The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-12-01
Cousin Milly. She made the design


moon. with flower dropping down.
To think of having everything you
want and dying ut twenty
THAT is rather tragic" Hardy ad-
mitted. Then for five minutes he
studied the cameo closely, and ut East
gave it back with face pale and pre-
occupied. Rallying gallantly, ne
talked brightly through an hour But
once again in the woodpath he sat
down for a sturdy wrestle with his
own soul. He lived over again the
day when the sea had cast up treasure
At his feet He was alone-it was sew
Ell years back, after phenomenal
storm. He had stood at the Very edge
of the hungry breakers. watching them
rave and roar. when ii swept tumbiing
in-the brass bound oaken chest. full
of gold and banknotes ard precious
stones. unset, many uncut. There had
been no name. no mark anywhere
only at the very bottom Of all. wrapped
in silk. bracelet. q slended hoop OF
gold set with a fanciful cameo. He had
half smiled over the pattern Of it. even
though he knew some heart tragedy
lay back OF it.
He had not told Of his find-scarch
for owners of such treasure trove
seemed so hopeless. He had meant 10
ask his uncle'S advice and be governed
by it. Then that very night came the
iispatch-the good uncle was dead.
and Hardy his sole heir. Altogether
Fate seemed bent on forcing him TO
keep what he had found. He had kept
il. accounting for his change Of estate
by 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 hur-
ry back to the city, take out the accus-
ing craven stone and pound 1t TO pow
der. Suddenly. somewhere high above
his head robin sang clear and gay.
The sound brought back to HIM
a country church-himself a restless
little boy. sitting at his mothers side,
and suddenly growing calm rs to-
rether they got TO their feet and re-
heated in unison with the rest the
Lords Prayer.
Lead us not into temptation, but de-
liver us from evil" 1t rang in his ears
like a voice of friend. He had flung
himself face down upon mossy turf.
Instantly he was up and racing back
toward the Morris house fast as his
feet could go. There he burst i'll upon
Milly and Betty, wild eyed and white
faced. but joyous, indeed. told them
everything-making no reserve even
over his temptation and how lie had
been saved from it, and wound up
with: "Now my soul is at peace; l
can dance and be happy. Let things
stand until tomorrow. please. 1t would
be cruel, almost inhuman. to spring
sensation such as this. and eclipse
Aunt Harriet's party"
"We would never. never do that,
Milly said joyoEsly. "She hates me
enough as it is-because Billy likes me.
She thinks. as DO. he is quite wasted
on me. Indeed. she said to him when
he told her we were engaged: on,
you idiot! Why didn't you fake
Betty?"
Billy asked himself that question
before the party was over. He got
home an hour before the guests as
sembled. Betty was easily far and
away the star Of them all. All i'll filmy
white, with strands Of dull red coral
at her throat and twined III her gold
Ell hair, she was so ravishing it is
small wonder Bi!iy's callow heart way
cred. In the third waltz he capitu-
lated-lost his head entirely. and was
only saved from making himself a
pretty spectacle by Betty's superior
DoiSc. Betty waS shrewdly observant
she had read Hardy'S face like an
open book while he waltzed with Mil
ly. So she managed it the four oil
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 a brother in Billy Gra-
ham.-Martha NJ. Williams, in San
Francisco Call