River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-10-18
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t The Jewels Of Jane Jardine /
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Ito SELL yourself" cried Marga-
ret Farrar, a strong ring of in
dignation in her voice, for handful of
colored stones-Jane, l can't think it
of you'll"
Don't, them" advised Jane, with la
comic impertinence.
"To think of how hard Stuart has
worked all these years." went on the
elder sister. "And now that he writes
he has a good position as civil engineer
in the government service, and is COM
ing home to claim you, you decide to
fling him aside like a-a--" She f1oun-
dered for a comparison. Like an old
fashioned hat" she supplemented.
Jane, crouching in supine comfort on
the wide window seat of the bay win
dow in the morning room, lifted her
beautiful brows in apologize remon-
STRANGE.
"You serious old goose! All the civil
neering-whatever that may be
that poor, dear Stuart will ever do
won't be worth at the end of a labor
ious existence fourth of the colored
stones to which you so CONTEMPORARY
refer"
"And will all the jewels that ever
were dug out of the earth's heart COM
pensate for the loss of the love of man
like Stuart Cameron"
Margaret held suspended the gleam-
ing needle she had been plying in re-
pair of the silken hose of her winsome
The latter pouted bewitchingly. HE
Is so good!" she acknowledged, with
just a hint of remorse. But he's too
good for me- I'm afraid I'm essentially
and ridiculously frivolous, Margaret.
Stuart should have fallen in love with
you in the first place" When she had
said this Jane Farrar was more nearly
dismayed and disconnected than she
had ever been in all her happy 20 years
of love, and praise, and adulation.
For Margaret, letting fall the little
ebony, silver-handled member in its
rosy sheath she was repairing, looked
at her younger sister in reproach and
indignation. you must never speak
TO me like that again, Jane. Never!"
Margaret"
Margaret was white as she would be
shrouded
''Never mind why-only don't!" Then
she rose abruptly, dropping her hose
silks, darning materials, and hastily
left the room.
The dear-old-thing!"
Jane Farrar clasped her hands over
her head. The folds of her imported
kimona beloved around her in waves
of gold embroidered azure. Her pretty
face smiled from its tangle of blond
tresses. Her round arms CLEANED like
marble when the loose, wide sleeves of
The land of the cherry blossoms fell
away, revealing their loneliness.
Mary Burns came in just then-a
rather scrawny Scotch girl, with posi-
bilities of exquisite physical develop
ment.
Were going out to the park, and we
want you and Margaret to come with
us-where is Margie?"
James gentle laugh shook her per-
feet shoulders. Echo answers, where"
she said, sweetly. IF you will look
at that stocking basket you will OBJ
serve that Margie has been here and
has but lately fed. Mary" curling
around into an attitude of catlike
comfort, why do old maids always
darn stockings?''
Because young maids are too selfish
to 90 that or anything else useful"
replied Mary Burns, tartly.
Jane laughed gleefully. Fancy"
el
account-me! She cannot understand
how or why l should let Stuart Cam
eron make personal arrangements in
which l am included. But that is
just what he must do. because"
Because of Edward Jardine, Jane ?"
Jane meditated, her slim hands
clasped behind her head and her eyes
provollingly interpretive.
81 think because of Edward Jar
dimes family jewels, she said slowly.
You're not as mercenary as that"
Jane made little move. "Mercen-
airy! | dislike the word. But the
Jardine jewels would make any wom-
an avarieious. You've heard of them,
Mary?~
"a lot" returned Mary, brusquely.
More than l shall tell you now"
Jane laughed leniently and flung a
spool of discarded darning cotton at
the pink-nosed kitten.
Il must have them" she declared.
81 dream of them. l want to handle
them-to wear them. Fancy strings
of turquoise blue as a robins egg.
Imagine necklace of blue-red ru-
bies Dream of emeralds greener than
the greenest depths of the ocean
Diamonds more brilliant than"
Mary Burns cut short the rush of
fluent comparisons, Then you're 60
ing to marry the Jardine jewels,
Jane?"
Il really think shall. Why, what
is the matter, Mary?"
For Mary was laughing laughing
annoyingly and mysteriously. 20,
nothing!" she said. But she kept on
laughing off and on all the way
home
So Jare. with a sigh for splendid
Stuart Cameron. married the insig-
nificant little man of -cribbed, CANNED
and confined" mentality and of ma
ture 1T was not only shallow but
coarse. He resented her early inquiry
about the Jardine jewels.
Zone would fancy you had only mar
ried me for those" he said. suspicious
IL. 4 cant produce them for year.
There are certain reasons they must
stay where they are"
1t was Margaret Farrar who met
Stuart Cameron when, gay, eager,
expeetant. he stepped from the train.
'Jane." He glanced quickly around.
Margaret WINGED, but she held her
self we'll in hand.
STUART I must speak with you.'
- don't know how I can tell you,"
she went on. when they were wan