The Grit-advocate., 1904-12-30

M|LLYS FORTUNE
49, -

9 wv . to danger. John Hardy
proved the fact when, in
1ON an effort to escape the bus
tie of prepara ions for his aunt's ,Mrs.
Graham's) big party, he took II tempt
Ing wood patl, and came all unawar
upon two pretty girls. One stood, the
moral and pattern of impatience; the
other. half bent. WAS eagerly searching
through the grass and tlngie of The
pathsidc. now parting its glecn"ry
with two slim white hands, now letting
the hands fall Mt h.r side, While she
stopped lower. pcering ut some small,
bare space.
II can't come. Betty" lie heard the
Fearcher say, plaintively. You know
the bracelets my mascot-Aunt Hell
ell said so when she gave it to me-
"a mighty poor mascot Betty "etort-
ed. I'D throw it away rather than
wear it-rmbbish thing. rs ten years
since you got it, and we are just the
same-poor as church mice, yet bound
to live up to the Morris name. Besides.
nothing hut bad luck could hang about
that little ugly cameo"
Hardy drew back embarrassed Evil
dently lie was hearing things not meant
for stranger ears. He was on the
point of running away, when Il cry
of triumph, turning quickly to terror
arrested him. Instantly he darted for
ward-t0 see the mascots owner up-
right and rigid, staring at twiS where
her bracelet hung Just above the head
of a coled and Kissing snake.
"HOw ever shall l get :t:" the girl
demanded, laying her hand appealiugly
on his arm, while Betty looked OH
aghast. Hardy smiled down at her
made stroke or two with his stout
cane, flung away the writing reptile,
then picked the bracelet out of lis
green ambush and held il toward its
owner, saying easily, "There. Miss
Morris. Now, 1 claim a reward. You
are to give me the first three waltzes
tonight"
"Nhy, how do You know:' Millcent
Morris began, amazed.
Hardy looked at her with twinking
eyee You forget there is II speak
ing likeness Of you over Billy Graha,n's S
mantel at Yale" he said. "Tllat re-
minds mc-Billy's my cousin-I'm John
Hardy at your service-and just now
seeking asylum from my natural or
unnatural protectors"
"Then come home with us. Ask him,
Betiy-Betty's head of the house" Mil
ly returned promptly. Hardy looked
entreaty Mt Betty. who answered it
Hospitality enough. Thus, five min
utes later he found himself walking
between the two into an adorable old
garden, ard Oh Il big, white silent
house, the very picture of restfulnpss.
"ies, it is nice. l love it all-every
stick and stone and blade of grass
Milly said, when lie exclaimed over
the charm of everything. That's the
trouble" she went on. II want to
live here always, and Billy says when
we are married and settled down it
will be over there. He ought to have
Betty, not me. She likes things new
and gorgeous and well kept. If l had
my fortune l wouldn't change much
here-only put sound posts in the gates
and plant orchards and-yes, and have
a brand new rose garden that
shouldn't put our old flowers out Of
cOuntenance-"
"DOn't talk so, Milly. Mr.. Hardy
will think you're out of yonr head. She
does get little that way when :ou
start her OH her fortune" Betty sad.
half severely. half apologetically. the
last words, of course, to Hardy. For
minute he did not answer-he was
staring intently Mt the cameo in the
recovered bracelet. "Le. me look at
that, please" he said, holding out his
hand for it. 1.-The carving is-p"cu-
liar-stll. l seem to have seen it be-
fore"
''No, you haven't said Milly conf
dently, but handing over the bauhle.
"There is just one more like it, and
Aunt Helen had that. Her ship went
down, with all OIL board-tlat's why
haven't got my fortune. It's some
where, NIL in gold and jewels, but just
where nobody knows or tan find out.
I'm named for her daughter that died.
Tba bracelets were carved for NOR