Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-02-20
CHATTER KY


Alice, according to the directions given
ae- by Jeduthun. knocked at the door at
the termination of the passage After
Etti. delay, 1t was pushed open. and she
fsgEnd herself in closet, standing face
IN face with one who, as the jew had
sols3 her. was as Young and as fair as
AerSelf
Il was told to knock at this door" said
Alice. 'by an elderly man | saw n the
skep"
at was my grandfather who told you.
TOn are welcome"
By aseans incomprehensibie to Alice.
whist she had taken to be the back Of a
VERY plainly constructed closet, was made
Go swing slowly back. till there was an
opening sufficiently wide for iugress into
az apartment fitted up in a style Of so
mach splendor that it reminded her Of
g story she had once heard told OF an
enehanted palace.
II was not TIL re massive door was
eiasea. and drapery of Tyrian purple
embroidered with gold was drawn back
syer il. that Alice hid opportunity to do
more than note the general appearance
of her hostess. When she had seated
herseIf on a pile o. cushions at her side.
she found that der eyes, though shaded
" lashes intensely black. were gray,
everhowing an with $ ~ nd brilliant
hght Her ha'r restrained from falling
owrr her forehead by jsweled band. fell
In free and flowing masses over her Shout
aers. and descended to tie cushions where
she sat.
Among the few ornaments she wore
shere was one which dew the attention
Of Alice from all Others. 1t was the opal
SHE had lest, and When she recalled what
Sstas Watkins had told her, it at once
eccnsred TO her that il might have been
given her by Falkland She observed that
1he eye of Alice was fastened upon it.
"a birthday present" said she. "and
one that | value very highly on account
Of the donor"
WHO must be a very dear friend
then"
~The dearest have in the world" she
replied
Alice watched her as she said this, but
Alere was no faltering OF the voice. nor
deepening Of the faint rose color which
sinEcd the pure white OF her fair and
softly rounded cheeks Uusu ,picious of
what was passing in the mini of Alice.
she said,
VIII you not tell me your name?'
~Aliee Dale"
AAsd mine is Abb. How glad am that
yon came here this evening" You eau
aot think baW lonely am"
~Haveyoh ao mother nor sister,
~Noae'
Neither have /.
"Yes you cannot be SO lonely as am,
with no one but Asenath to speak TO. ex-
~rpt my grandfather, and he has little
sins whuh can be spared from his daily
4oil to asvoteto me-"
Can it DC necessary for him in the
evening of his days to attend SO strictly
% his daiiy taskT' said Alice.
we are. rs you doubtless know. Of
an oppressed and despiscd people. and
obliged to bury oar Injuries, and even
comforts, nnder show Of wretchedness.
or the princes and mobiles Of the lam,
would speedily find some pretext to wrest
Sr5m us our wealth. ! say we. for since
Eiy father died year ago, | have had no
w8e to look to for protection except my
graHdfathcr."
The eyes OF Alice were often directed
to the opal rs they sat chatting together.
fr after what Abb had told her. she
sAouEht She must be mistaken rs to its
bci0s the one which had been given her
Sy iIarieigh. But the more She examined
u. the more convinced did she become
t5,st it was the same. Several times
ahs vas on the point OF telling Abb what
ssse knew Of it. but finally concluded 10
safer its history. as far as she herself
WAS concerned, to remain undiscloscd.
ksi she might think that she wished It to
D. restored to her The fair Abb. how
evrr. could not help noticing with what
sasrreSt she regarded il. though she mis-
eo0k the cause. She imagined that il was
SIS rare beauty which attracted her atten-
t3aO- Sud she unc,ssped the gold chain
t. Nhich it was appended, aud handed il
- her
Fake III said she. $50 that you can
Ehe better examine it, Those best skilled
n precious stones pronounce IL TO be
a''gne. no one Of its kind they have ever
avn or heard Of being equal to It in size
Ena purity. or comparing with it in tEe
sHi brilliant play of colors"
A birthday present. You said?' re-
azaSrSrd Alice hoping that she would be
Ad to say something more of it,
Yes, aud what renders it more sacred
and doubly dear, il once belonged TO my
mother My father being absent the day
{ vas twelve years old, my grandfather
sGvt it 10 me. with his blessing. Judge.
1Arfs. Of my distress. when the very first
tisue wore it from home lost it,
Lost it3''
Ass, aud had long given up all hope