The Atlanta constitution., 1900-10-29

diant with good humor. 1T is all the
fault OF that meddiesome old aunt OF
yours. Why on earth couldn't she leave
us alone? We were quite happy, weren't
we, and she must needs come. dropping
hints and making mischief. till she quite
upset me. I was wrong. | own II. and |
am Sorry-there. will that do
Seeing that Molly still hesitated, she
skipped OFT of her chair and taking the
girls face in both her hands. kissed IL
repeatedly. The latter not being PROOF
against this unwonted display OF alice
tiou. and understanding the state OF
tha case better since the alluson To her
ount's. interference. warmly returned the
car.-sSee. and presently fen a-laughing too
with laughter in which there was "A sus-
picion 81 tears
..Nov- as you have been so candid, l
think I wifi Ice candid too said the old
lady. still holding Molly's hand fast ana
! confess TO YOU The dilemma am IN Win
rc.ard 10 the disposal of my property.
M. vou needn't take alarm Ike that
viii exonc-atc YOU from all interest i'm
to. matter. hut it will be comfort io me
"a sneak nlalnly and have dome with IL.
, Now | like vsu amazingly. Molly. though
IL Is no, nv way 20 be demonstrat'Ve,
and r were quite sure that no one with
a better claim to the estates were IN eN-
istcnce. ! SHOULD leave them To you with
i havny heart and clear consclence-But
suppose there should be oNehls OF the
elder line somewhere in the world. sup
nose one were to turn up some day and
r,d himself debarred from the succession.
,lo,.t beleve." said Miss ONeill solemn
IL. Il don't believe l could rest In my
grave
Molly was silent. being totally alta loss
what q say. ,.,
Prom ihc time of Elizabeth downward.
there have been o'Neiils eNiled for taith
aua country" continued the other
MANY of them may have left descend
ants. and the maddeninS thing j; that l
cannot trace them. You see there was TIL
my fathers time, no 0earth OF direct
i - .fsresentativcs OF our line. ana. tnefelor''
what with that. and what with the d.s-
. turi,cd ;imcS. little trouble was taken I"
keen up relations with more remote scipils
of the race. But i'm the rebellion oi -
rn. only was the hest blood OF our house
split. bat what was worse, our iahiiy
archives. our valuable documents. anu
many ancient relies Of bygone times
v.r.. los. or destroyed. | am perfectly
Z convinced ttat deScends nts OF our dispers-
ell kinsmen are In existence sohc" "hc'',
vet how ana |. deprived OF the INKS that
connected us. to prove tneir iuen.'S
1t does seem rather hopeless, said
Molly.
And vet. whenever | try TO make up
my mind that such is the case, the
thought will keep recurring that there
Z rn,,st be O'Neills in the world still, anu
T thar hv falling To recognize their rights
shall he committing a gross injustice anu
3 50 keep hcsiJating and hesitating. Every
now and then. Just as have almost come
TO a definite conclusion. something nap
mems To upse. me again. When look at
I this bracelet that ! am wearing. for IN
I stance YOU see there were originally three
miniatures set in it. but the central one
i gone, and I have had II replaced by
/ that enamel heart. II the missing minia-
ture were found I'm the possession OF any
one calling himself o'Neul. should CON
sider II likely that he belonged To our
family. You see the mounting is or a
very curious design. and these queer lit
| tie arabesnues round the monograms at
the hack would make IL easily recogni-
| zablc."
'-B.t then. i; may have been Sold" sug-
l Eested Molly. difidenily.
YES. that is true'-with a sigh. "My
/ dear. il gives me the nightmare TO think
/ OF II. a; this moment that precious re.!c
may be hanging up In some jewellers
| shop among a lot of hOrrid modern bau-
l bIes: or worse still. il may have been
bought by some manufacturer. or shop
owner or other. to be worn on gala DAYS
/ by his Od'Ous common wife. Heigh-ho.
Well. TO go back to what | was saying.
have also two or three packets of old
| letters upstairs-love letters some Of them
such yellow. worm-eaten records of by
gone hopes and joys. Molly-but most OF
them are signed with initials. and some
not signed at all. and Of what use are