The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-09-27

spoke ana Drew rortn a letter. I'M
folded it and there dropped from it a
little piece of parchment which | in
stantly picked up and extended to her.
but she was SO engrossed in the letter
that she did not see my action and
paid no attention to my outStretched
hand
/ looked at the parchment | held in
my hand. 1t was evidently the half
OF Il larger sheet which had been torn
In two. The right half was in my
possession. 4 glance showed me that
It r-as a part of rudely drawn map
apparently Of an island although lack
ing the other half of that l could not
be quite certain. 1t was lettered In
characters which were very old anu
quaint. and some figures in the upper
left hand corner gave a latitude The
outlines of the map and the letters
and figures were all very dim and
faded
My lady'S letter was a short one fo-
she looked up from it presently. hei
eyes filled with tears. the first | had
seen there. and for that reason | was
glad she should enjoy this relief
suppose the fact that she was So alone
and had no one else induced her to
confide in me. At any rate she extend
ed the paper to me.
Read it, she said Its my ia
theirs last word to me-
l took it from her. and this is what
read:
My Dear Lucy-As an ancient king Of
France once said. Everything is lost but
honor, and that trembies in the balance
/ have speculated. gambled, tempted for
tune. first because l loved it and at last
hoping to win for you But everything
has gone wrong. You are penniless Even
your mothers fortune of which she fool
ishly made me trustee, has followed my
own. Master Ficklin may save some
thing from the wreck. l hope SO. | can
do no more, and perhaps-nay, certainly
the best thing | can do for you IS to leave
you. May God help you since L cannot
Your shamed ard unhappy father
GEOFFREY WILBERFORCE.
Post Scriptum.-The last thing that /
possess is this scrap Of parchment II
has been handed down from father To son
for five generations. The tradition of it
is lost, bat there has always been at
tached to it Il singular value. Perhaps
At any rate. of all that l once had this is
what is left. Should you marry and have
children pass it to them. A foolish re-
guest. but / am moved to make it as my
father made it to me- q. w.
/ read it slowly. 1t was not brave
mans letter liked Sir Godfrey less
then than ever before. Some of tn;
ancient awe and reverence l felt for
the family went out Of my heart then.
Here" said |. lis the Enclosure t.
which your father REFERS
She took it listlessly, but as her
glance fell upon it her face frightened.
Why" she exclaimed, brushing aside
her tears. Il have the other half 1t
came to Inc from my mother. When
she died. five years ago. she gave it to
NE with much the same account as my
father gives. | have never shown it
to any one-never mentioned it even"
why nOt?" | asked.
Il scarcely know 1t was valueless
l attached no special Importance to it,
But now. now
1T is a miracle" said. that the
two pieces should have come together
i'll your hands,
Il don't Yet understand what it all
means she said. but
Meanwhile" said |. may | respect
fully suggest that you get the other
piece and let me look at it,
You she flashed out in one Of
those sudden changes of mood. some
times so delightful and sometimes the
reverse.
Il am seafaring man. as you know
mistress" said | humbly. land | am
accustomed to study maps and charts