Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-09-04
CHAPTER TX.

aunt GIsLutT'
"A dozen miles from here, by this
time" was the reply.
II didn't hear him mention that he was
going away"
at was Il sudden decision. After Gil
bert Falkland returned. he felt 80 much
troubled about Gabriel that he walked
over to his house to talk with him. With
a good deal of difficulty he succeeded in
persuading him to go to his brothers for
the purpose of spending few weeks.
David Guthry Is firm, judicious man,
and will, your uncle thinks, be able to
control Gabriel without his being aware
of it."
II am very thankful he is gone. l was
thinking last night that unless some one
went with me, shouldn't dare to go out
of sight of the house"
Alice now mentioned to her aunt what
she had overheard while sitting at her
chamber window. Search was immedi-
ately made for the will, the paper they
supposed to be referred to. Mrs. Wal
worth thought that she could at once lay
her hand upon it, where her husband
kept such papers. 1t was not in the place
where they expected, but they imagined
llul VII w ulNOiLll INV pit
caution to remove it to small drawer
which they found locked, and the key
gone. 1t was decided to remove the desk
to Mrs. Walworth's bedroom.
The sun was something like three hours
past the meridian, and Alice, with her
eyes fixed on page of book, was sit
ting in the shade Of the old maple. She
did not hear the light footsteps stealing
up behind her, and when an arm was
suddenly thrown round her neck, she
started to her feet.
Mildred" said Alice, you did wrong
to Brighten me So"
II was far from intending it, but
ought to have considered that you hadn't
yet had time to recover from the terrible
shock you received yesterday. The grim
Gabriel has always realized my idea OF
an OGRE and | almost begin to think thai
hc Is one"
They wandered away slowly in a direc
ton where they could keep in the shad,
of the trees.
"Hareigh has left us since | was her,
last" said Mildred.
YES" replied Alice, in an absent man
ner, for Harleigh's name brought to mnC
what he had said to her respecting Mil
drcd.
Mildred seated herself on the roots o.
an oak, which were covered with velve
moss, and drew Alice down by her side
and this" said she. taking hold o.
the ribbon encirclng Alices neck, anC
suddenly drawing the gem attached to j
from its hiding place, lis Harleigh''
gift"
| hot
There was no need. l knew, though
gem of great price, that it wasn't TO
its intrinsic value that you treasured i
so sacredy. How very beautiful! ALLOW
me to remove it from your neck n singh
minute. so that l can the better eXamin
It,"
Mildred did not wait for the permits
sion to be given, but unclaspng, held
so that it caught the flash of sunbeam
which kindled into life its varied and in
tensely brilliant hues. The next moment
she removed it into the shade, when it
vivid colors ut once faded into cold, ashe
gray.
"Mutable Ms mans affection" said MI
dred at makes me sad to look at i
believe, Alice, were in your plac,
should hesitate to wear it. But l mus
restore his love token. Even if it be a
i'll omen, you will persist in wearing i
l l suppose"
81 don't see why 1t should be an
omen" replied Alice, as she put the ril
E bon round her neck and clasped it.
= Mildred took hold of the clasp for
3 moment, as IL to examine 1t. When 81
Q removed her hand, it was touched toget
I err so slightly that the least motion wou
e cause 1t to fall apart. Mildred rose
the same time that Alice did. and Il
!. next moment she had the satisfaction
q seeing the gem lying on the ground. Ali
h passed on, and Mildred, under preten
>. of gathering some violets, fingered lit
Ia behind, which gave her an opportunity
"a put tho opal in her pocket.
"Come, Alice, don't look so grave" so
!, Mildred, at the same time Offering b
:, some OF her violets. IL am, own, son
~ times q little superstitious, but shol
81 not try to excite a similar feeling in OF
"a ers. Forget what have said. And !
40 -"
~ "And yet what?" said Alice, hndi
s. she hesitated.
,s "Well, then--but l won't repeat wi
I've heard; tits a vile SANDER"
ot IF against Harleigh, l can better b'
ho to hear it, If it be false, than If it W,
no true"
ce 1T is possible that you have heard II
IS leigh mention the Lady Hester Del
Ms ton"
,r- II have frequently"
as but not that she is ready to best
ed her hand on him for the askingW
he IL never did"
in "Nor that an earls coronet will CT
his brows il he should ask her handY
nd How can that beT'
re- simply because it is promised him
de- Lady Testers suit. There is no {
m. now to enter into an explanation oi
rat affair. II is enough TO know that II
in can be no doubt Of its truth. But W
she people presume to so further, and
'or. that for the sake of the coronet, he
nth not hesitate 10 marry the lady,
nd only say that if like me they had $
the the sweet wildwood flower he is Piled