WHO OWNED THE JEWELS? OR, THE Heiress of the Sandal-Wood Chest.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 239, 8 October 1891, Page 10

WHO OWNED THE JEWELS ? OR, THE Heiress of the SandalWood Chest.

JBy Mrs M. V. VICTOB,

jJUranoK of " Born to Betray," " Back to laFg," " The Enemy of the Housb," •• A Father's Sin," Etc. ■

CHAPTER XXXVI. A flirt's reward.

Mr Grey had not been at the Poplars since Mr C.bherwood's failure. He meb George several times, and oxpressed his sympathy > but hei'had a dread of meebing Camilla' now thab ho occupied the relation which he dir'i towards Leora. Hob that he feared the power of the woman he had once loved so tiadly ; but there was something in her manner toward him of lato which had repelled him.

Ho waa repelled by the encouragement which once would have filled b.ini with ecstasy ! The very morning o: tho day preceding iihe one seb for his marriage, he received a _obe from Mrs Lytton, written the previous evening, saying thab she would like to see him, and consult with him aboub the . Duleths, and asking him if ho weuld nob come over to the Poplars that afternoon. 'Oliver was busy, and thought, at first, thab -he would send an excuse; but as this would appear rude, considering how long it had been since he had paid his respects to the Catherwood ladies he made time to go. He waa very happy, as tho little steamer bore him over the dancing blue waves of the bay, with the sscret of to-morrow's joy locked in his breast: happy, nob because Camilla awaited him at bhe end of the little journey, but because another sweeter woman would to-morrow become his wife. When he reached the house, the servant at the door told him that Mrs Lytton was walking in bhe garden, and had left word, would he please join her there. Camilla understood the art of an effecbive tableau. As Oliver wandered oub inbo the garden, he saw her standing by the fountain, dabbling a rose up and down in the water, precisely as she had once stood when his passion for her had broken the bounds of prudence, and rushed into speech. Now, no pulse of his being stirred responsively, when she looked up at him with the old smile in the glorious dark eyes. ■ It is very kind of you to come,' she said, as meekly and prettily as Leora herself cot Id have said it. ' You have slighted us of 'ate.' ' Yes; I musb beg pardon for seeming rv gleet. I have been extremely occupied.' * Wibh your painting ?' ' Yes, Mrs Lybton. I received a liberal commission a few week a since, and have been trying bo execute it to the be3t Of my ability.' ; I knew you would be appreciated in time, Mr Grey,' with anobher of those ■winning smiles which once would have been such delicious flattery. * The hardest ' ebruggde i 3 over wibh you, 1 think.' 'I believeib. : ' While ours has but just begun,' pabhebically. ' Poor papa, ab his time of life, is it ■■nob cruel? He "bears it so much better . than I expected.' * But he will nob really be reduced bo— '" to poverty, Mrs Lytton 2' 'No, nob poverby bo some people. Bub ho will never resume business. Wo have ' had to give up our city honse, or will have to, if I do not buy ib in, which I bhink of ' doing, since poor papa is so much iabtaehed to ib. Hs will have a small income ' —aboub what he used to allow me for pockeb-money; bub ib is nob as badas*ib might be. Mr Lytton, his father-in-law, h as already offered George a partnership with him, I have means of my own, and Ethelda 33 situated mosb prosperously. I think I shall always live with papa, and bake eire of iiim,' darting, a swift look from under her drooping lashes ab her companion. ' Bub . what I wanted to see you aboub was this : Fapa takes quibe an interest! in these Dalebbs. I think ib really worries him thab he has been the innocent means of de- . franding them. By the way, the whole afair is most romantic, isn'b ib ? Ib proves, too, that *' blood will bell." I saw good Mood in tbe young lady the first time I mob her. French barona for ancestors 1 I • declare, I take quite an interest in her'— T.ipping the hob-house rose which she had ' brought* wibh her deeper into the basin, ' and watching it reflectively. ' Had you any particular communication to make in their interest ?' •I thought I would like bo know how the young man was prospering—if he thought 'ot entering college wibh bhe sum I sent bini. Besides, Mr Grey,' quickly and pass/onafcelyo' I wanted to see you 1' 'On business V asked Oliver, slighbly embarrassed. ' No!' with a decided, pefculanb, wilful _?v, very charming bo see—'l wanbed to S e» you. You ought to consider thab lam lonely, shub out from socieby as I am.'ab present—nob thab I crave socieby ! alas ! ' no. The world has very much changed to r_e, within a year, Oliver !' '■ And bo me, Mrs Lybton.' She looked up, vexed and doubting. . Gould ib be that he meant to have her understand thab sho no longer had influence with him ? Her slender foot patbed bhe gravel; she plucked bhe pebals from the poor rose, strewing them over the watsr. * You do nob say anything; you are not sorry for mo !' 4 Ob, but) lam 1 If word of mine could tiing back your dead to your side, you should no longer mourn.' ' Oliver !' she cried, urged beyond her intention by his refusal bo understand her, • thab i 3 past and gone ! I do nob wish it bp.ck. You know thab I never loved Mr Tjytkon. I thoughb I should be happy to marry the man who was my equal rather than the man I loved ! 1 was mistaken. I could nob make fchab fatal step a second ti-ae. In saying this I mean no" disrespect to the memory of ono who was ever fond and true to me —who treated me better than I, deserved —who losb his life striving to pritecb me ! Mr Lytton was worthy of a wife's tenderesb love. Ib was ray fate not to regard him before any obher man in the world. You yourself bold me, Oliver, that ny heart was yours, and would ever remain ao —you taunted me with my love for\ you, for you knew mo better than I knew myselfIs ib, bheu, unwomanly in me ' * My dear Mrs Lybbon, I beg of you——-' «Don'b call me by bhab name,oliver. Call me "Camilla," as twice before you have done when we sbood by this fountain. Oliver, if you despise me for what I have said, it' will kiii me !' Trembling, humble, the proud Camilla stood before him, reaching oub her hands to hold him as he turned to go away. She would nob believe thab sho was humiliating herself in vain. ' You cannot have forgotten me so soon !

