Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-10

HE RICE
write full details Of his discovery and
intrust the document to her. to be
opened only after his death or six
months after their release.
The ilea possessed him so thorough.
~ that he could brook no delay. He
searched for one OF the notebooks tax
en- from the dead officers of the Sir
dar and scrubbed the following letter:
Dear Miss Deane-whether I am living
OF dead when you read these lines You
VIII know that / love you. Could ] re-
peat that avOwal million times in as
many varied forms I should find no better.
phrase 20 express the dream I have cher
ished since happy fate permitted me TO
snatch YOU from death. So 7 simply say.
Il love you" I viii continue TO love you
while life lasts aud 10 is my dearest hone
that in the life beyond the grave I may
still be able 10 voice my love FOR YOU
But perhaps 1 am not destined to be
loved by you. Therefore. I'm the event OF
my death before YOU leave the island. I
wish TO give you instructions how 70 ind
a gold mine OF great value which is hidden
IN the rock containing the cave. You re-
member the sign on the piece of tin which
we could not understand The egure q
a
tion. and the / signifies that ono foot be-
low the surface. on reaching the face OF
the rock. there is a rich vein OF gold. The
hollow on the other side OF the cliff be-
came filled with anhydrate gas. and this
stopped the operations Of the Chinese.
who evidently knew OF the existence OF
the mine. Thss IS all The information the
experts employed by Sir Arthur Deane
will need. The facts are unQuestionable.
Assuming that am alive. We will. OF
course. be copartners In the mine. II 1
am dead, wish One-siNth share 70 be
given 10 my uncle. William Anstruther
Crossthwaite Manor. Northallerton. York
shire. as "A recOmpense FOR his kindness
10 me during my early life The remain
der Is TO be yours absolutely.
ROBERT ANSTRUTHER
He read this remarkable document
twice through TO make sure that IL ex-
actly recorded bis sentiments. lie even
smiled sarcastically at the endowment
of the uncle who disinherited him
Then. satisfied with the perusal, he tore
out the two leaves covered by the letter
and began to devise means of pro
tecting it securely while in Iris pos.
session.
At that moment he looked up and
saw her coming toward him across the
beach. brightly flushed after her bath.
walking like nymph clothed i'm tat
tered garments. Perceiving that he
was watching her. she waved her hand
and inStinctively quickened her pace.
Even now. when they We're thrown to
gether 10y the eXigencies of each hour.
she disliked 10 be long separated from
him.
Instantly the scales fell from his
mental vision. What, Distrust Iris,
Imagine FOR one second that riches or
poverty. good rcpute or ill. would affect
that loyal heart when it's virginia. font
was filled with the love that once m
her life comes TO every true woman,
Perish the thought,
Laughing at his fantastic folly jerks
tore the letter into little pieces. IL
might have been wiser To throw the
sheets into the embcrs OF the fire close
at hand, but for the uouce he was over
powered 10y the great awakening that
had come TO him.
Good gracious. Don't gaze at me in
that fashion. / don't look like a ghost.
do I:'fcried Iris. when near enough TO
note his rapt expression
You would not object il called you
a vision:" hc inquired quietly. averting
his eyes lest they should speak more
plainly than his tongue
Not il you meant it nicely. But I
fear that 'specter would Doe more an
propriate word. Just look at my best
gown
She spread out the front widths Of
her skirt. and certainly the prospect
was lamenabie The dress was so
patched and mcnded. yer So fun OF
fresh rents that "a respectable house
maid would hesitate before using IL to
clean IRE irons.
lis that really your best dressy' he
said.
Eyes. This Is my blue serge. The
brown cloth did not survive the soak
ing il received in salt water. After a
few days il simply crumbled. The 9th
ers are muslin or cotton and have been
-er-adapted."
There is plenty OF mems clothing"
he began.
Unfortunately there isn't another is
land" she said severely.
NO. | meant that il might be posi-
ole ter contrive some sort Of rig
that VIII serve all purposes"
But all my thread is gone. I have
barely a needleful left"
In that case we must fan back on
our supply OF hemp"
Il suppose that might be made TO
serve she said. You are never at n
loss for an expedicnt."
1T viii be poor one. fear. But
you can make mp for it by buying some
nice gowns at Doucet's or Worth's"
She laughed delightedly. Pertains
in his JOY At my temperance my dear