gift, but as a loan for my mother's benefit; and so help me God! I
will not owe it to you one moment longer than by hard labor I can
earn and return it. Goodbye, Gen'l Darrington."

She turned toward the closed door leading to the library, but
raising his cane, he held it out, to intercept her.

"Wait a moment. There is one thing more."

He took from the tin box an oblong package, wrapped in letter paper,
yellowed by age, and carefully sealed with red wax. As he held it
up, she read thereon: "My last folly." He tore off the paper, lifted
an old fashioned morocco case, and attempted to open it, but the
catch was obstinate, or rusty, and several ineffectual efforts were
made, ere he succeeded in moving the spring. The once white velvet
cushion, had darkened and turned very yellow, but time had robbed in
no degree, the lustre of the magnificent sapphires coiled there; and
the blue fires leaped out, as if rejoicing in the privilege of
displaying their splendor. "This set of stones was intended as a
gift to your mother, when she was graduated at boarding-school. The
time fixed for the close of the session was only one month later
than the day on which she eloped with that foreign fraud, who should
never have been allowed in the school. My wife had promised that if
your mother won the honor of valedictorian, she should have the
handsomest present ever worn at a commencement. These costly
sapphires were my poor wife's choice. Poor Helena! how often she
admired them!" His voice faltered, and he bit his under lip to still
its quiver.

Was there some necromancy in the azure flames, that suddenly