Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-06-17

the great hall, but Miss Elizabeth
sent Margot to tell me that she want
ed to see me upstairs, that 1 was to
come down with the family to the
Eorary. l went up as ! was bid Miss
Elizabeth drew me into small room
off the chamber where her brother
had died. She kissed me, and whis-
pered in my ear. They're herel I've
found them. just where l put them
three years ago"
per.
THE Jewels" she whispered. "The
jewels, my dear mothers rubies. ]
think those were what they were
looking for, those wretches! And /
think that in some way they com
passed my poor brother David's
DEATH She drew down the shade,
closed the door, and locked it. Then
she went to the fireplace Here"
she said. This upright slab was al
ways loose. ] often pulled it down
as child. When 1 went away,
drew it out So" she suited her ac-
ton to her words. 81 deposited this
case within and then sealed it up
with little plaster-of-Pa I
took the rubies from a drawer in the
library, a secret drawer; we all
knew the secret. They were mine,
as much as his, and you see now how
wise l was. Had l not done so, those
wretches would have had them to-
day." She had in her hand the blue
velvet case which l knew so we'll
he -,
ened room the wonderful rubies
shone forth with million dazzling
rays. There was knock at the
door. Miss Elizabeth hurriedly re-
placed the case. Eyes, yes,'' she
called, 81 am coming; 1 win be there
at once" She pushed the slab in
place, stuck folded piece lof paper
underneath the mantel to keep it
firm, and then unlocked the door.
Miss Evelyn stood there. 81 was
showing Sophronia where they have
been hidden all these years." she
whispered. "It is my belief that Da-
vid never tried even to look at them
after we left. And until he prom
ised that Sister of Charity some
thing of value he never thought Of
getting them out of that secret
drawer. Then, too, he could not
move, Margot says, and when they
began to threaten him-oh, yes!
Margot has told me all about it-he
found what foolish thing he had
done, and would not tell them any
thing. David was always stubborn,
even if he died for it, and probably
did. Poor David! Poor David! l
wish he had died at peace with u.s."
Miss Elizabeth wiped her eyes. 81
was always at peace with him. But
let us go down"
We decended the broad stairs. DIR.
Williams met us at the foot in deep
black, with the clergyman of Miss
Eliza beth's old church, and we went
into the library and sat while the
service was read.
I went with them to the grave,
and then they insisted on my going
home with them. This did, and re-
manned all day. 1t seemed so like
old times. We talked of many
things, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Evelyn,
and I-about the Squire and his
queer, ways; about my marriage
from the Hall, and, above all, of their
brother Eugene and his young wife
and little daughter. It was because
of the child that I had gone to the
Hall to live. / had had entire care
of Mr.. Eugene Darlington's little
girl. She was the sweetest little
thing. Hair like a sunbeam; eyes
as large and blue as corn-howers.
1t was only when Mrs. Eugene grew
SO ill, and pinned to see her mother and
father, that Eugene consented to
take her away to the west where
they lived. Wisconsin was the state,
remembered. We talked of Mrs.
Eugene's death, of Eugene's wander
ing life after that, of his going out
to India, and of his death there.
"And the child, the child" whisper
ed Miss Elizabeth. Sometimes ]
think she may be living; sometimes
think she may have died. Sometimes
think we have trace of her; again
it is lost. Oh! to think of having the
little thing running about the
housed"
Little thing!" said I. "You for
get, Miss Elizabeth, that she would
be % had she lived until now"
$50 she would" said Miss Eliza
beth; $50 she would. Little Amar-
anthe! little Amaranthe!"
That was why the name OF Miss
Dacres had struck me SO strangely.
It was so unusual a name, and had