.
II will take the bud," I said, "Dut
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?"
No, L said, 'not 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 in pieces and divide
1t between them and sell the bits"
said T.
"And you are content with what VI
have?" she asked.
II am content with what 1 have" I
answered, Eand my other arm went
round her.
They never found that ruby heart.
though the poor old house was tapped
and tested from top to bottom. At
last, wearied out, they took the Dor
ton of goods that fell unto them and
went, fortunately for us, into a FIR
country. And Edith and were mar
ried.
We didn't go on wedding tour, but
came light 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. [ stopped to ho'dher in nv
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?" [ said, for something dark
ened amid the white laces on her
breast.
She did not answer. put up my
hand, touched with thrill the white
ness of her neck, and found in my fin
gers the ruby hearth
Then she gave it to you," I said;
cit is yours?"
She gave it into my keeping, " ans
wered Edith, dropping her chin till
her lips rested on my hand; "but she
left 1T to the man who should find it. ="
And have found it-herer-E.
Nesbit, in the Argosy.