The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1914-03-05


ending just as surely atsthe temple.
"What was the young wife's
name?" she asked.
"I don't know. His diary is full
of her beauty and sweetness and
accomplishments, but it never men
tions her name. He had his own
names for her-Sunbeam, Starlight,
Heartsease. Love like that should
not die when the bodies of the lov-
ers are dust"
Glow do you know that it does?"
she demanded. "How do you know
but their souls are living again and
loving just the same?"
She had so many strange
thoughts, this little Frances, and
she had so many moods-gay, seri-
GUS, learned, childlike. How l loved
her. l could not wait much longer
to tell her so, but 1 seemed to lack
the right words. One day in the
temple / had been long silent,
though l had not realized it till she
interrupted my thoughts most
saucily.
"1 wish that it could speak, for
it looks so very kindly that it's
voice must needs be pleasant " she
quoted.
'It is going to speak," l said,
turning suddenly toward her, but
she pointed, laughing, toward the
door.
Down the path of the pines came
my sister, eager, breathless, waving
letter.
"a secret drawer in the wall,
back of my wardrobe!" she gssped.
"And three nights since she has
been here has Frances dreamed OF
finding letters~
saw with a curious feeling the
peculiar chirography of my ances-
tor. / read aloud:
'Iook under the threshold Of the
temple, thou man of my own blood,
but think not to appropriate to thy
self what thou shalt find there.
They are for her whom thou lowest
as 1 loved my own Caprice"
NDig, dig~ exclaimed my sister,
dropping on her knees and trying
to pry up the step with her bare
hands. Don't sit there and stare
at each other, you two. Let's find
what's here"
1t was not hard task, for time
had loosened the marble steps till
they were easily removed. 1t was
an exciting moment when my SIS
ter's eager hands dragged to view &
small iron box.
"Open it, brotherw she cried.
"Jewelsw cried the sweet, eI-
cited voice of my dear girl.
I have always admired my sister,
but never more than at that mo-
ment, when her curiosity must have
been well nigh uncomfortable. She
cast one swift look at US two; then
she started up the pine path.
"I know that careless Martha is
letting the bread burn," she called
pack over her dear motherly shoul-
der.
1 took string of diamonds from
the box and put them around my
sweetheart's neck. An amethyst in
its quaint setting / pinned at her
white throat, coronet Of pearls l
placed on her golden hair. On her
slender, trembling fingers 1 put
rings-rubies, diamonds, emeralds.
On her pretty arms / hung brace
lets of queer design, and then l
fastened her girdle-dull gold, set
with great white opal which broke
into marvellous colors as my sweet
heart touched it reverently. When
I had finished, she looked Like q
sweet barbaric princess. I knelt be-
fore her, kissing her hand.
Gall yours, my queen" | whisper
ed, t'for I love you as be loved
Caprice"
aMaybe I am his Caprice" she
answered dreamily, "and maybe you
are he."
"Tel me that you love me, deal" !"
/ pleaded.
She put her fowerike face to
mine.
'My first thought of you and my
last are the same, beloved" she an
swered. "And the thought is this
that you have a heart for whose
belated waking queens might keep
vigil"