Year: 1879

was box lost inst evening. Here
it is


Yes, there it was, cleaning once
more in the light which danced gayly
upon it. The ColoHel looked at il
calmly, and asked:
Where was it found p
| His composure was exceedingly
disconcerting.


| Another gentleman, feeling that the
first had done his part, now took up
the parable


1t was found in the very chair on
which you are now seated, Colonel,
be said.


'Yon will remember that the Gen
eral sat there on that night Itmnst
have found its way back to the GEN
erals own hand, aud in the interest
and excitement Of the Generals own
storytelling, he must have intended
TO slip it back into his pocket, which,
if you recollect, was The frst place
where he sought it.


In stead Of that it evidently escap
ed the proper oriEce, and dropped in-
to the covering Of the chair; that COW
ering was very thick aud heavy, end
bung in lappels about his legs. Part
Yof it was unsewo, aud this box drop
ped between the demask and the lin-
ing, and remained there safely ard
unseen till the chair was recovered
last year


Gentlemen, said the Colonel, with
his accustomed calmness, though his
lip trembled little, Il cannot wonder
if some of you thought my conduct
suspicious


i thank you heartily for showing
me your brotherly delight that those
suspicious were nnfounded'


At the bottom of the table sa. the
spiteful old Msjor. Che was on half
pay row, aud more spitelnl than ever
and be thought within himself that
there was no knowing whether Ea-
sign Ransom had not taken some
subsequent opportunity of gsttiDg rid
of bis dangerous booty into the hole
in the damask, and that the mystery
could not be called cleared up unless
the Colonel had explained why he
had demurred 10 the search


And this spi.eful OLD Major would
have ssid as much to his next neigh
Dor, if be himself had not been SO ter
ribly deaf that be could not regulate
bis own voice between confidential
whisper and mighty shout


The Colonel sat in silence come
minutes, and toyed with bis wine
glass, ss if he qaite fOrgo; where be
was.


Then be recalled himself with
start, and, drawing something from
his own pocket, said quietly


Gentlemen, /, too, have something
show you


All pressed forw ard as be carefully
unfolded the soft. paper packet and
laid so aething on the table. What
was What could it be?
1t was The bleached skeleton Of
chickens wing,


sGsrsiones,' be said, in that same
quiet voice, which no longer sounded
cold and stern, but rather foil Of
strength and sweetness, when was
here before, was poor fatberless
lad, owning nothing in the world but
my poor little p;ttance of pay. fear
| was an eyesore to some of you /
think you felt that my appearance
did not do justice to the dignity Of
our regiment.


| believe | often looked rather
shabby, bus really | could not help
it.


| had only one relative In the
world, and that was my mothers sis
ter. After my mother died she had
been as q mother to me, bnt when
our home was finally broken up, there
was nothing for it but she must be
goyerDess in strangers house. And
she did her work courageously and
cheerfally enough till her health fail
ed, and nobody wanted the services
of sick woman.


She had always been good to me
And we two had only each other in
the world / could not help her as
she ought to have been helped, bat
my pay would at least provide her
such maintenance as q very poor
man can give to poor working wo-
man.


took my aunt to lodge with the
wife of the milIer's man, in the little
black cottage beside the mill.


She was kind, cleanly woman,
though rough and plain in ber ways,
and my poor aunt used to call herself
very happy there.


But she could not ca. the simple
, food my scanty means could procure
And the good landlady used to break
my heart by suggesting that her ap-
petite might be tempted by chickens
or game, or such other luxuries be-
yond my utmost resch.
All the day of that memorable din
ner party my aunt bad been very fee
bic aud failing.


When ] left her / really wondered
whether she would be alive when |
saw her again. Ny soul revoIted at
lhe sight of dainties which were Of no
good to ne, and which I could not
convey TO Eer who seewed diving for
want of them


Suddenly bright idea seized ne.
took letter from my pocket and
spread il on my napkin, and then. by
an adroi. movement transferred the
wing of q chicken from my plate TO the
paper. and thence smuggled it to nv
pocket


The listening guests began to lock
at each other with enlighted eyes.
The spiteful old Msjor felt that very
full explanation was being given
and be was glad be was deaf. that be
need not hear it,


Gentlemen, you can all imagine
my feelings when such unlocked cir
cumstanees threatened to expose my
poor little plan.
Gentlemen, there are some Of you
who were, like myself, young then
whom it would have been as bard to
meet after such a discovery as it
would have been had ! really stolen
the jewels


Heaven forgive us, RalsoD, but l