ws into a solemn frown, "there is only one thing that worries me about

te agreed with her niece. It was the

Curtis's guests. Although the houseboat won't be on the Virginia side of the bay, because the water is much too rough there, we shall probably be crossing over to Fortress Monroe and Old Point and all the lovely places ne

in answer to M

boat party is over. Fortunately, your new school clothes will be suitable for most occasions, as the weather will probably be cool. Somehow I feel uneasy about this second houseboat party. I have a premonition that something will happen to you girls. Your uncle thinks I am absurd. He says

own hair lightly streaked with gray, who was quite likely to be influenced by h

"please come in here. I want to persuade Auntie to do someth

grape-juice. She was determined to help her mother with the jelly

omes to having your own way," retorted M

or and one of turquoise blue. You have always said that Father brought them home to Mother from China just after I was born,

head quietly. She look

the silks until you are older. You have very l

. Nellie would be a perfect dream in the pink silk, and I should dearly love to have the blue. We never, never can need the dresses more than we do now! Why, in two or three years Nellie and I may be rich! Who knows? Wh

eated Nellie. "But I can't accept one of the frock

"I am sorry I mentioned the subject to you. I don't care for the silks

. "I know you wish me to share everything with you, and I thank you just the same. But, Madge, I can't accept

it. You always divide everything you have with me, and

k without emotion. "Besides," she added, smiling in her charming fashion, "I will never we

ousin. She understood the little

y, I can see myself in it this minute, with a pink rose fastened in my hair. But all this time you and I hav

in my left-hand bureau drawer, Madge; you will find the key to your mother's trunk there. The silks are in the bottom of the trunk, wrapped in a piece of old, yellow m

with me, won't you, El

t to make these visits to her mother's trunk alone. "

y out on the elm-shaded lawn, her thoughts busy with the s

ay on a cruise, Madge's mother died at her sister's home, and, as her father never came back to claim her, she had been brought up by her uncle and aunt. This was all she had been told of the story of her mother and father. It made her aunt unhappy to talk of them, so Madge had asked few questions as she grew to young womanhood. But to-day she felt that she would

a longer journey than Madge had to make. It was built of solid cedar wood, with beams a foot thick over head, and put together with great cedar pegs. The attic wa

r did not wish to be haunted by sad memories when she made her frequent trips to her attic

n she came upon a sandalwood box containing her mother's jewelry. The box contained a beautiful and unusual coll

b Madge knew to be a beetle sacred to the Egyptians. She wondered if the beautiful set of jewelry had an unusual history. Madge put the comb in her hair, then plunged deeper into the lavender-scented trunk. Under a pile of old-fashioned gowns she found the bundle that she desired, tied up in yellow muslin just as her aunt had described it. Tucking it under her arm she hu

is dress. It must be trimmed with an old collar of Venetian point lace, which was one of Mrs. Butler's heirlooms. Then she unrolled the blue silk. The material to be used for her frock was a Japanese crepe. It ha

o the light and propped it against the back of a worn-out chair. Then she w

had learned many things. There was a hint of tragedy in her charming, wayward nature. The friends who loved her knew that her path through life would not

d father. With the strange jewels in her hair and about her throat, the beautiful blue robe around her sho

her silks, took off her jewels, and turned from the wi

ilks on the top of the old cedar chest and sat down before the trunk. What strange influence drew her back to it that day Madge could never exp

that had been her mother's. Impulsively Madge caught it up and pressed it to her lips. After a long moment she laid it across her lap and began smoothing it with loving hands, tenderly tracing its l

it through the cloth. "It feels like a key. If I

ough to admit the working out of the little hard object. As she had guessed

d her mother sewed it into the sleeve of the black velvet coat? Or had her mother placed it there? The lit

ich I have overlooked," she reflect

r at one side of her mother's trunk, sat down beside it. One by one, with reverent hands, she lifted the various garments from it, piling them over one another on the paper. But when the tru

of miles from here. It can't be the key to the trunk; it is too small." She bent forward to examin

cared to admit, even to herself, as she replaced the contents of the trunk and, reluctantly shutting down the lid, gathered up her treasures and went down the s

e jelly, was to show them the little key. Then the same strange influence which had forced he

the first time. Eleanor was delighted with the prospect of possessing an evening gown of the rose colo

e an hour later, as she rose to go to her room, her roll of b

are going to use the silks you might as we

the older woman's cheek, then she walked quietly

to her mother's trunk," remarked

adge the truth concerning her father and why he had never returned to the homestead, but not now. Sh

began taking out the ornaments, spreading them on the table before her. To her eyes, unaccustomed to the sight of jewelry, they made an imposing array. When the last trinket

ted. "Why, it has a keyhole! I never noticed that before, it is so far d

had the key been secreted in the sleeve of the black velvet coat? After all, it might not fit the lock on the box. If it did, then her secret was not really a secret after all. Madge reached for the object of her cogitations and inserted it in the lock. It fitted. She gave it one quick turn, then endeavored to pull it out. It stuck. Madge held the back of the bo

several closely written sheets of paper. Unfolding them she saw only the salutation, "B

himself an honor to the Navy and the Flag he had sworn to serve. She experienced a curious thrill of satisfaction at this thought. Tearing her eyes from the beloved name, she went back to th

d went on with the letter. When she had finished it, she took up the little black book. Her tears fell fast as she perused its pages. It was her fathe

supper bell brought her to a realization of her surroundings. Tenderly she laid the book and the letter in the secret drawer that had held them so faithfully, inviolate from the eyes of the world; then, loc

until I find the man who spoiled my father's life. And when I do"-Madge's red lips se