The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-02-10

sure Sne WOulu nave WlSneu IL.
l felt that II was foolish of me not to
make an effort to find the ruby heart.
SO next morning got up very early and
came down before the servants were
about. l 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 tirne!"
"Why2 Don't you think / shall fnd
it?"
IT don't know" she said, looking at
me with her eyes wide open, "but
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.
| 1T 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"
II wish 1 could" l said.
$50 do l." said Edith, almost in the
same breath.
"You wish Wilfrid to find the hearth
said William. "Why?"
"Oh, 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?"
had never told Edith loved her, be-
cause l 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 a week after aunt's funeral
that went into the rose garden, where
Edith was shipping roses into basket.
i've been looking for the heart
again." said, "but haven't found it,"
"No," she answered, "and don't sup
pose you will. Would Gloire de Dijon
be any compensation"
She began to stick one in my coat as
she spoke. Her slender waist, in its
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 your
NO." said, mot withouta 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 1.
"And you are content with what you
have?" she asked
II am content with what have" l
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 were married.
We didn't 60 on wedding tour, but
came straight back to thedear old house.
On the evening Of our wedding day
we walked in the moonlight through
the rose garden to listen to the night
ingales. l stopped to hold her in my
arms, on the very spot where had first
kissed her, and the light shawl she wore
round her head and shoulders fell back.
whats that you have round your
neck?" 1 said, for something darkened
the white laces on her breast.
She did not answer. l 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; lit
is yours?"
'She gave it into my keeping" an
swered Edith, dropping her chin till her
lips rested on my hand; "but she left
it to the man wtho should find it,
"And l have found it--here!"-The