THE EMERALD CROSS

New Zealand Tablet, 3 September 1908, Page 3

THE EMERALD CROSS

'Are you in the mood for a long walk this afternoon, f Elizabeth? Mrs. Clark said we shouldn't leave Manitou without walking through William's "Candri^to the Cave- of* the Winds. "'. ' I am ready for anything !'. Elizabeth "declared.- ,: f The air is so exhilarating that I' feet Tcouid/Tvalk to' theTmooh-!' ' You have inproved,' Janet isaid slowjy/ looking critically at her sister, whose pink cheeks and bright eyes were" 'proof . conclusive of renewed vitality;-- '" * '-> '"■' 'I canot afford to^be ill", J - Elizabeth returned quietly. 'I shall go back to my school.- work:' they first, of the month.' 'Do not do anything rash, dear,' interrupted' the older sister hastily. ' This, tangle -will<^b& straightened out.'- r ■ ' I received a kind- letter-from the superintendent this morn-., ing, saying that my p^lacel?" waiting for me."' " 'O Elizabeth, I $vish you^ hadn't'.'- Janet cried in a distressed tone. ' I amfconfidcntMlie! mystery wilL be cleared up, and everything be as it was, before.' _ - • ;T-;-S ',h •- W 3 S - selfish °/ ■J'n.e to vgive. way to my feelings *nd -become ill,'- Elizabeth V went on' calmly— ' selfish- and weak, asweil as very-f oolish. . No man is worth it.'. .. Janet was pained- to note ,the ; new hardness .Jn the • low voice, and the bitter lines about" the sweet mouth." - r Harry is as mucj. j3^fi!fc-'6vfer, the'^ffaii' "as you are, dean - Do not "allow yourself to-become hard and cynical,' she entreated earnestly. 'I feel sure it will aircome right.' 'I shall; endeavor to retain- my youthful illusions to please you, O most wise and logical counsellor ! ' Elizabeth said laughing unmirthfully. ' Don't, Elizabeth, .please ! ' Janet cried, putting up her hand -vas- if to ward off a blow. ' Our Blessed Lady wil unravel^, tangle, she went on in a low, confiding tone. 'I have' Mwed J and implored -her help, and I am confident she will not^tuJa a ' deaf ear to nffy pleadings. ' _". "-'W&P* ' Elizabeth looked at her si'steV. . There .'.was lometh^lni the clear, confident tones that arrested her attention, awSicenind a momentary thrill of hope in her own heart. ' Well Janet Morley, you certainly have tlfe faith" that moves - mountains,' she said .with a little laugh. Janet said no more.^ She .possessed the rare quality of " E Zhefh I StOP< Her SimplC ' Childl^ ke ' fasth Staled E>abeth m her present mood; so she changed the subject wfll sL a e nn t m "y" y T e V- T' Walk ' eha «-g g-ly, as women will sometimes when their hearts are heaviest - x .'. . Tw ; 0 months before the opening of our story Elizabeth Morlev - received an invitation from Mrs. . Pomeroy,! jo in -her hWe . r* ♦U % a II 88 ™ 3 " bUt con S enial crolva.'tihe wrote- the Merlins : .^^^ Ork€ ' Miss remington, Harry and yourself. . As the* wedding „ to take place so soon, I am anxious to become better ' ■zrff MX^ vfuture niece - So r not *™ - The invitation surprised Elizabeth. She knew Mr* Pn™ roy was displeased when she learned that' her s^^ ■wT h,° T^ " n IdSh Cath ° He * irl > and > agtrl who was obhged to work for her living. -Harry did; not teU he r Mrs Pomeroy had a bride . selected- ■. for' her ne P h ew Z hat <PaoUt c "tO dlSinhnrit hlm " he ,^-ted P in marrying a „ Janet urged her sister to go to the "party " - I ** Wl J d ° f MrS - Pomer^ to-'nvite you,: she insisted-"-kt?^l°\° Ug ht t0 tO be frsendn wUh *•* *« H a rry"s sake .^has-been a second mother,to him/you T,nowr' ' -So: .Elizabeth went ;■ .and it .pr6ved her undoing. M« Ppmeroy, was „ very kind and ■ courteous; yet, someLv her manner reminded Elizabeth of a cat playing with arouse JcU -sinfully: intends to destroy. She was^sh^medorentertatng M' T' and SUCCeeded a - ft^,a fewraays.in^anishing.it g :.. Mrs. Porneroy, entertain^ .royally. . .There- were- gardea - and panic's and private' theatricals, and-on^the iastfnS & g«nd ball. She sent -to town foV some V,f h¥ UU e fs f nd spared no trouble or expense tomake it a brilliint affair' '" ? Late in the afternoon, the day of the Vail, sh^alied. Elizabeth into her room to show her a beautiful emerald cross she had S .had reset with diamonds. It. was exquisitely .beautiful, v E £

