The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-02-22

E/TK ''globe- In
e - her day she had eel .
e. lected many rare and
curious and beautiful things; but now
she was an old woman, and her time
was come to die in the great. silent
house filed with the furniture that
had belonged to Aunt Jessica's for
bears many score years AGO. and en-.
riched> by the spoils of many lands
Drought home by the energetic hands
OF Aunt Jessica herself.
Inere was one treasure above ell
that coveted-my cousin Edith.
AS Tor the money, well, L am not
more disinterested than most people:
but would rather have had Edith
without a penny than all Aunt Jes-
sica's money without Edith.
William and Bertram and were
sitting in the dining-room. Edith
was above, helping poor aunt in the
hard work of dying. Three raps came
on the floor. We knew thew were n
signal that we were to go up, and that
aunt had asked for us; and I'D we
went.
=; Il 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.
L remembered the jolly old days
when she used to come and see us ut
school and tip us, and [ wished that
death and time could have been more
merciful. She went on:
"You know it has n charm to make
you happy in your love. 1t would
have made me happy. but he died,
and 1t hadn't chance to do its work:
and now my times come--it has been
weary waiting"
And with that-the first and Inst
hint we ever had of romance in nv
aunt's life-she turned her wrinkled
old face to the pillow with O sigh like
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 set to work to
find the charm.
II shall take the library and aunt's
bedroom first" said Bertram. Aa
these were the rooms she had most
used, 1 imagine he thought he had
made the best choice. lyon other
fellows can arrange as you like!"
William chose the drawing-room
and the guest chamber, and they took
the whole day searching systemat-
1cally inch by for the ruby heart.
began to look in the dining room, but
Edith came in.
'Do You care so very much for the
ruby hearth" said she.
81 confess / should like to find il. "
I answered
''Shall L 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 began to look for the
heart again. Edith sent her duenna-
companion (who had once been her
governess), to ask me il did not think
it would be nice to drive. OF course
said 1 thought it would, and off we
went
That evening she asked Bertram
and William if they would like to
come ont next day to SEQ some ruins.
Thanks" said Bertram, "but I
think my first duty to poor aunt's
memory is to find that heart"
Besides said William, who never
had much sentiment like Bertrom
''it's worth thousands of pounds. +
believe"
ITO say nothing of the charm"
added.
''But you'll come, wilfrid?" she
said, looking ut me with her soft gray
eyes e''
'Of course" I answered.
Beriram and William scowled at me.
they would have given their ears.
Their lives, anything, in short. but
lheH chances OF ruby heart worth
thousands Of pounds for the privilege
that was to be mine tomorrow.
10 be in love with Cousin Edith
was q mode, a fashion, among us.
Besides, Edith was now an heiress.
'As soon as / have fulfilled dear
aunts last Wishes" said Bertram- nc
talked, the silly fool, Ms if aunt had
wished him to find the heart--'T
shall be only too glad to accompany
my Cousin Edith on any excursion
che may propose"
DO snail j, said William.
30 Edith and 7 went TO the ruins
alone together.
u hope it does not seem like dis
4 respect TO poor aunts memory" she
said, as we drove snugly back in the
dogcart that evening, "our going ont
like this. But ! could't bear 10 stay
# IN the old house alone where she was
so kind to me. Its better TO 20 ont.
and I'm sure she would hnye wished
+ it,"
felt that it was foolish Of me not N
. make an effort TO find tho ruby heart.
+ So next morning / got up very ea.ly
and came down before tho servants
were about. i had pulled ont half
the drawers Of the Chinese cabinet
and looked into them, when my heart
leaped into my mouth at Tho touch Of
a hand on my shoulder -Edith'sl