The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-08-16

~ OnQ Atoms,
the ladies were wont to call him.
IA "What an awful pity that Tom Row
en- has no money" they said to them
selves, with the most pathetic empha-
sis. His face and his manners are
perfect
'',rhey like to fiirt with me-" he said,
with a smile of self-disdain, but they
know better than to say Yes to me-"
To an observer her eyes seemed
resting on his now, but he knew they
were only idly glancing.
'Do you value the trinket so highly?"
Rowen had just asked.
"The trinket" she exclaimed indiG-
nantly. II do not call it a trinket. 1t
is a most precious relic; it has been in
the family almost 200 years. l would
give anything to have the bracelet
back again-anything"'
''Let us be practical. What would
you bestow upon the man who will re-
store your bracelet to you?'
Anything-anything" cried Miss
Kent, sitting upright, her eyes spark
ling. You have no idea how much l
want that bracelet. Besides my affec-
ton for it, do you know there is le-
lgend connected with it, to the effect
that so long as it is kept in the family
good luck will never desert the kentsT'
"But the reward?" quietly persisted
the. young man.
Syra Kent laughed-the sweet, sin
cere laugh which Rowen had come to
know so well, and which was so differ
ent from that of most girls of fashion.
"There is little l would not give"
she said. half in earnest. Il believe
would give my hand if the man did me
the honor to want il"
Tom Rowen rose to his feet. Though
his eyes Glowed peculiarly, though his
face was pale, he yet commanded his
voice, so as to say, mockinSly:
"Of course, Miss Kent, you are safe
enough in adding that last clause to
your offer of reward. You know the
bracelet is gone irrecoverably. You
lost II on the highway more than 4
week ago; you have yourself looked
over every foot of the road. Some
tramp has found it; it is probably in
some obscure pawnbroker's shop by
this time"
He added n few more words on some
other subject, and then he sauntered
slowly away down one of the walks
of the garden and disappeared among
the trees.
AS soon as he was out of sight his
whole appearance changed. He looked
alert and alive. He stood still 4 mo-
ment. glancing about him.
+ ut is all folly, know. but am
syoing to try to find the bracelet for her.
Eshould like to do that. OF course
Lcannot ask her to be my wife; she Is
the last person under the sun to be n
Door mans wife. Her father would
disinherit her, and how am | going TO
get her the fol-de-ro!s which are neces-
sary to her existence"
While he walked he was looking
among the dust covered golden rod
and grasses along the roadside. He
went on thus for half mile, then he
reached turn, and retraced his steps
on the other side of the way. He
gave up the next three hours TO thor
4 ough examination of the space OF road
where the bracelet had been lost
Like all people who are looking Tor
some lost article, it seemed to nm
that underneath every shrub, secreted
behind every stone, he should find the
treasure There is a wonderful fasci-
nation in snch a search.
1t was not until dusk that Rowen
gave it up for that day, and returned
to the hotel in the village where he
was staying.
For the next two days he was en-
gagged in the same way, and he did not
see Miss Kent, who wondered at his
absence.
But why should she remember him
Was not rich young Townsend, who
h was said to be dying for her." really
n at her call? And We're there not pic
81 n6s and parties and excursions in
which Myra Kent was the principal
"a figure?
Il Rowen asked himself if the girl
knew that she had not seen him. II
was in vain that he scoffed at himself
for every hour in the day he must OWE