Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-30
MY GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHERS JEWELS.
BY ELLEN FRIZELL wYCKoFF.

1T is a singular oversight" the old
colonel said. holding my hand in a
warm. lingering grasp.
These soft, beautifully manpered
Southerners could not endure to
wound me.
Isn't it that I'm poor and they
want a rich husband for Marie?" l
blurted out, sharply.
well, my dear lad, since you have
spoken l may not contradict you.
You will not, however, fail to remem-
ber the stern necessity Of the case.
Your blood is of the best-as good as
any that flows. Hamilton would
greatly prefer it to any this side Il
crown. but there are debts and mort
cages and there is rich Yankee lover,
and-the last hope is Marie"
Thep with graceful wave of his
white hand he set the subject aside,
and began to plan little trip for HIM
self and me that would include the
night of Marie's ball.
OF course ! could not allow him to
sacrifice so much for lhy sake. and the
outcome of it all was that l told him
and his household good-by the day be-
fore the ball. But l fingered in the
city. | could not go without word
with Marie. The ball promised Inc
one opportunity.
l dressed myself in fanciful imita-
tion of an English knight of 200
years ago, and walked up and down
terrace outside. Madam Marie's
chamber trying to gather courage that
the ballroom.
The place was wonderland of
beauty. Men and women in all man
ner of costumes walked among the
flowers. In memory of the first Marie
and in compliment to her pretty
namesake there were kings and war
riors young and old. And at last
l saw Marie herself. She was the
little French maid stepped from the
old picture! With her bare white
hand she beckoned me to the window
of the great jessamine under which
she stood.
l hurried to her, wild with joy. She
had shown me shy favor until now. |
could not remember that had come to
say good-by.
When | was nearer she drifted
away with n slow, gliding motion, still
beckoning me with her hand. Through
a door into the old curtained chamber
she led me, smiling over her cleaning
bare shoulder. and hurrying on could
never quite reach the lovely floating
figure and archly smiling face.
1t did not occur to me to wonder mt
the soft. luminous glow that surround
ed her. envelOping her like garment
and leaving the space about her quite
dark. for this part of the mansion had
not been lighted for the ball.
We passed through the great cham
ber in which the first Marie had lived
and died.
This way" came softly back TO me
in pretty French. Come this way
And ! followed.
She led me through an odd little
door that ! had not seen before. and
we entered low. narrow passage.
The place was close and | was obliged
to stoop as l went; but with the lu-
minous figure before me and the smil-
ing face over the cleaning shoulder.
went. down and down. as it seemed
to me- and farther and farther from
the tiowery terrace.
Once called out begging her to wait
for me, but only n sound of soft laugh
ter came back as she flOated on.
And then suddenly | was alone and
all in the dark. Had she taken some
sudden turn that | had not seen in the
long narrow passage? l called aloud.
beating my hands against the solid
walls.
In doing so ! found that had
reached the end of the passage. My
hand came in contact with something
like cold iron. The object was Il box
an iron box set in the solid wall. still
calling loudly for Marie. l was an
swered by smothercd echoes of my
own voice
Painting for air and numb with cold
and fear. tugged with all my strength
Ut tilt DtA. Soltl- W NY
fingers skill and desperation. making
them strong. thought only of the
jewels now. Marie was hiding be-
hind me to frghten me. and by acci-
dent | had come upon the box. was
sure that it contained the jewels. II
was embedded in the wall. but pulled
and tugged. straining every muscle.
After II while II yielded. | was NOV
ing it-it was mine. As | drew 1t out
II sickening thud as ii falling earth
made me shudder. 4 musty. stiflng
odor filled the place. My mouth aud
eyes Were full Of fine nauseatlng
dust. fell back and felt. with Il hor
ror cannot describe, the soft cold
earth settling about me.
l don't know how long i was be-
fore saw u thin CLEAN of light. Was
II Marie waiting further ony made
tremendous effort. still holding to
the box. aud raised myself from the
earth under which had been buried