beth admired it openly. While she was looking at it, Captain Yorke passed down the hall. • T . - 'Come in, Captain Yorke !'' s^id Mrs." Pomeroy. 'I want. you c tosee my' cioss, -too. ''Elizabeth thinks it very pretty.' ' ' Elizabeth- laid ''the' cross on the (ablq, and picked up Uer shopping bag,- which she had dropped into a chair. Just thci> ' some one called Mrs. Pomeroy. -- • -. ; 1 After all, I'm afraid you will have to look at it another time,' she said regretfully. ''I 'have to attend to some of the decorations,' and shall need your ,assistance. ' They .all left the room together. Mrs. Pomeroy locked the door and put the key into her pocket. • " An" hour, later the Whole household was thrown into confusion and consternation by the report that the emerald cross was' missing. .Mrs. Pomeroy telephoned for a detective, and had guards stationed outside the house, at the same .time giving - orders that the ball should proceed, as though nothing' had happened. Late in the evening it was whispered among the guests that. the cross had been found. Elizabeth noticed' different persons „ turn and look at her, andshe.was conscious of feeling uncorh 1 .' fortable without knowing why. Gradually she bacame aware ~ that some of the guests were purposely avoiding her. But no hint of; the truth dawned upon her until the next morning.'.. At an early hour Mrs. Pomeroy knocked and. entered her .room,-;" closing the door behind her. Her mouth was set in a straight line, and..her eyes wore a look Elizabeth had never seen ' before.- < She wasted no time, but" plunged at once into her subject. 1 After what has occurred, there can be no further pretence of friendship between us, Miss Morley,' she began, in her most 7 -' pompous manner. 'My nephew will hardly wish to marry you now. Out of regard for his feelings, I shall not prosecute. you,' though ' 'Prosecute! What do you mean by using that word in connection with me?' Elizabeth cried, lifting -her head proudly. ' Will you kindly state what I have done to deserve this?' '/ The gentle dignity of the girl's manner surprised and irritated - the older woman. " " '■■*'*. ' You know what it means,' she said angrily. ' The detec- . tive found my cross in your shopping bag, where you secreted ' it, and— — ' ' : ___ Even Mrs. Pomeroy was alarmed by the sudden pallor that overspread the girPs face as she sank down in sudden white- " helplessness. But her heart did not relent. Harry was furious. He • would not "believe a word the ." detective said; and he and his aunt quarrelled outright. -Eliza-- 1 beth proudly released him. .-.^ ' When my innocence has been established, we may talkf : about it,' she told him; -when he pleaded for an early, marriage {/ and no persuasion could move her from that determination.- That' " was nearly three months, before, and the mystery was as much a' mystery, now as/ in the beginning. ' Janet "'chattered gaily. as they' trudged" along the narrow' 1 roadway "winding upward, and ever upward, between jagged walls ; of solid rdek. She called' her sister's attention to the wonderful old castles rising above the high walls, with great turrets] and towers etched against the blue of the, , sky. ' Look, Elizabeth ! There' are even the narrow diamondpaned windows,' she , cried, clasping.^ her hands in sheer delight. ' It is a perfect picture of an old grey, lichen-stained castle.' At each turn ,of the winding road some new beauty burst into view. Elizabeth forgot the gnawing pain at her heartland , was thrilled at the grandeur and beauty of- the scene." Jt Is' • rather* a -stiff climb up Williams Canon, but the "nature-lover is ' fully repaid for any fatigue he may experience. Both. Janet and • Elizabeth were passionately fond of Nature in all her moods. They scarcely realised that they were tired, so thrilled and awed were they, by the wonderful panorama unrolled before their view. ■ 1 If 3'ou are not too tired,' Janet said, after they had' visited the Cave of the Winds,.' we will follow this trail,' indicating a", narrow, steep path leading over the mountain. -The guide told me it leads to Manitou through Ute Pass, past the Rainbow Falls.' .. - . - 'It looks- pretty steep,' Elizabeth said doubtfully. 'See! that lady and gentleman are going back that way,' said Janet, eagerly. 'Shall we '-follow- them?' •'■<•' They climbed up the : narrow trail. The view, from the top was magnificent. They stopped to admire it, x remaining • longer than they realised. When they started to go down on t the 'other side, they looked, for the couple who had preceded \ them, but could see nothing of them, * We shall soon -overtake them,' Janet said cheerfully, "basten"- - ing her steps.

