The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

[ALL BIGRTS RESBEVBD.) THE BLUE VASE. By FERGUS HUME ittthor of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," The Red Bicycle," The Rainbow Feather," "The Manor Mystery," &c. A girl carrying a basket looke(I expect- tntly over the neatly-trimmed) hedge sepa- rating the dusty road from the cornfield. Earth and sky were brilliant with hot Au- gust sunshine, but a soft wifid, stirring the xeail of grain into golden waves, somewhat ijooled the air. Bet Taylor was the village blacksmith's daughter, a tall, &trapping wench of massive proportions, dark-haired and dark-eyed1, with cheeks as rosy as her teeth were white. Although her father de- sired her to" stay at ihome and) look after the house, gipsy blood on the mother's side sent her wandering about the country as a ped- lar. In her blue gown, tartan* shawl, and aggressively flowering hat. she looked attrac- tively picturesque. Sam Ingram, a proper gipsy, ioving her exuberant comeliness ,and flamboyant dress, thought so; but George Salwin did not. And it was George who now skirted the meadow leisurely. He would have avoided the girl if possible, as she loved him over much for his comfort. But, preoccupied with thoughts of another maid, more delicately beautiful, M did not notice Bet until she faced him across the hedge. And then he did so with some dismay. "Goo'-day, George," said Bet, always on her best behaviour with the young farmer. Twigged1 y' acrost th' field. Didn't expec' me?" "No," replied Salwin, coldly, and1 walkedi 3n biting his nether lip. Miss Taylor kept level with him on the other side of the hedge. I'm gladi t' see y', George, I am. Thought heaps of y', I hev. "Think of Sam instead." "Don't want t'. You're th' rye fur me." "See here, Bet." George paused, to em- phasise his words. We may as well under- stand one another. I'm engaged' to Miss Warton." That Jenny gel," muttered Bet, between her teeth. "Ho, yus, I thort so. Fust 'tis me, then 'tis her." It never was you, Bet. I always loved Jenny." Yer fether won't let y" marry her. She, ain't got money," retorted the girl, who knew very well the rumours of the elder Sal- win's avarice. "Yes, she has. "Her uncle sent her a dia- mond ring worth hundred-j of pounds. Salwin was goaded into saying this, if only to stop Bet's obstinate wooing, although he disliked talking of affairs which had nothing to do with the girl who vexed him. "Why can't- you marry Sam Ingram?" lie to do with the girl who vexed him. "Why ean't you marry Sam Ingram?" he asked irritably. u "He's p, gipsy." So are you." "Half of me is." Bet tossed her head. "T'other half's Gentile. Your tether ;;ts y' to marry money, George; but lasc's better nor money. Y' come along wi' nip, an' git a. caravan an' go on th' road." "Oh, d'rop it," retorted Gcorjo once more, and walked away. Bet did drop it. She had believed that the elder Salwin would nev 'v <>m«nst i<-> 'a match between his son and Wait'n's daugh- ter, because f the money Ijl:J!. d ro had cherished thoughts of becom.'m; Cp-iye's wife herself. So great was ner passion that she ooter- mined to marry Salwin somehow, in sp,it0 of his plain speaking. So as to make sure about tho diamond ring being in Jenny's possession she went straight to Warton's farm. Here she adopted a Machiavel-iaiv pol:cy, and EB- lected a present from her basket to pro- pitiat.e the pretty girl who hung over the homestead gate watching for George. Goo'-day, Jenny deary," said Pet, pro- ducing a common vase of blue glass an- offering it to .the girl graciously. "I he brought thil. George to!e me as you an him's engaged. Ony wutli sixpence^ 'tis, dear heart; but I wish y' all manner o' luck with it for th' wedd-in' I You are kind, Bet," she said quite frankly. I "I'd be kinder if I'd th' money," lc¡;J'c:l I Miss Taylor, looking at Jenny's hand to tec if she wore the diamond ring. I do hoar as you've come in t' some of late, deary," and again she looked for the ring, which v. as not on the girl's finger. "I never knew such a village for gossip," said Jenny, with a vexed air. Bor.t tell th' trewth, then none ken go behind it," suggested Bet, artfully. Truth, or no truth, it's my own business." "An' George's, surely," suggested the z, other girl softly. Y' clid,n't marry i, ii, wi'out th' cash, deary." "You've no right to say that, Bet." "Tain't me as ses it, deary, but th' whole village. 