The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-03-31
THE RUBY HEART.

~ world more than once. she ha0
been what is vulgarly called globe
srotter." 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
preat silent house, filled with the furni-
ture that had belonged to Aunt Jessica's
forbears many score years ago. and en-
riched by the spoils of many lands,
brought home by the energetic hands OF
Aunt Jessica herself.
There was one treasure above all that
coveted, and that ! would have sold
my soul TO have had for my own-my
cousin Edith.
As for he money, well, am not more
tlisinterested than most people; but l
would rather have had Edith without
ii penny than all Aunt Jessica's money
without Edith.
William and Bertram and l were sit
ting in the diningroom. Edith was
above, helping poor aunt in the hard
work of diving. Three raps came on the
floor We knew they were signal that
we were to go up, and that aunt had
asked for us, and up we Went.
Il have left everything divided among
you four" she said; land 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
size used to come and see us at school
and tip us. and wished that death and
time could have been more merciful.
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 chance to do its work; and now
nv times comet has been weary
waiting.
And with that-the first and last hint
we ever had of a romance in my aunts
life-she turned her wr;nkled Old face
10 the pillow with a sigh like tired
chld's ard there were only four OF us
left in the room.
After the funeral and the reading of
the will we three men set to work to
find the charm.
"L shall take the library and aunt's
bedroom first" said Rertram. AS these
were the rooms she had most used. l
imagined he thought he had made the
best choice. You other fellows can
arrange rs you lihe!'
William chose the drawing-room and
the guest amber, and they took the
whole day searching Systematically
inch by inch for the ruby heart. l be-
gan to look in the dining room, but
Edith came in.
"Do you care so very much for the
ruby heart?" she said.
Il confess | should like to find it," /
answered
4 Shall help you to look?'
She pulled out book or two from the
shelves in an aimless, desultory way.
and then said:
Its very sunshiny out of doors, don't
\ you think?"
So we went on the river.
The next day l began to look for the
heart again. Edith sent her duenna
companion (wto had once been her gov
erness) to ask me if did not think it
would be nice to drive. OF course | said
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
Is to find that heart"
Besides" said William, who never
aaa much sentiment, like Bertram. ''it's
worth thousands of pounds, l believe"
10 say nothing of the charm,'' ]
added.
nut you'll come, Wilfrid?" she said,
..oSlng at me with her soft gray eyes
VI course | answered.
6ertram and William scowled at me,
.ney would have given their ears, their
IVES anything, in short, but their
slsaces OF ruby heart worth thou
SINUS OF pounds for the privilege that
~as 70 DC mine tomorrow.
se be N love With Cousin Edith Was