The St. Johns herald., 1901-01-12
i The Jewels Of Jane Jardine }
 t+++<<++++<++++++++++++++{

TITO SELL yourself" cried Marga.
 ret Farrar, strong ring of in. dignation in her voice, flor handful oi eosored stones-Jane,. l can't think if of you!''
 Don't. thonl" advised Jane, with la- comic impertinence.
 "To think of how hard Stuart has worked all these years!" went on the s'der sister. And now that he writes he has good position as civil engineer in the government service, and is com ing home 10 claim you, you decide to fling him aside like a-a-" She fioun- Gered for a comparison. Like an old fashioned hat she supplemented.
 Jane, erouehing in supine comfort on the wide window seat of the bay win dow in the morning room, lifted her beautiful brows in apologetic remon- { raIce.
 "You serious old goosel All the civil engineering-whatever that may be- that poor, dear Stuart will ever do on. be worth at the end of labor ious existence fourth of the colored stones to which you so contemptuously refer
 And will ali the jewels that ever were dug out of the earth's heart com pensate for the loss of the love of man lke Stuart Cameron?"
 Margaret held suspended the gleam- ing needle she lad been plying in re- pair of the Silken hose of her winsome aud indolent young sister.
 The latter pouted bewitchingly. "He Is so goodl" 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 wit; you in the first place." When she had said this Jane Farrar was more nearly dismsyed and disconcerted than she had ever been in all her happy 20 years of love. and praise, and adulation.
 For Margaret. letting fall the little ebony. silverNhandled mender 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. Neverl"
 "Why-Margaret!"
 Margaret was white as she would be shrouded.
 "Never mind why-onay don't!" Then she rose abruptly, dropping her hose. silks. alarming materials, and hastily left the room
 ~The dear-old-thingl"
 Jane Farrar clasped her hands over her head. The folds of her imported kinona billowed around her in wave, of gold embroidered azure. Her prett. face smiled from its tangle of blonJ tresses. Her round arms gleamed like r urble when the loose, wide sleeves of the land of the cherry blossoms fell away. revealing their loveliness.
 Mary Burns came in just then-a rather scrawny Scotch girl, with. posSi- bilities of exquisite physical develop ment
 We're going out to the park. and we want you and Margaret to come with us-where is Margie?"
 yene's gentle laugh shook her per feet shoulders. "Echo answers. where" she said. sweetly of you will look at that stocking basket you will ob- serve that Msrgie 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 do that or anything else useful" replied Mary Burns, tartly.
 Jane laughed gleefully. Fancy" she said. Margaret calling me to She cannot understand how or why should let Stuart Cam eron make personal arrangements in which I am included. But that is just what he must do. because
 Because of Edward Jardine, Jane?"
 Jane meditated. her slim hands -lesred behind her head and her eyes provokingly interpretive.
 "I think because of Edward Jar dine's family jewels" she said slowly.
 You're not as mercenary as that!"
 Jane made little move. 'sMercen- ary! I dislike the word. But the Jardine jewels would make any wom- an avaricious. You've heard of them, Mary?"
 "A lot" returned Mary, brusquely. ''More than I shall tell you now"
 Jane laughed leniently and flung a spool of discarded alarming cotton at the pink-nosed kitten
 "I must have them" she declared. T dream of them. want to handle . them-to wear them. Fancy strings of turquoise blue as robins egg. Imagine a necklace of blue-red ru- pies. Dream of emerslds greener than