SliG had forced the interview upon him. There was nothing to do bub to tell her the truth, a* gently as possible, but firmlyHe pitied her as she stood there, pale and red by turns, wilful as ever, bound to have l ,ier own way, even ab the expense of womanly dolicacy. ' From the hour that you became the of another man ib was my duby to foryen,' he said. 'I was very ill-j-tho coab me my life, within a Ipir'a

hreadth; bub when I arose from thab miserable illness, broughb on by your coquetries, I rejoiced to find thab I was changed in mind as well as body. Ino longer desired the love of a woman wedded to another. Still, I was nob so certain of QiyseH when that dreadful news of your ailliction came, and I thought of you mourning, desolate. I pitied you almost as deeply as I had once loved you. To make sure, however, that I knew my own heart, I was anxious to meet you. Wo have met often. Ab every succeeding interview I have pitied you less and not loved you more, for I saw thab you were willing bo forgeb the young husband in the watery frave, to renew your relations with me. our hearb musb be very shallow, Mrs Bytton, to permit you to do it.' 'Oh, don't say that ! You are cruel to i_e—unmanly ! You know that it is only because I always lovod you—before—Binco —always—thab I turned to you in my loneliness.'

Sho began to sob, in her disappointment and mortification.

'Camilla, I would have prevented this. Bear me witness, I have dona nothing to bring this upon you.' 'You have not!' she cried, bitterly. 'I acquit you of all weakness. I know who has wrought thi3 change. You are false to me because you have found another to love! Miss Duleth has taught you that your eld dream was but a fancy.' ' Sho has. Mrs Lytton. Wo are to be married to-morrow.'

' To-morrow !'

Her lips were white as sho repeated the words. She cluug to the basin with her hands, and stared at him with a blank face.

And thus he left her, saying farewell kindly, but nothing moro, for there was nothing more to be said. Oliver was too generous to want this revenge, but it came to him.

The next morning there was a quiet wedding ab bhe old stone church, nob far from Locust Place. The bride wore a delicabo-coloured &ilk drees—the firsb silk dress she had ever had, by the way—with bonnet to match. Her Uncle James, hearing of the proposed marriage, had given her the outfit, and now insisted upon bho privilege of giving her away. A few of the neighbours around Locust Place were informed of bhe hour ab which the ceremony was to take placo, and took care to bo present. Will had senb special word bo his bwo rough friends, down at tho Battery, and the old sailor and his son camo all the way up to see the ' pretty creature' married.

Tho clergyman who had united so many 'happy couples,' marrying from all sorts of motives, bad no difficulty in understanding that this was a pair of lovers who stood before him now. There was a light, the glow of spirit on those young and beautiful faces which thero waa no mistaking.