But they reached the smooth burrow trail, and there' was still no sign of them, or of any other living creature. Janet .was frightened. She „was not naturally timid, but the thought of being alone in the mountains'" appalled her.- To add to her alarm, the sun suddenly disappeared behind a bank of clouds, and. a sharp peal of thunder, accompanied by- a vivid flash of lightning, warned them that a storm was approaching., She looked in vain . for shelter, in case the storm" should overtake them. The smooth, narrow trail wound downward between a "high wall of solid rock on one side,- and a sheer precipice on the other.. At the bottom of the precipice a mountain stream dashed madly over the gaily colored 'boulders "obstructing its way, forming' tiny cataracts and , miniature fallsin its headlong flight. The shallow widened - arid deepened," lits low murmuring changing gradually into roar, as they neared the falls. The high wall on the left gradually receded, and a small cabin', dilapidated and half in -ruin, but. offering a shelter from the approaching storm, appeared before them. "-} • ' -o"*^ - - » • ' Let us run ! ' Janet cried breathlessly. ' - -- . But. Elizabeth held back. ' How do we know how many wild animals may be^hiding in that hut,' — she was beginning, when a terrific crash ofthunfollowed closely by -a flash of. lightning, cut short ' further hesitancy. - , They had barely entered and closed the door, when the rain . came down in torrents, -Jt was one of those sudden- -storms peculiar to the Rockies, „ severe while they last but of short duration. In a few j minutes '"tHe sun was shining -again, the water running in small rivulets down '"the mountain side. With a sigh of relief Janet opened the door, and was about - to step out into' the bright sunshine, when a low moan from- " the farther "corner of the hut startled them both. 'What is it?! Elizabeth exclaimed, clutching Janet's arm, but .dropping it in amazement when she heard her own name a weak, supplicating tone. * Miss Morley 1 It' is I— Yorke. * For love of 'God "don-'t leave me!' 'Captain Yorke!' Elizabeth was at his -side, in ran instant: . ' What does it mean? Are you -ill or/ suffering? ' "' . ." /-. He was lying on the" bare floor; there "Was "no" furniture in the hut; his face was pinched and drawn -and flushed with fever. 'Water! ' he 'cried feebly. -'For the love of' God get -me ,some- water ! ' • .;. Janet darted out, returning in an- instant with her drinking full of clear,- cold water. He drained it at a gulp. - -i • 'It is a taste of heaven!' he sighed./ 'I anr burnlngrr;burning — burning! ' . " "' '' - They gathered from his' broken, disjointed sentences that -.he had slipped and fallen over, the side of the mountain two or three days before. Upon "regaining consciousness, he dragged -himself to the hut, where he. had lain in a semi-conscious condition, hoping against hope that some one would find him. After a hurried consultation, Janet started down the trail to fetch help, leaving Elizabeth alone with the -wounded man.. The sunlight streaming in through tfie oper^debr, lay- -in - a broad patch across the rough; 'uneven^ floor, lighting up" every' corner p\- the .miserable, hut/" For/ some time after Janet left them, Captain Yorke lay • with closed eyes, utterly exhausted." Then",' suddenly opening his eyes, and r recognising Elizabeth watching. over him, he cried iri a low, broken tone, a look of wonder, almost of «■ awe, cross- : ing -his ..wan -features : ' There, is a God — there must be a God ! ' • ■ 'Don't talk,' please, Captain' Yorke, Yt exhausts you,'' Elizabeth entreated ; but he did not seem to hear her. * 'I never thought- much about it,' he went on in a painful whisper. • But I know now- there is a God, and He has sent you -to- me that" I" may make restitution before I die.' „ ' Oh, please calm yourself ! ' Elizabeth said in terror. 'Help . will-soon arrive, and you must save your -strength' for the journey.' . " SKe had not the faintest idea .of the nature of the confession h_e was about to make ; but shrank with innate delicacy to . listening to that which must of necessity'Tje painful and humiliating to him. He raised a. weak* hand protestihgly, but lay .s with closed eyes for some minutes, as if gathering strength for " ' f he^ ordeal. - :.;. rr r l loved you the first time I saw you,' he began at. last in „a-wrak voice, looking past her to whore Ihe sun lay bright and warm on the mountain side. Though he was not looking «t ■her, he felt her start and shrink. He caught his breath sharply between his teeth ; but went on, his eyes" still upon the sun-kissed mountain : *

