Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1902-10-16

when you ave it to me, / thought to re-
J tain as long as / lived; for her claim to
Ii is stronger and still more sacred than
nina
1T was my Intention" he replied, "ts
purchase it Of the Jew and restore it to
yoa"
You ANN doubt the pleasure its res
t~oratiOn would give me under different
circumstances; but the opal belonged to
Abs mother. 1t was her last gift to her
child
And for this reason she values it?"
Il cannot describe to you how much"
1T would be next to sacrilege, then, to
take it from her"
In the meantime. the Jew and Edward
Elliston, who were seated at too great
a distance from Harieigh and Alice to
hear what passed between them, were
busily engaged in conversation. Elliston's
attention, however, was not so entirely
absorbed as to prevent him from seeing
that Abb was not only very beautiful,
but that she bore a striking resemblance
to a gentleman he once saw at his moth
er's residence, some six or seven years
previously. Had it been twice that time,
the impression his looks and appearance
made on his mind was so deep and vivid
that it still must have remained in all its
original freshness.
Her eyes, he particularly noticed, had
not the dazzling sparkle Of the Jewish,
or italian black" When she raised them
suddenly he saw that they were full of
the same brilliant, glorious light of those
Of the gentleman in question, and made
him seem to his youthful Imagination as
If belonging to a superior order of beings.
Edward Elliston had never till now
seen a young girl who appeared to him
at all comparable with Alice. He even
imagined that he fell in love with her at
first sight. The truly noble and generous
traits Of his character were, hence, plac-
ed in a strong light, when, to save her
from the pain and anxiety which a knowl-
edge of Harleigh's Imprisonment would
have caused her, he secretly effected his
release. He now began strongly to sus-
pect that he had been deceived as to the
nature of his sentiments towards Alice,
and that, compared with those with
which the beautiful and fascinating Abb
had inspired him, they might with more
propriety be placed in the category with
those that bear a closer affinity to what
may be termed a brotherly regard.
Before Alice had resu1ned her seat on
the divan, Elliston found opportunity to
inquire of her if she had heard Abb men
ton her father.
Several times" was her answer. He
is not now living"
did she tell you his name?"
Yes; Charles Rushton."
And that was all she said about him?"
"No; she told me that he wasn't a Jew, |
and that, after her mothers decease. he
lived mostly On the continent"
EllistOn repeated the name to himself.
He was certain that he had heard his
mention it more than once. though
she had always refused to tell him the
name Of the handsome stranger who had
so strongly excited his curiosity and made
so deep al impression on his mind.
Time passed away SO pleasantly that
when, after an absence of a few minutes,
the Jew returned to the room and told
them that the morning was breaking,
all present heard the announcement with
as much surprise as regret. Harleigh and
rose. They must no longer delay
their departure.
Your uncle" said Harleigh, addressing
Alice, will forgive US this involuntary
meeting"
(which must not be made a pretext,"
said she, Ito break the promise he exact
Before Harleigh had time to reply they
were Joined by Edward Elliston.
II will hasten home" said he to Alice,
'and will return in my mothers carriage
BY the time it is light, as far as the next
street, to which, as the Jew informs me,
vou can obtain ready access, by means
If a gate back of the house"
ITO no continued