Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-10-11
t,I.,,rsliIa sighed.

summer l was walking in the garden.
and as l passed the pavilion l heard
voices, one of which l was sure was
Drusy's. AS l had left her half an
hour before in the MUSHROOM With
Winthrop Mayne, l wondered some.
While hesitated an instant, her voice
reached me in accents Stified with soDs.
l did not distinguish what she said,
but it was mans tones which soothed
her. Angrily stopping my ears with
my fingers, ran away to the house.
The piano 'tinkled as l entered. and,
tiptoeing along the hall, l saw Winty
Mayne before it. Without turning his
head, he called to me.
went in doubtfully.
"How did you know l was there"
asked.
Didn't you know I had eyes in the
back of my head?" he responded,
gravely. "Come. Sit here and play
this duet with me-"
I haven't time," l replied.
"Where is Drusilla?" Mrs. Throg-
morton's voice said, at this moment.
''She has retired. 1 believe" an
swered Winty Mayne, carelessly. "She
said she had headache"
"Have you been here long?" l asked.
Half an hour or So"
81 am very sorry" said grandmother,
"but you will have to excuse Ruby.
couldn't go to sleep at all, II she did
not read to me awhile"
AS we quilted the room the princes
hands came down upon the piano keys
with an angry clash, and at the sound
l felt Mrs. Throgmorton's eyes search
my face, sharply. did not mind, how
ever. l was wondering whom my Sis
ter was talking to in the pavilion.
1t was week after this that grand
mother sent for me to her private
apartments.
/. She was sitting in rapt exultation,
before the open casket in which she
kept her diamonds. Their prismatic
flash, as l entered the room, almost
blinded me.
"Take your farewell look, Ruby"
she cried gleefully. "Drusilla has won
them"
stood as if petritied.
"Where is she?' l asked.
"They are both in the drawing
"Oh, grandma! grandmaw 1 cried,
"~"r'ng forward, 'let me take them to
her."
Nonsense! She will have them soon
enough
Dear grandmother" l coaxed, Il
I, h, l. In,
Mrs. Throgrorton smiled.
"Well, well,' she said, and she put
the precious casket in my hands.
darted away t6 the drawing-room.
had glimpse Of myself in the
tall pier glass as l crossed the thick
carpet noiselessly. My eyes shone like
stars; my cheeks were feyered.
Not till l was nearly beside him did
I perceive, in my excitement, that
Winty Mayne was alone.
"Where is Drusilla:" I exclaimed.
setting down the box.
"Drusilla has gone" said Winty
gravely.
"Gone! Where?" asked, scared by
his tone.
''To be married to the man of her
choice, which l never was. Ruby, you
and | must not let grandmother be
too unforgiving."
II don't believe you," l burst forth,
beginning to tremble.
1T is true; nevertheless. She was
just here to tell me she was going, and
to beg me to intercede in her favor
with Mrs. Throgmorton. She has not
more than got beyond the garden-wall
by now.'
/ guessed how it was. Mrs. Throg-
morton. ever on the watch for the sue
cess of her hopes regarding these two.
had overheard something's as she crossed
the hall. which she interpreted to mean
the fulfillment of her desires.
THAT was the man Drusy was talk
ing to in the pavilion, too l said to
myself.
what have you got there" Winty
demanded; and then he made me tell
him why l had brought the diamonds,
and, in spite Of my frightened remon-
strances. he proceeded to clasp them
upon my neck and arms. Then he led
me to the pierglass. gave ME
glimpse OF myself in its still depths,
and whrled me away to the very pres
ence of grandmother.
Mrs. Throgmorton's first anger was
terrible. But the prince stood his
ground. and she ended by forgiving us
all round, and telling me | was wei
come to the diamonds.
deserved neither them nor the wife
hood they implied; but both are mine.
and Drusy is too happy herself to envy
me- Saturday Night