The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-01-06

NOahtCA AOk iiCA lAASPCNbAOhs SNAAN
sat down and begged him not to trou-
BILE himself until Mr.. Taunton arrived.
as she could not decide anything with
out him. So she waited quietly. seated
by the counter, with the jewels shin
ing and cleaning in their cases before
her
These are part OF my price," she
thought. as she looked idly down at
them; "a portion of the sum for which
l have sold myself, Well. l may as
well enjoy them. I suppose L have
earned the right to them. They are
beautiful. too. I love good diamonds.
How they sparkle, how they shine.
and yet-and yet-the spray that came
dancing over Chatswell lasher in the
moonlight was far more beautiful. and
I would give all the glittering stones
gladly for one single drop OF that en-
chanted water-for one word from that
voice that is dead to me for ever!"
Would you like the paper. madam ."
said Mr.. McGillup to her.
Irene had seen the morning news,
and did not particularly care to read
the newspaper: but she took the fold
ed sheets from Mr.. McGillup's hand.
and began mechanically TO read the
first thing that came uppermost in the
long printed columns. and it SO hap
pened that 1t was upon the list or
houses to be let or sold that her eyes
rested idly. Suddenly she read ia
miliar name.
"Chatswell-on the Upper Thames
To be sold, by private sale. or by auc-
ton on the 10th inst. A bijou cottage
residence, situated on one of the love-
lest backwaters of the river"
Then followed a minute description
of the house, the rooms. the gardens.
the outhouses. Her heart beat tumult-
uously and wildly; the words danced
before her eyes. 1t was her old homa,
the peaceful cottage in which she had
lived from childhood TO womanhood;
where she lad loved and where she
had lost. ALI that life had held most
dear to her.
And it was to be sold. Sold to
strangersi 1t would belong to others
never again to her-never. never!
Then all at once a bold and auda-
cious idea sprang up in her mind a
private hanson stopped outside. the
door Of the shop opened. and Mr..
Taunton's short and inelegant figure
darkened the entrance. She sprang
breathlessly to meet him. with the pa
per in her hand.
Joel" she cried. calling him, as she
very rarely did. by his Christian name
| in her excitement, Il don't want the
diamonds don't. indeed! There is
something I want you to give me in
stead-something that 1 want SO much
and that ii would make me happy-sc
very happy to have. Look herei" and
she showed him the advertisement.
You want this? This cottage
Irene?" he asked, rather puzzled by
her breathless eagerness
YES. yes: instead OF the diamonds
1t won't cost more. will It? And
should like Itch. ever SO much bet
eefl 1t is my old home-my mother
died there! She Is buried in the
churchyard close by. Oh. Joe, do give
Of the diaInonds."
My dear girl. of course you shall
have it. If you iancy it. What's lit
tie trumpery cottage like that to me.
But you can't possibly have it instead
| of the diamonds. You must have 9
| tiara and a necklace, How are you Il
| be presented next season without them
/ I should like to know? 1 mean Mrs
| Joseph Taunton to have the best Jew.
| elry that money can buy. and to Gu
| all the other women out. But I'll tel
you what / will do. I'll give you thi.
| little place for a birthday present; 1T:
your birthday next week, isn't it?
was going to give you a horse: but 4
| you would like this better. my dear
! you shall have it instead"
| "Oh. ever so much better." she cried
| gratefully. "Oh. Joe, you are indeed
| good to mel"
| And she was nearer to loving him a
| that moment that she had ever beer
before. He was as good as his word
| On the morning of her birthday,
large blue envelope was brought to he
by express messenger; it contained TIT
title deeds of a ninety nine years lease
| OF the bijou cottage residence a
| Chatswell- on Thames, and was made
| out in her name as a free gift from
the purchaser.
\ She little knew, as with trembling
! hands and tear-blinded eyes she eager
ly scanned the precious papers. tina
the first CLEAN of returning happiness
| of life lay lurking within their prosal,
folds, Had Joseph Taunton known
what that birthday present was to LEAF
| to. perhaps he would never have giver
| it to heri