The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-10-21
miscellaneous
A RUBY HEART.


world more than once. She had been
what is vulgarly called a globe trot-
ter In her day she had collected
many rare and curious and bea utlful
things; but now she was an old wo-
man, and her time was come to die in
the great silent house, filled with the
furniture that had belonged to Aunt
.JesSca furbears many score years
ago, and enriched by the spoils of
many lands, brought home by the en-
ergetic hands of Aunt JesEica 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 the money, well, l am not
more DISTINGUISHED than most people;
but would rather have had Edith
without penny than all Aunt Jess
ica's money without Edith.
William and Bertram and l were
string in the diningroom. Edith was
above, helping poor aunt in the hard
work of dying. Three raps came on
the floor. We knew they were sig
nal that we were to &c up, and that
aunt had asked for US; and up we
went,
II have left everything divided
among YOU FOUR she said; land the
ruby heart is to go to which ever of
you three boys can find it,"
She spoke slowly and with diff
Guilty.
l remembered the jolly old days
when she used to come and see us at
school and tip us, and l wished that
death and time could have been more
merciful.
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--iC has been
weary waiting"
And with that-the first and last
hint we ever had of Il romance 10
nv aunt's life--she turned her
wrinkled old face to the pillow with II
sigh like q 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 8
bedroom first" said BertraIn. You
other fellows can arrange as you like!'
William chose the drawing room
and the guest chamber, and they
! took the whole day searching system
| aticalIy inch by inch for the ruby
heart. | began to look i'll the dining
room, bat Edith came in.
DO you care so very much for the
ruby hearth said she.
Il confess | should like TO find it,"
| answered.
"Shall | help you to look"
She pulled out a 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
7 heart again. Edith sent her duenna-
I companion to ask me if | did not
| think it would be nice to drive. Of
course, said l thought it would, and
off we went. That evening she asked
| Bertram aud William if they would
| like to come out next day to see some
| ruins.
''Thanks,n said Bertram, but l
think my first duty to poor auut's
memory is TO find that heart"
| "Besides,n said William, who never
had much sentiment, like Bertram.
Its worth thousands OF pounds, |
believe"
ITO say nothing OF the CHARM"
added.
But You'll come Wilfred?" she said
looking at him with her soft gray
eyes.
"Of course | answered.
Bertram and William scowled al
me- They would have given their ears
their lives, anything, in short, but
their chances OF a ruby heart worth
thousands of pounds for the privilege
that WAS to be mine tomorrow.
To be in love with Cousin Edith was
a fashion among us. Besides, Edith
was now an heiress.
LAS soon as | have fulfilled dear
aunt's last wishes" said Bertram, 81
shall be only too glad to accompany
my cousin Edith on any excursion she
may propose.
so shall l." said William.
So Edith and | went to the ruins
alone together.
| felt that it 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 ser
wants were about. i had pulled ou
half the drawers of the Chinese cabi
net and looked into them, when my
heart laaped into my mouth at thu
touch Of ii hand on my shoulder
Edith'S.
"StiIl after that wretched rubyn
she said. How you waste you
time!'
"Why? Don't you think shall fine
litY''