The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-01-29

convent IN Mexico, the mother superior
being glad to sell a thing so black with
age for good money, wherewith to re-
furnish the chapel, where mass had
been said from the time of the Spanish
conquest.
One of the proprietors of this fas-
cinating place came leisurely forward.
His was a kindly face and one which
bore the stamp of a keen intelligence
and of much culture.
His manner was quiet and pleasant.
: Where did that lovely thing come
from?" Alme asked, pointing to a
bronze candelabrum, from whose twist
ed branches hung small, glittering
crystal drops. They threw shafts of
light over the tesselated flooring, as
the open door, glanced upon them.
"Just recently it came from a resi-
dence in Mexico, which belonged to the
decadent descendants Of time-hon-
ored house of Spain. The lady who
lived in 1t died in poverty and every
thing was sold by a,public crier-what
we call auxtionnaire. Originally that
candelabrum must have been brought
from Seville. Look close and you will
see name.
"It is that of famous artist of the
fourteenth century. His name appears
| in old records of the art works of that
| period in Spain''
Alme sprang up and questioned Gag
erly.
McFerson looked at his watch, with
a smile, and put it back in his pocket.
"You said something about desk ?''
| he remarked.
ooh, yes. 1 want particularly love-
| ly Louis XIV. desk. Of course you
have one? I'll hang that candelabra
right above it. It's thousand times
more artistic than ours. The light
from it will be charming"
The proprietor led the way to a
certain high-ceiled room, whose con-
tents made Alme express her delight
with warmth and decision.
| Alme had been so much absorbed in
her examination of the beautiful OBJ
| jets darts, cFowding on all sides, she
had hardly noticed small, daintily
dressed, old-fashioned woman, who,
with her black satin skirt, black lace
shawl, wealth of white hair and
strange, old-time bonnet, seemed to be-
long to another period.
Come in and look around, Miss
Hortense; nothing new to-day" the
proprietor said in pleasant voice as
she stood timidly in the doorway.
She came forward with a dignified
L oil
among the furniture in an anxious
way, and when Alme spoke of desk
she drew close to her and listening
to her followed her eagerly.
Il am anxious to see a lady's desk
myself-an old desk with bronze door
trimmings. Quite pretty thing. My
mothers she said, in low voice
holding Alme's sleeve. MIR. Norton
has promised to get it for me-, He will
some day. There is a will locked up in
it; my grandfather's will. 1t will be
found, of course. Everything was sole
while was away-everything. 1t was
quite number of years ago. 1 droI
in occasionally to see If they have
found the desk for me. My lawyer
tried to trace it for me, but perhap.
you have noticed, my dear young lady
that lawyers are not very efficient. Sc
} have undertaken to find the desl
and the will myself with Mr.. Norton.
kind assistance. Yes, yes; it will turf
up some day. 1t is my grandfather,
will. have inherited great wealth
vast amount of landed estate-quit,
!, a large property. would be yer.
} patient, my dear, about the will an,
, content to wait, only you see mus
send Rene to college. My sisters son
A fine lad. He must have every educa
!, tional advantage, so l must hurry tt
find the testament which is to plac,
me in possession of the land. In m,
| will leave it all to Rene. Nothin.
new, to-day, Mr.. Norton?"
Her voice was sweet and low and he
manner gentle and refined, and she re
minded Alme of an old-fashioned pic
| ture. Her rambling talk caught Alme'
/ attention, who looked down compass
/. sionately on the small, pathetic lit
tie figure.
Z "She is perfectly harmless. We lie
her come and wander around as lonI
as she cares to do so. They were al
, very wealthy people formerly, and to
day this elderly lady and the la,
{ Rene, her nephew, are all that are lief
, of them. They are in sadly reduce,
circumstances. The boy works cheer
+ fully and hard
who supports them?" Alme asked
: q feeling Of immense pity yelling il
her heart for the poor, forlorn littl
! woman whose troubles had evidentl
brought her to her present benighte
condition.
kindly neighborhood."
Where does she liver whispere
Alme. as the little figure moved softl
away.