[96]

“OH, THEY ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL,” SAID MARY

“Here is a note in the bottom of the box,” said Mary, drawing out a sheet of folded paper. Nowadays she did not dread Aunt Nan’s notes as she had done at first, for she began to think of the queer great-aunt whom she had never seen as one of her best and kindest friends.

“To Mary Corliss” the note was addressed, and it read:—

These are my jewels, Mary, since you have found them—my mere jewel stones. But by this time, as I hope, you will have learned the greater beauty of my other jewels—the real “Gems from Shakespeare.” You will know, if you have done as I wished, that books are the best treasure of all. And that in poetry—especially in Shakespeare’s poetry—are the most precious gems to be found in this world. These so-called precious bits of stone and pearl have never been of any use to me. I have never worn them. Why I have not sold them long ago, I do not know. Perhaps[97] because I wanted to play this one last joke with them, for somebody’s benefit. They have been waiting here in this secret place for years. Now I have played my last joke, and you shall do with the “Gems” whatever you please. I hope you will be a wise girl.

[97]

N. C.

“What do you suppose Aunt Nan meant by that last remark?” asked Mrs. Corliss wonderingly. “The pearls are far too splendid for our Mary ever to wear. I should hate to see her flaunting them, Owen.”

“So should I!” said Dr. Corliss fervently. “They are grand enough for a princess to wear at a court ball. What do you say, Mary?”

“Oh, they are very beautiful,” said Mary, “but I don’t want to wear them, any more than Aunt Nan did. Father, do you think it would be right to sell them? I’d like so much to have the money to help us all—and perhaps there would be enough so that I could go to college, too.”

“That’s my daughter!” cried her father, hugging her proudly in his arms. “That is what I hoped you would say. I can see no possible reason why you should keep the jewels. Evidently Aunt Nan did not care for them herself, and you have no association with them except[98] through her. They can do you no good, except in one way. So my girl will be able to go to college, after all, as well as my boy. I am so glad!”

[98]

“Thanks to Aunt Nan—and to 

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