Well, they wenb back to the house and enjoyed a handsome little wedding breakfast wibh Uncle James, the only guest.

' Supposing,' said the bride, inspired to make bhe suggestion, we musb believe, from whab followed, laughingly bo her uncle, after all the healths were drunk—' supposing bhab bhe baron's jewels should some time appear, dear uncle. Are you willing to sign off all right to your share in the inheritance, as a wedding present to me?'

' W T illingly, my dear—and consider that I get off very cheaply, indeed,' answered James Duleth, chuckling ; except that such a tradition existed in ' the family, be regarded them a3 a myth.

' Bring paper and ink,' cried Leora. Will brought them, and, amid much

jesting, the writing was drawn up and signed.

' Now I shall hold you to this,' said Leora, seriously, ' if they ever should turn up, for you have money enough, uncle, and we are poor as church mice.'

' You aro heartily welcome to all the buried treasure you will evor find,' said Undo James, and, shaking hands with the newly-married pair, he went away.

The day being clear and sunny, a bridal trip was proposed. Where, think you, did Mr and Mrs Oliver Grey propose to go on this joyous occasion ? To the lunatic asylum.

Ib may appear a strange pleasure-briD bo others ; bub Leora, whose hearb was so full of happiness, longed to sco her father— and, since it had not been deemed prudent bo have him presenb ab the church, to go to him, tell him that she wa3 a wife, and obbain his blessing, if possible.

Oliver procured a carriage, and, leaving Will to keep house, the two, shut up with each other in a little world of bliss, wore whirled out of the city, along a pleasant road, the blue river shining, the blue heaven smiling, until the shadow of the great building foil a little cold on their hearts.

Still this was a sorrow to which they had accustomed themselves ; ib could not interfere too gloomily with the joy of this day.

Presenbly bhey wore admibted to see their father.

Although strict watch was kept ovor Mr Duleth, he wa3 allowed many privileges, his intelligence, refinement, and agreeable manners making him liked by the officers. Ho had never done anything the least violent since he was admitted ; but his insanity was evident, and it seemed likely thab his was an incurable case.

As it was only on certain subjects that he betrayed his condition, one might converse wibh him some bime wibhoub suspecting his disease. He was walking up and down a long hall, reading a book, -when his visitors entered. He was always glad to see Leora, especially as she never came withoub bringing- him some luxury. She had wibh her now a little basket, containing a portion of the wedding feast.

He welcomed them with easy courtesy, calling Mr Grey by name. 'Father,' said Leora, smiling and inclined to weep at the same time, ' we are married. lam Mr Grey's wife now. Wo came out to tell you of it—to tell you how happy we are, and to ask your blessing. Wil you give it, father ?'

'Certainly, my children. May God guide and keep you,' stretching his trembling hands above their heads. ' You could not have made a better choice, Leora. I think a great deal of Mr Grey; I like his pictures; although he was the robber,' he added with a sudden change of manner, ' who stole the chest with the baron's jewels. Ha, ha, ha,' laughing softly and rubbing bis bands together. 'I circumvented him there — nicely! I robbed the robber ! Leora, if you are a bride, you should have a bridal gift. You have been a good girl. You made tine coffee when we were in the cave. I've a mind to make you a handsome present. Come closer and I will whisper a secret in your ear.' Mr Grey looked anxious, and the attendant, standing far away on secret guard, as ever, exchanged a glance with him, and drew nearer.

However, on this occasion, the poor, insane gentleman clotted no treachery. As his daughter came closer, he stooped and whispered in her ear : 'You shall have bhe chesb and all there is in ib. I bestow ib on you, as a bridal gift, with my blessing.' 'Bub where is ib, dear father?' she whispered bapk, more to humour him than because she placed confidence in whab he said.

' lb is in the sand .ifc the entrance to the cay identical spob in which ib was placed a cenbury ago. Look for ib there, and you will find ib. The ruby is in it — the gold, too.' «Thank you, dear father. How good you are. I have broughb you some of the wedding-cake. Will you cab ib now?' He took the basket with the pleasure of a child, nibbling at bhe dainties, and talking

with them until the hour of their visit was over.

As they shook hands with him, in saying gocd-bye, John Duleth began to laugh again, and to make mysterious signs to his daughter that he had another private communication to make.

' What is it, father V she asked, whisper ing mysteriously, also, to please him.

' The key,' he answered ; ' you can never, never, never get into the chest without the key of gold ;'

' And you havo it, I suppose,' Bhe said, coaxingly.

