Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-30

aslant under the cedars, AMI l saw
terrible thing. A grave had fallen in;
the opening yawned at my feet. l
knew that l had come up through it.
! 1t was one of the Old-time boe.-like
tombs, strongly built of brick with Il
marble slab laid on top horizontally.
This slab had fallen in with one end
| still resting on the brick and the other
| upon something in the grave. On the
blackened slab l could even now read
the name of poor Madam Marie.
A spasm of horror and fear over
came me; sank to the ground. When
| the east began to be streaked with
light l crawled away to my room.
where l stood and gazed at my be-
| daggled figure and CHASTITY face.
y note from one of the stately Old
DANES awaited me. Deep trouble had
fallen upon them: her brother desired
that l come for Marie's sake.
Hastily dressing myself, put the
box, still unopened, in valiSe and
hurried to the mansion. My courteous
old kinsman met me. For the first
time l observed a slight confusion in
his perfect manner
1t was Marie. my lad. Last night.
when the clock struck -, she sank in
to Il death-like swoon. Nothing could
be done. We gave her up for lost
was crazed with grief. l knew that
YOU loved her as your sOul-even rs
l do, to whom she is all things. And
you are my kinsman. So l sent for
you. She is awake now, and-you are
welcome. Why. lad!'
The room reeled like ship in gale.
] heard Il crash,I saw stream of ru-
bies rcd as hearts blood and amethysts
and diamonds like the summer sky at
midnight. Then l saw fair white
face and all was dark.
When l saw the face again it was
bending above me in the ruddy glow
of freight. Very sweet and gentle
looked the small French face with its
tender English eyes. l smiled in hap
py content as Il cool hand was laid on
my forehead.
"Don't-drift-a again, Marie"
said faintly.
NO. I'm very securely anchored
here beside YOU" she answered in her
low, sweet voice, only now it seemed
strong and determined.
glanced through the window. Many
of the trees were bare. Had | been
i'll SO long?
Tell me about it," Marie demanded
when was better. and she sat perched
like Il saucy bird on the arm of her
fathers chair. Tell us about the jew
els. How did you find them?''
Haven't you been told:" / asked.
smiling ut her puzzled face.
was sorry when it whtened TO the
lips.
az" she said. You forget that
was the night-of the ball. Such
dreams-oh. don't let me think of it.
We were going You and l-going-
father, I've forgotten
Yes. dear. Dreams are easily for
gotten Tell us how you found the
jewels"
II was true then. In some uneX-
planned way | had found my great.
great grandmothers jewels. And
very slowly. as it came dimly TO me,
| told the story of that horrible night.
The fine old face of my kinsman
whtened. Marie's eyes darkened.
'''rhe gems are very valuable, very
valuable. my lad, and on the box is en-
graved the message that they belong
To any one of our name who finds them.
They are all yours. | have them in
safe keeping for you"
But l laughed.
They are Marie's, hers and II harS only.
If had ten thousand more | would
gladly pour them at her feet. Each of
these was Il heart story II story of
love and passion-and IL would take
them all tell her how much | love her
Again and again we tried to find the
ber, only to fail. In the old graveyard
no excavation ever revealed any under
ground passage. The grave had fallen
in. just rs ! had seen il, but that was
all.
But the jewels We're real-real as my
love for Marie. And there was enough
To relieve us from embarrassment. to
strengthen my business and to fill
Marie's jewel ease with rubies red as
hearts blood and diamonds aud anne
thysts like the summer sky ut mid
night Waverly Magazine.
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