The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-12-01

NM " u"hSei' ooHN hi"tN'
A proved the fact when. in
NON" an effort to escape the bus
tile of prepara lions for his aunt's (Mrs.
Graham's) big party, lie took 4 tempt
ing wood path and came all unawares
upon two pretty girls. One stood, the
moral and pattern of impatience: the
other, half bent, was eagerly searching
through the grass and tangle of the
pathside, now parting its greenery
with two slim white hands, now letting
the hands fall at her side. while she
stopped lower, peerinS at some small,
bare space.
Il can't come, Betty i:e heard the
:seurcher say, plaintively. "You know
the bracelets my maScot-Aunt Hell
-en said so when she gave it to me-
"A mighty poor mascot" Betty retort-
ed. I'D throw it away rather than
wear it.-rnbbish thing It's ten years
since you got it, and we are just the
-saIne-poor as church mice. yet bound
to live up to the Morris name. Besides,
nothing but bad luck could hang about
that little ugly cameo"
Hardy drew back embarrassed. Evil
IDENTIFY he was hearing things not meant
for stranger ears. lie was on the
point Of running away, when cry
of triumph. turning quickly to terror,
arrested him. Instantly he darted for
ward-to see the mascot's owner up.
right and rigid, staring at twig where
her bracelet hung just above the head
~-of coiied and kissing snake.
How ever shall get ;t:" the girl
demanded, laying her hand appealingly
on his arm, while Betty looked on
aghast. Hardy smiled down at her.
made a stroke or two with his stout
cane, flung away the writhing reptile,
then picked the bracelet out Of its
green tnbush and held it toward its
owner. saying easily, There. Miss
Morris. Now, claim a reward. You
are to give me the first three waltzes
tonight"
hy, how do you know"' Millicent
Morris began, amazed.
Hardy looked at her with twinkling
eyes. You forget there is speak
Z Ing likeness of you over Billy Graham's
mantel at YALE" he said. THAT re-
minds me--Billy's my cousin-Im John
Hardy at your service-and just now
seeking asylum from my natural or
unnatural protectors"
iThen como home with us. Ask him,
Betty-Betty's head of the house." Mil
~ returned promptly. Hardy looked
entreaty at Betty, who answered it
Hospitality enough. Thus, five min
ntes later he found himself walking
between the two into an adorable old
garden, and on 4 big, white silent
house, the very picture of restfulnesS.
"Yes, it is nice. love it all-every
stick and stone and blade of grass"
,Milly said, when he exclaimed over
the charm of everything. "That's the
trouble" she went on. 81 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 had
my fortune wouldn't change much
here-only put sound posts in the gates
and plant orchards and-yeS, and have
j 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 your head. She
does get little that way when you
start her on her fortune" Betty said,
halt severely, half apologetically. the
last words, of course, to Hardy. For
3 minute he did not answer-he was
staring intently at the cameo in the
recovered bracelet. "Let me look at
that, please" he said, holding out his
hand for it. ''The carving is-pecu-
liar-still, seem to have seen it be-
fore"
"No, you haven't" said Milly conf
IDENTIFY, but handing over the bauble.
There is just one more like it, and
Aunt Helen had that. Her ship went
down, with all on board-that's why
I haven't got my fortune. It's some
where, all in gold and jewels, but just
where nobody knows or can find out.
I'm named for her daughter that died.
The bracelets were carved for poor