' You're right thero, Leora. What good senso you possess for a woman ! He has never discovered it.' with a swift gesture toward his attendaut —' nor they—no, not one of them. Ha ! I've hidden ib in my mouth, in my hair, in my shoe—everywhere. I was keeping it until I got oub; bub you shall havo ib, my daughter. Ib is the key bo happiness. With this you can have everything on earth for which you wish. I mado it myself. It exactly fits the sandal-wood chest.'

He pub hia hand in his breast and drew forth a medium-seized key, mado of solid gold, the handle of which was wrought with all the skill of an accomplished goldsmith ; it had doubtless been the work of hourd and days in that sea-chamber.

Leora received it wibh almost mute astonishment, kissing the cunning but, alas ! unreliable hand which gave ib to hor.

Then they said good-by, and were driven back as bhe crimson of sunset was converting tho ripples of tho river into roses. Leora, liko a dutiful wife, told Oliver of the secret communication made by her father, adding : ' I believe ho ha?, ab last, betrayed the truth.'

'Ib may be only another of his fancies, my darling. We must not build our castles too quickly this time.' 'No, Oliver. 1 shall not build the lightest fabric of a dream. But I shall ask you and Will to go to-morrow to tho cave, and settle the question. This key has a tangible look, ab all events.'

When the two men did start on their excursion, next day, they took Leora along, half persuading themselves that they went only for the pleasure of a row on the water, and not at all with any expectation of verifying their father's words. They made a picnic of it, taking their lunch with them.

At high noon they entered the cave. Laughingly asserting that it was only to get an appetite for their dinners, they took iip the spades which they had brought with them,, and began digging merrily in the sand at the spob where, once before, Oliver had dug to such good purpose. In about fifteen minutes Will's spade struck something hard. In one moro minute the corner of the brass-bound chest was visible.

'So far, sogood,' he said, turning rathor

pale. Leora, sitting out of reach of the sand and water, with her skirts drawn up about her pretty feet, changed colour also. They hoped, yeb wero afraid to hope, their disappointments had been so many. 'Why, Will, you have lost all your strength,' cried Oliver, andgayly, wibh bhe power of an inspired giant, he freed bhe chest from incumbrance, and turned to his bride.

' Dear children, our fortunes are mado !' Liora sprang up at that. With her own trembling fingers she unlocked tho box. Three eager heads bent over the buried treasures. Thero was the gold—melted and run into ingot?, but good gold yet, worth ibs weighb in coin. And bhere, in an old bin cup, glitbering, glimmering, lay bhe mass of peerless jewels, smiling inbo bheir wistful eyes.

Leora mu3t have been an inmate of the cave at the time the chest was brought back ; it was only another instance of the strength, and silence, and subtlety with which John Duleth had carried out his insane projects. They took the marvellous chest home, rewarded the curiosity dealer for its loss, sold the gold to the jewellers, and some of the gems. The finest were sent abroad for sale.

For a while they hardly knew what to do wibh their wealth. Mrs Grey declared that she was content to abide in Locust Place. But Mr Grey had other tastes, which asserted themselves pretty strongly aboub this time. He bought a house on Fifth avenue, furnished it in an exquisite manner, and persuaded his beautiful wife to dress in accordance with their now circumstances ; the result of which wa3 that he suddenly found his genius appreciated,and himself mentioned among tho ' rising artists." As John Duleth, wise in his madness, had said, the Golden Key unlocked all the pleasures of this world bo the young people. His wife's beauty became one of tho marvels of New York.

Mr and Mrs Grey sometimes met Mrs Lytton in society. After her term of mourning had expired, she resumed hor gay life, soon gaining the reputation of a young widow on bhe lookout for a second husband. Really, Camilla did nob care to marry. Bub her experience had made her a more heartless and more dangerous flirt than ever. Perhaps if bhe painter had accepted her long withhold love, she might have been a faithful wife and better, woman. But after that last scene at the fountain she never again permitted sentiment to embarrass her. After a few years she married a titled foreigner, ai)d went to reside in Europe. John Duleth lingered on for some years, harmless, and not unhappy—his every want and fancy attended to by his children. He is dead now—his death is the only grief which has thus far befallen Leora. Of all the Duleth jewels, Oliver thinks her the most peerless ; whilo to both ib seems as if bheir romance had jusb begun. They inbend it to !:nt to the end of their days. [the end.]