• c Pomerby had every thing — wealth, home, friends, and you I You are the first, woman I ever cared for; and I .determined- to have you by fair means or foul. Knowing Mrs. Pbmeroy's narrow bigotry- and your own pure, proud spirit, I conjectured it was only necessary' to throw slight suspicion upon you tdcause the breaking off of your engagement. 1 " /'?;:/- He paused, drawing in his breath sharply, a spasm of pain., crossing his face. Elizabeth bent,: over him in alarm. < please hush, .Ca t tain.Yorkei.';.she entreated earnestly, a, stranee excitement stirring her. pulses.. • . He lay~for.some-moments-.with' dosed eyes,;- and- when at.length he resumed his story, thegirl was compelled to hsten aSvely-in order to catch the -low, disjointed .. 'Be/eve me-I did not intend-wrongmg you-I -**-«*g. no definite plan. When Mrs. -^oimar^-crfled me 'f°^^ room to look at J ? er cross-I-slipped 5t into your bag-with the intention — ' %V ~~ - --£ - 'You put it in my bag — you?) •- „ , •> '■,"' Elizabeth started back, staring at ' him with wide, horrified - eyes, scarcely believing her owners. - "'Don't!' he said weakly, putting out an appeal^ hand. • I— l didn't mean— l— was-called awa}—and— and— ...His. voice trailed off into silence. . - - ... ' Elizabeth never knew how -long she sat there alone with the unconscious man— whether it was days or only hours until -! help arrived; She felt dazed and stunned and strangely humbled All her bitter cynicism fell from her; and for the first time in her life she found herself envying- her sister's simple, - childish faith. Janet knew, as soon as her eyes rested upon her, that something unusual had occurred during her absence; but no word " of explanation passed betweeen them. -Their whole attention was given to the wounded man, until he was placed in the hos-.i pital and made as comfortable as possible under the cirr-eum.-.. stances. . rv* .. -• ; Elizabeth paced the long corridor for an hour, waiting,.--in an agony of suspense, torn by a "thousand emotions, for'thedoctor's verdict. -Janet, who had gone" to the hotel for her . sister's wrap, returned just as the" doctor came into the hall. . He shook his head gravely. * There is no hope. He has but a few hours to live,' he said, coming to the point at once' in his abrupt way. 'Oh!' Elizabeth gasped, sitting down suddenly. '.He rallied for a few minutes, however,' the doctor con- . tinued, with a keen glance into her white, startled face — ' long '; enough to make a confession, which -I wrote down at his re- . quest. It completely exonerates Miss Elizabeth Morley of a : grave charge.' ' What — what is it?' Janet cried, running to her sister* 'What does it mean, Elizabeth?' " -. . 'It means, dear, that , your prayers have been answered,' *" Elizabeth returned in a , low -tone. ' The tangle has been ' straightened out.' _ . 3% ' Here is the document,' said the doctor, in a business-like tone. ' I was to give one copy to you and send anothervto" Mrs. Pomeroy in Chicago.. He insisted upon the statement" being sent to that lady at once. It is already on its way-.'"';-; 'Oh!' Elizabeth cried breathlessly, a strange expression crossing her face. ' Then can I see him, doctor? I-—T - :want : to thank him, and ' - _" <. 'It is too late, my dear young lad)'. He is past ' all! ;ihat \ now,' the doctor suid kindly but definitely. *He made atonement as far- as lay in his power, and-^we" will leave - him "with his Maker,' he added gently, as he closed the door behind him. " Elizabeth was completely "exonerated ;" but, through her wish to shield Captain Yorke's name, the -true version of the -affair was not made public. Mrs. pomeroy was truly sorry for the part she played, 4 and .insisted upon the wedding- taking place as soon as . possible.'. - On the first anniversary of their marriage, she presented the emerald cross to Elizabeth. . . - , " • ' ' Keep it, dear, and let, it serve as a warning .to your future daughters,' she said, smiling rather wistfully. ' Should they by. any chance inherit their great- aunt's weakness, tell them, history of the emerald °€foss. ' — Aye Maria.