Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-06
THE RUBY HEART.


.er. In her day she had collected
many rare and curious and beautiful
:hings; but now she was an old woman
and her time was come to die in the
great, silent house, filled with the fur
allure that had belonged to Aunt Jes-
seas forbears many score years ago,
and enriched by the spoi!s of many
lands, brought home by the energetic
bands of Aunt Jessica herself.
There was one treasure above all
that l coveted. and that would have
sold my soul to have had for my own
my Cousin Edith.
AS for the money, we'll, l am not
more disnterested than most people;
but would rather have had Edith
without penny than all Aunt Jessica's
money without Edith.
| William and Bertram and 1 were sit
ling in the dining-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. ...
L have left everything divided
among you four" she said: land the
ruby heart is to go to whichever or
rou 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 at
school and tip us, and 1 wished that
nerciful. She Went on:
You know it has 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 my times come-it has been
weary waiting"
And with that-tl.e first and last hint
we ever had of a romance In my aunts
tlfe-she turned he: wrinkled old face
to the pillow with 4 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 set to work to
ind the charm.
| Il shall take the library and aunt's
bedroom first" said Bertram. AS
these We're the rooms she had most
| used, l imagine he thought he had
! made the best cho!@e. You other fel.
lows can arrange as you like"
| William chose the drawing-room and
the guest chamber. 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 hearth" said she.
Il confess I should like to find it,"
I answered
Shall help you to look?"
She pulled out book or two from
| the shelves in an aimless, desultory
way and then said:
ITS very sunshny 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 lad once been her
| soverness) to ask RE if did not think
tt 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 mem
Dry is to find that heart"
Besides" said William, who never
had much sentiment, like Bertram,
TITS worth thousands of pounds, / be-
| lieve."
But you'll come, WiIfred?" 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 ruby heart worth thous-
ands OF pounds, fer the privilege that
was to be mine to morrow.
| TO be in love win Cousin Edith was
mode. fashion among us. Besides.
| Edith was now an heiress.
AS soon as | have fulfilled dear
aunt's last Wishes said Bertram-he
| talked the silly fool, as if aunt had
| wished him to find the heart-'I shall
be only too glad to accompany nv
Cousin Edith on any excursion she NAV
propose" ...
so shall l." said William.
So Edith and l 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 I couldn't bear to stay in the old
house alone where she was so kind tc
me. It's better to go out, and I'm sure
she would have wished IT. .....
| felt that it was foolish of me not tc
make an effort to hnd the ruby heart
So next morning I got UP very early
and came down before the servants
were about. l had pulled out half the
| drawers Of the Chinese cabinet anG
| looked into them. when my heart