Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-02-05


ut this very instant. and open the
ilagon must"
"Me. too" added Fanny.
81 suppose that Is the best way"
agreed I'VE are the last Of the race.
and none ~ US Is married. Let us at
least satisfy our curiosity"
"BeSdes that. we must divide the
contents or decide upon the ownership
OF the fagon. since you will not recog.
uize that have an individual claim"
Amelia drew silver penknife from
her pocket and opened shining blade.
"Or that have "a claim" put In
Fanny decidedly.
"Or mine" added.
I'VE must compromise" Amelia's
voice was growing colder. and invol-
unfairly | drew nearer the crate and
poked the fire into greater warmth.
Let us divide the contents into two
! parts and call the fagon itself third
part. each Of us TO agree 10 be entirely
satisfied with her share. Do you
agree?"
81 do" said Fanny promptly.
"Sight unseen" queried.
Amelia nodded emphatically.
Every well. agree"
81 am the eldest shall take first
choice" began Amelia, with slight
flush on her lovely face. Il choose
half Of the contents Of the fagon."
Il am next" cried Fanny eagerly.
~ VIII take the other half Of the con-
1 nj safb aN xtsa rrf
choosey" she asked inagnnnimously.
IL will take the silver fagon."
responded humbly. and they seemed
very well satisfied
We gathered about Amella's chair
rs she clipped at the sealing wax with
her penknife She flung the crimson
bits into the fire, and il made little
white hot sheets OF flame that darted
| up the black mouthed chimney Ike a
short life that is quickly burned out
or woman's fragile beauty that flares
for brief period and then dies away.
leaving gray ashes
When the wax was broken and the
stopper had been with difficulty loos-
ened from the slender neck of the YES
sci In turn we peered down the slen-
der orlfice and saw nothing. We shook
the ilagon and heard nothing. We
turned 1t upside down. and nothing
happened.
ut is empty" said Amelia. with a
white face.
perhaps the jewels are stuck fast
to the bottom" I suggested. You
know they have been inferred for
century"
Get your curling tongs. Fanny"
commanded Amelia, dartlng hostile
glance IN my direction.
| ! looked into the glowing Goals, won
dering ut the magic OF possession that
had seized upon US three cousins who
had been loving friends from child
hood Here we were wrangling over
| the possession Of silver tiagon 70
which we had scarcely ever given a
thought In our busy lives. Thanks TO
Grcat-aunt Hannah. we were rich be-
yond our widest dreams. and still we
could not he satisfied without prying
into Dorothy Fabyan's silver iiagon
Fanny returned with the long silver
tongs that were used to wave her
straight black hair. They should
reach to the very bottom OF the Jug"
she cried excitedly.
Once more we bent above the silver
iagon while Amelia thrust the tongs
carefully down the slender neck and
after a painful interval drew forth a
folded slip Of yellowed paper covered
with fine pointed chirography.
Fanny and Amelia leaned back pale
| and breathless while ! spelled out the
spl1ery words that explained how Dor
othy s'abyan. that clever housewife Of
so many decades age had discovered
most wonderful complexion wash
"Clcopatra's Balm Of Beauty" she cali
| ed IT, To this marvellous face wash
she ascribed her own exquisite beauty.
| The ingredients were almost impossi.
BILE 10 obtain IN those primitive days,
and she had even sold her precious
| jewels 10 obtain the necessary ele-
ments Of the balm Now. she passed
the secret of its making TO her own
| daughter and afterward down 10 the
coming generations Of the women OF
her family. and. as II the mere pos
session or the recipe sealed within the
silver ilagon could impart magic
spell upon its owner. the Fabyan WON
en- had been famous for their wonder
full beauty-all save poor Great-aunt
Hannah aud myself
what greater jewels doth any Va
man possess" concluded the old. old
letter. than diamond eyes, teeth Of
pearls. coral cheeks and ruby llpsi
These jewels you will find sealed
within my silver fiagon."
ran NY eye over the carefully
complied directions for "Cleopatra's
Balm OF Beauty" and ere | reached
its close Amelia uttered n little angry
cry and snatched the bit OF paper
from my grasp In an instant IL tiut
tered into the fire. and my exclama
ton OF distress brought both girls TO
my side.
"You could not care for that silly
ra.tua gsfhar - wondered Funny