Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-06-13
Colonel Bostal. At least. he and MISS
Theodora."

spending money on JeWlry IOr, Wnen
you can get just as good to look at for
next to nothing. And next to nothing
must be the vally of anything as Miss
Theodore gives away" he added, with
a rather forced attempt at POPULARITY.
Clifford, who was much perturbed
by this incident, On account of the con-
struction hig two friends were sure to
put upon it, made haste to turn the
talk into another channel. He knew
that he had not heard the last Of it.
And he was not surprised to see Otto,
at later period Of the evening, when
the rest were in the garden. draw the
earrings from the place where they
had been put, and examine them care
fully by the light of the lamp.
While Clifford fingered behind for a
few last words with Nell, the other
two, having taken their leave, walked
on together,
Willie spoke first. Putting at the
pipe he had just lii, he glanced up at
Otto.
well, and what is your opinion Of
our fair friend now" he asked.
my opinion is that she is thief.
and very daring, if not very skill
full one. Those earrings were pearls
and rubies, real ones. very old-fash-
toned, but worth something"
"And you don't think they may have
been given TO her?'
"My dear fellow, look at the story.
Is there anything to blush about in
the fact Of receiving present from
all old man and his old daughter? Yet,
undoubtedly, she did blush. Then
look at the improbability of the thing.
The Bostals are as poor as church
mice. Would they lave such thing
as these earrings? Well, perhaps
they might have. But would they
give them away? The old man might,
infatuated with her pretty face, but
not the starchy, elderlyyOung lady"
"You had better not tell Clifford
what you think
Il don't mean to. But mean to try
to save him from this ENHANCEMENT;
and in order to carry out my plan, he
must not suspect that have one. He
won't say much about her, you bet;
he will be afraid Of our raillery. And
we shall say no more than he does.
And, Of course, if he asks me my
opinion about the earrings, l shall say
they were worthless. See?"
Willie nodded. He no longer bore
Clifford malice for cutting him out; he
was only too thankful that he had been
himself saved from deep tumble into
the same pitfall.
1t was about a fortnight after the
return to town Of the three friends
that there drove up to the Blue Lion,
one bitter evening, a hired dog-cart
from Stroan, in which sat gentleman
who told the landlord that he was on
the way to Courtstairs, but that he
found the weather too severe, and
should be glad to put up at the inn
until the following morning. He was
pleasant, talkative young fellow, and
George Claris, who had been growing
rather moody and reserved of late,
thawed under the influence Of the
strangers genial manner, and passed
the evening smoking and talking by
the fire in the little bar-parlor. Only
cnce in the course of the evening did
he catch sight of Nell.
She was passing through the passage
on her way upstairs, and she appeared
at the door of the room for an instant
only, to give message to her uncle.
AS she stood there, the young man
took occasion 10 mention that he must
try to push OH tomorrow, as he was
carrying property OF SC. Ie value for a
firm III whose employment he was.
which was expected by another firm to
whom he was commissioned.
And he noticed that as he said this,
the girls bright color left her cheeks.
"Why don't you push on tonight.
them" she said, brusQuely. advancing
a step into the room and fixing her
eyes earnestly upon him. '"The wealth.
er may be worse tomorrow, and if
YOU are afraid Of a little wind. Won
should have gone by rail, AID not BY
road"
The young man rose politely, and
looked at her curiously ps she spoke.
But before he had had time to utter a
word in answer. her uncle dismissed
her from the room with by no means
gentle reminder that it was 10 bust
ness Of hers.
The visitor, in spite Of the import.
ance Of his commission, seemed to be
in no great hurry to push on with his
Journey; for on the following day, as
the wind was still cold. and the sky
still gloomy, he remained at the Blue
Lion.
George Claris had a shrewd sus-
picion that it was the blue eyes OF his
pretty niece which made the stranger
so dilatory, and he took care that the
girl should be invisible throughout the
whole Of the day. AS he had expected,
the young man grew evidently uneasy,
and presently found occasion to ask
if the young lady had left the house.
NO" answered George, shortly, "shc
is in the house right enough, but yoC
won't see no more of her. My niece
is a lady, sir, for all she is my niece,
and she don't ave nothin' to do with
my business"
The young man, rather to the land
lords surprise, appeared entirely sat-
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