The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-09-16

She looked up at him with startled
eyes. THE family jewels! But surely,
| am not the person to have them. Mrs.
| Herbert
He interrupted her: Mrs. Herbert
wore them when she was the heirs wife.
Now she has nothing to do with them.
You have taken her place"
Il don't wonder she hates me-" she
said with emphasis. Then, with a sud-
den overwhelming sense of shame. "Oh.
what must you think Of me, accepting so
much from you ~
James Stewart had once been told that
he should have been doctor, he had such
soothing power over nerves.
| Its hardly wise to waste your strength
on opening up that question just now.
We are on the field of battle. 1t will be
a victory for you to wear the emeralds
to dinner tonight
| His treatment was wise, and her self
control was recovered.
"The emeralds," she said; II only
hope they aren't very wonderful"
He laughed. They are indeed. The
necklace and aigrette are historical. The
wife of Sir James the cavalier fled from
him and from Orkwell for fear that he
should let them go into King Charles
treasury. The bracelets are of later date,
but considered nearly as valuable Mrs.
Herbert will be as green as they are when
she sees you in them"
"But do you think it's fair?" Mathilde
protested. He was not to be moved
"All fair in war, and this is war, re-
member. 1t was not l who began it, and
l am only fighting for my rights" His
| face had grown stern again as he spoke.
But we must not keep my father wait
| ing. He said seven, and it struck just
now Will you Gomez"
Down long corridor they went to a
part of the house shut off by baize doors,
hushed and still, with heavy curtains,
and dim with shaded lights, where in an
invalid armchair sat the helpless old man.
There was nothing unattractive about the
invalid a rich down quilt covered his
helpless limbs; his thin, white hands
moved freely, and the clear-cut features
that might have been carved in time-yel-
lowed ivory wore a kindly smile.
As the door opened, the white head was
eagerly turned towards it, and one hand
was outstretched in anticipation.
Come in, come in, Jem," said feebly
impatient voice; come and let me see
my new daughter"
The feeble old age and the word
daughter" touched a recent sore spot in
! Mathilde's heart, and with an impulse
hat was wholly genuine, she came swiftly
forward. and kneeling by his chair, where
the light from the shaded lamp fell full
upon her, laid her two hands on his.
"Oh, will you let me be your daughter?'
she said, with the pathos of her uncon-
scious loneliness.
The old man gazed at her for mo-
ment in silence, then he said, in broken
tones, MY dear child, my beautiful child
James, why did you not tell me how beau
tiful she was? She is the right kind OF
mistress for Orkwell," and the pride OF
race strengthened the weak voice.
Il kept it as a pleasant surprise fol
you, father" the son answered; and Ma
thilde could tell from his voice how
pleased he was.
With a sudden. shy fear that her i'm
pulse would have seemed to him but act
ing, she would have risen, but the ole
men said with a OBTAINING grasp: mo
no, my dear, stay here in the light and LEI
me see you. l want to see you in tn,
family jewels. Jem, hand me the case
with the emeralds.'
What woman could suppress a word Of
admiration at the sight of that wonderful
necklace. lying on the white velvet, witt
the aigrette reposing in the middle
"Oh, how beautiful % Mathilde breath
ed, and Sir James touched them with lin
gering fondness.
Yes, Jem's mother wore them. fifty
years ago. when she was presented. Yor
must wear them at the drawing-roon
next spring. Put them on for her. Jem
Then and there, Mathilde would hav,
gladly sacrificed the necklace to hav,
prevented that deep wave of crimson tina
dyed her face and neck at the touch o.
her husbands hands.
With the light streaming full upon hel
she was powerless to hide il, and sh,
knew that Stewart must notice it, though
he gave no sign, fastening the clasp will
a quick, light touch.
There, what color ii gives you 20 tn,
old man said, triumphantly. "Now, Jem
the aigrette."
This time she was prepared, and with
light movement was on her feet.
"Oh, let me do it at the glass. III,
will rumple my hair she said gaily, anc
he handed the ornament to her in silence
When she turned from the glass though
he held bracelet ready, and she put ou
her arm for him to fasten it on.
There, father" he said, stepping bacl
to view the general effect, IL think that
| Oh % 20 fh< Dc ho1
we put them back in their cases!" b.
asked. watching Sir James intently.
mo, no." his father answered hurried
| ly, as though keeping his courage to tn
sticking point II want her to wea
them to dinner tonight. shan't be there
but shall know how she looks, and shall
think Of the times when your mother wor
them. The other things she can look a
tomorrow But, my DEAR" he went OIL
with timorous grasp at her hand, "yoI
won't mind Flora sitting at the head o
the table, will you? 1t wouldn't seen
kind, would it?'
He looked up timorously at her, bu
showed instant relief as she responde,
warmly:
"Qh, no, l wouldn't dream of anything
else"
That's a good girl A good GIRL" an
be patted the hand he held. Thank God
there are some children left me My DO.
is gone, and your boy is gone. The chill
dren taken and the fathers left. Co
send US children in the old home again
my dear. The place is dreary withou
children's voices, dreary," and the scan
tears Of old age fell.
Mathilde stood there, decked out in he
splendor. but with fierce shame burning
in her heart. The cold touch of the jew
els on neck and arms felt like the ma
terial touch of her disgrace. But Stewar
was quick TO come to the rescue.
I'VE must not tire my father any NOR
now. We will come in the morning
And with a tender good night that sooth
ed her heart, he let them go. They walk
ed in silence some little distance befor
Stewart spoke:
How can I thank you enough for you
manner to my father. You have com
pletely won him.
| L. %lo,