The Grit-advocate., 1904-12-30

herself. See, it's star, and q new
moon. with flower droppin: down.
To think OF having everything you
want and dyin: at twenty
THAT is rather tragic" Hardy ad-
mitted. Then for five minutes he
studied the cameo closely, and ut :ast
gave it back with n face pale and pre-
occupied. Raliying railantly, lie
talked brightly through an hour. But
once again in the woodpath he sat
down for Il sturdy wresile will his
own soul. lie lived over again the
day when the sea had east up treasure
at his feet. He was alone-it WAS sev-
cn years back. after Il phenomenal
storm. He had stood at the very edge
Of the hungry breakers, watching them
rave and roar. when it swept iunb;in.
in-the brass hound oaken chest. ful.
Of gold and banknotes and precious
stones, unset. many uncut. There had
been no name, no mark anywhere
only Mt the very bottom of all. wrapped
in silk. bracelet slcnded hoop of
gold set with fanciful cameo. He had
half smiled over the pattern Of it. even
though he knew some heart tragedy
lay back OF it.
| lie had not told OF his find-search
| for owners of such treasure trovP
| seemed so hopeless. He had meant to
ask his nncles advice and he governed
| by it. Then that very night came the
dispatch-the good uncle was dead.
hi ptn l,ni l,n,.
| Fate seemed hent on forcing him to
keep what he had found. He had kept
| 1t, accounting for his change of estate
hy Il true story of inheritance greater
| than he had had the right to expect.
| Now, he knew where the bulk OF his
fortune belonged.
| Almost he persuaded himself to hnr-
ry back TO the city, take ont the accus.
ing craven stone and pound it to DOW
der. Suddenly. somewhere high above
| his head robin sang clear and gay.
The sound brought back to him
n country chnrch-himself restless
little boy. sitting at his mothers side,
and suddenly growing calm as TO-
gether they got to their feet and re-
Deated in unison with the rest the
Lords Prayer.
lead MS not into temptation. hut de.
liver us from evil" 1t rang in his ears
like n voice of Il friend. He had flu ~
himself face down upon mossy turf
Instantly lie was up and racing back
toward the Morris house fast as h,s
feet could 20. There he burst in upon
Milly and Betty, wild eyed and white
| faced. but joyous. indeed, told then
verything-makinG no reserve ever
over his temptation and how he had
been saved from it, and wound uT
with: "Now my soul Is at peace;
can dance and be happy. Let things
stand until tomorrow, please. 1t wonl'
be cruel. almost inhuman, to spring q
sensation such as this, and eclipse
Aunt IIarriet's party"
"We would never, never do that
Milly said ioyously. "She hates me
enough rs it is-because Billy likes me
She thinks. as I do. ]ie is quite wasted
on me. Indeed. she said to him when
he told her we were engaged: 'Oh
YOU idiot! Why didn't you take
Batty""
| Billy asked himself that question
before the party was over. He got
| home an hour before the guests as.
scmblrd Betty was easily far and
away the star of them all. All In finny
white. with strands of dull red coral
at her throat and twined in her gold.
en- hair. she was so ravishing it Is
small wonder Billy's calow heart way.
cred. In the third waltz he capitu.
lated-loSt his head entirely. and was
only saved from making himself a
pretty sppctacIe by Betty's superior
pose Betty was shrewdly obsprvant
she had read IIardy'S face like an
open book while he waltZed with Mii-
| ~. So she managed it the four of
them should meet in shrubby nook
outside the dancing tent There things
| Strengthened themselves with hardly
a word spoken. But next day. with
the great news of Milly'S fortune. the
world heard that she had lost lover
and gained Il brother in Billy Gra-
| ham.-Martha NJ. Williams, in San
Francisco Call.