The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-04
THE RUBY HEART.

world more than once She a been
what is ~vulgarly called a ~"globe-trot-
ter" In her day she had collected
many rare and curious and beautiful
things; but now she was an old wo-
man. and her time was come to die
in he great, silent house, filled with
the furniture that had belonged to
III Jessica's forbears man. score
years ago.. and enriched by the spells
of many lands, brought home by the
energetic hands of Aun Jessica her
self.
There was one treasure above all
tina I coveted and that / wouid have
sold my soul to have had for my own
my Cousin Edith
AS for the money, well. I am not
more disinterested than most people;
but I would rather have had Edith
without a penny than all Aunt Jesslca's
money without Edith.
William and Bertram and I were sit
ting in the dinning-room. Edith was
above, helping poor aunt in the hard
work of dying. Three raps came on
the floor. We knew they were a sig
nal that we were to go UP, and that
aunt had asked for us; and UP We
went
II have left everything divided
among you 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.
| I remember the jolly old days when
she used to come and see us at school
and tip us, and / wished that death
and time could have been more merci-
full. She went on:
You know it has a charm to make
you happy in your love. 1t would have
made me happy, but he died, and it
hadn't a chance to do 1t. work; and
now my times comet has been
weary waiting"
And with that-the first and last hint
we even had of a romance In my aunt's
life-she turned her wrinkled old face
to the pillow with a sigh like a tired
child's, and there were only four OF US
left in the room.
After the funeral and the reading Of
the will we three men sat to work to
find the charm.
ct shall take the library and aunts
bedroom first" said Bertram. AS
these were the rooms h had most
used, I imagine he thought he had
made the best choice. You other fell
lows can arrange as you like!"
William choose the dra wing room and
Uue guest CLdIIlDtT, dIN lIty toOh tHt
whole day searching systematically
inch by inch for the ruby heart. I be-
gan to look in the dining-room, but
Edith came in.
do you care so very much for the
ruby hearth" said she.
II confess I should like to find it,
1 answered.
"Shall I help you to look?"
She pulled out a book or two from the
shelves in an aimless, desultory way,
and then said:
TITS very sunshiny out Of doors,
don't you Think"
So we went out on the river.
The next day I began to look for the
heart again. Edith sent her duenna-
companion (who had been her govern
ess) to ask me If ] did not think 1t
would be nice to drive. OF course, l
said I 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 1
think my first duty to poor aunt's
memory is to find that heart"
Besides" said William, who never
had much sentiment like Bertram, it's
worth thousands Of pounds. 1 believe"
IN say nothing Of the charm" I
added.
But youth come, Wilfrid?' she said,
looking at me with her soft gray eyes.
'Of course" I answered.
Bertram and William scowled at me.
They would have given their ears,
their lives, anything, in short, but
their chances of a ruby heart worth
thousands of pounds for the privilege
that was to be mine tomorrow
To he in 1nyya r-ifh Cn1y0fn LN3iS1 mo-
\ a mode, a fashion, among Us. Be
sides, Edith was now an heiress.
LAS soon as / have fulfilled dear
aunts last Wishes" said Bertram-he
talked, the silly fool, as IL aunt had
wished him to find the heart-"I shall
be only too glad TO accompany my
Cousin Edith on any excursion she may
propose"
S shall =" said William.
So Edith and / went to the ruins
alone together.
Il hope it does not seem like disre-
spect TO poor aunt's memory" she
said, as We drove snugly back in the
dogcart that evening, "our going out
like this. But 1 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," "
felt that X was foolish OF me not
to max an effort to find the ruby
heart So a morning I got up very
early and came down before the ser
wants We're about i had pulled out
half the dra wers OF ne Chinese ca binei
and o into them. when my hear,
leaped into my mouth at the touch OF
a hand on my shoulder-Edith's!
Still after that wretched ruby!'
she said How you waste your time!'
Why? Don't you think I shall find
it?"
II don't know" she said, loking al
me with her eyes wide open: but ]
don't think you will find 1t there, be-
cause Bertram has been through thai
three times already. Did you ever ca
strawberries before breakfast and
gather them yourself?"
So we went into the kitchen garden
anG ate stra wberries tin the gong fol
breakfast Bertram and William wer<