The Newtown bee., 1903-11-27

Hammersley continued so closely in h"r train that Jack with difficulty l gained a half-huur's quiet talk with her in his sisters music room. Mar | garet was married and gone, but the guests had been especially invited to remain during the week to keep up the spirits of the household until their removal to their city house.
 It was the confidential hour between day and night, and wood fire burned on the open hearth. The rosy glow li' up RoSalie'S hair gloriOusly, and the shadows darkened it into rich Rem brandt tintS, as lights and shadows played over her face and figure. Jack thought he had never seen her in a Sweeter moo q.
 Suddenly she looked up into Jacks face with frank appeal like child'S. and asked him what he though oi Capt HammerSley.
 What do we know of him, Rosalie?'' he counter-queried.
 "Why, you know he brought excel | lent letters of introduction to your | fathcr''
 "Rut my father is not personally ac- ouainted with one of those gentlemen who introduce him. 1 took the trouble to write to some of the club fellows in of him ''
 ''Yes. you remember he told us he especially tried to avoid publicity Jack, tell me honestly-do you distruSt Capt Hammersley?"
 'I may be prejudiced because he seems to be striving for the prize l think tue most precious, dear, but, "-
 "Then, Jack," very sweetly, "1 will promise you not to enter into any en- gagement with Capt Hammersley un til you are satisfied with him."
 "Thank you, Rosalie," he answered quietly. "I will try to deserve youl trust." Inwardly, his heart was beat ing quickly.
 "He has asked her, then? She has not consented yet. But how sure o1 him she must feel to offer such a prom ise,'' and his breast felt like lead al this last reflection.
 Perhaps it was the influence o Jack $ doubts over Rosalie, or perhap little Mrs Valentine was more thai
 usually exacting, but Capt Hammers ley had no opportunity of speakin!
 with Rosalie alone until the next aft
 ernoon, when he overlook her in tn avenue returning from stroll. '.I am so glad l caught glimpse 0 you under the trees," he said eagerly 'I have been wishing so much to sho>
 you something beautiful. But yo
 will not care for them."
 He took from his pocket an oblon
 jewel case as he spoke. ''You do nc
 care for your own ancestral jewels You have scruples''-and he paused
 with his finger on the spring. ! "Do you not know why do not wea , my jeweIs?" and she looked at hil q with surprise. eff you saw them''- "May I see them?' he interrupte n eagerly. "I own l have an interest them"
 ', He let tbe lid fly up and reveal u , contents sparkling diamonds of ra
 purity, curiously set. No flashir opals, or rubies burning with red fir V or sapphires blue as heaven, only u i, pure light of diamonds, and strar
 of milk-white pearls, each perfect
 itself.
 Q E"This," he said, touching the pearl o lis but a fragment of rope of pear
 that would touch the hem of yol gown, and you are a tall woman - smiling. "The diamonds were set f
 princeSs''
 70 Rosalie's face grew radiant with q lighted surprise.
 "Ah!" she exclaimed, "I could we r them" Then realizing suddenly u o significance of her words, she blush' ,- from chin to brow.
 Just then clear whistle was hea if and Jack appeared with his dogs, n
 did he leave them until they enter' o the house. Hammersley had clos a and replaced the box in his pock I quickly, but not before Jacks quick 70 eye had seen the contents. o In the morning Capt Hammersl came down to breakfast with a becOl
 ing expression of sadness. He had I o ceived an urgent recall from his part