The age-herald., 1898-02-06

the gas. There they lay all gleaming, five hundred of them, just as I had laid them out for counting before dinner after the little polishing brush had done its weekly work upon them.
 "They are worth as much as thatT she asked timidly.
 "Yes, and great deal more." said bruskly, for I did not like to have her eye them so hard; and then, jealousy or some selfish fiend getting possession Of me, I brushed them into my lap and tum- bled them headlopg into my bureau drawer.
 When I turned Mrs. Windsor was gone!
 Next morning. heartily ashamed of my act, I tried to turn the conversation to- ward the topic of the night before, but Mrs. Windsor avoided 1t. I knew that she felt hurt and this only made me the more uncomfortable. How could have had so little tact. I was not suspicious of her. It was only the jealous feeling understood by any one who pets a hobby and allows it to govern her. For the next few days saw little of the windsors for having a relative in town, I devoted my days to visiting her. and only my nights were spent in my room. But I punished myself by locking up in my chest my precious coins and substitute ing for them an imitation set procured long ago from Venetian coin dealer. An imitation set of coins is owned by nearly every collector, just as most women own paste jewels. The limitations are lighter and less accurately engraved. but for a cabinet or a table they are quite as good.
 Splendid library cabinets are rarely stripped of their coins, though the owner knows of safe deposit where the price, | less originals lie. Any dealer will make | a duplicate and imitation set of lead and brass which for purposes of history and l display are just as good. st8 .. It was such set as this that now adorned my table in the little Windsor l fiat.
 One evening, as entered my room in the | dusk. I had an uncomfortable feeling Of contact or presence which, as paused to listen was not dispelled by soft creep | ing noise as though of a door being si- l lently closed
 I struck a match and as did so heard | little bolt slide gently and then knew | that the door between my room and Mrs. | Windsor's parlor had been opened, and that had come home just as the person | who had opened 1t was in the act Of clos ing and rebolting it on the other side! | How strange! |. | I started to call out Mrs. Windsor" and then my eye fell upon the little coin | table and I saw that 1t was empty. The | imitation coin set was gone! | I stood perfectly still moment with the | Qy1nS maICn III my fingers dliu thch O | wave of recollection shot over me. l had said would not be at home that nighti And Mrs. Windsor-horrible thought -knew fti
 l A voice broke the stiffness from the next | room. It was Mrs. Windsor's sweet l treble:
 "Egbert. Egbert darling" she was say | ing "Egbert dear. Don't despair. love. Lift your head from the couch and look | at me-
 '"There is no hope"
 "Do not say that, dear. Here. here in my bosom are the coins that will set us free! They belong to her. to our boarder! But I can replace them 50 she will not know. A dealer told me so today and offered to pledge them for me for thous- and dollars or all the money we want. | am to see him tonight"
 "Ella!'' fs8
 "Yes, love, I know it Is not right-that 1t is wrong, even stealing! But it does nc harm and we will put them back again l when you can clear yourself"
 "At the price of your honor!"
 There was no reply.
 Then the clear voice of Egbert Windsor
 rang out:
 ssao. my grill Take them back! Bet