'Tis well known as old Salwin wanLs Georgo t' marry money." He marries me," flamed out Jenny, tartly. Who hev money, for sure, wi' diming rings. But maybe that's a lie." "It isn't," retorted Jenny, goaded, as Sal- win had been, into confession. "My Uncle I Giles, in India, sent me a ring worth five hundred pounds. I'm going to turn it into I money and marry George. His father has consented." Becose 0', th' ring." Bet nodded and shifted her heavy basket from one arm to the other. IIai 'Ti1 well t' be you, (:a.ry. My blew vase I'll keep it as a wedding present, Bet." Aye, y' may—if th' weddln' comes off. Hc,-ill' th'- ring it do; lose th' ring it don't. Hai I can pen a dukkerin wi' th' best. 'Tis in m' blood." The ring is safe enough," murmured Jenny, uneasily; "and if it was lost George would marry me just the same. He loves me." "Y'll show m' th' ring, deary? Next time you come here," promised Jenny, and then Bet really went away. Unaware of the serpent in their Paradise, the lovers were entirely happy and went d'own the primrose path rejoicing. s Jenny showed George the blue vase, which she had filled with flowers and placed in the parlour. The cutting of the hay was la.te this year, and even though it was early in August, Far-' mer Warton still had two fields to mow. George helped him, and this was soon done. But when the hay lay in swathes rain threat- ('n and it beaame the (question of the hour how to gather it in before it got wet. To avert the danger, Warton. his labourers, George, extra, men, and even women, headed by Mrs. Warton, toiled in the far meadows. It earne_ aboiu ^hat Warton's Farm was de- serted by aTT save Jeony. She stayed at home to feed the fowls a-n-d watch the house. Then came Bet's chance to ruin things ag they were, for constantly she had been on the watch. With a smile on her face and hatred in her heart, she appeared at the door of the shingle fowl-house, where Jenny was attending to the chickens. Although still l'i:1:t out or doors, it was so diark in the towl-liouse that -Jenny had lighted a lantern to see better. What slit- did see by its light was the sti il'ng face of Miss Taylor. Deary," sid the me an' Sam's goin' t' be married, an' come IIp t' say goo'-bye. He's out here ion gin' t' eee ye." Ingram, a tall, agile gipsy, handsome in a dark, brooding way, bowed and scraped and smiled in a manner alien to his usual habits. Suspecting no harm, Jenny came out to face the couple, and gave her hand to each. That it was warmly grasped and held longer than was necessary did not explain to her that they were both feeling for the ring. Xor did the looks of disappointment exchanged en- lighten her. Jenny's thoughts were taken up with the sudden announcement of the marriage between her visitors. "I iiope you'll be happy," she said, ear- nestly—" as happy as I am." "Oh, me an' Sam u'll be thai," said Ret, cheerfully. "We've got our bags )i)' tiekc-ts ail' ,o t' th' next town, where a Nw,.Tts us. Carn't get married' here, Jenny deary, as fether won't hear of me bein' Missus In- gram." "An' I thort," struck in Sam, who V.T-S chewing a blade of grass, as Farmer S: win was like Bet's fether along o' you an' th' Joun rye." "He was, as I had no money," assented Jenny, with a happy laugh; "but s'nee Uncle Giles sent me the ring he has qriio turned round. I'M have' five hundred pounds, and perhaps more, to give to George when we marry." In the half-light Sam's dark eyes glistened with greed, but he feigned disbelief. "I don' believe th' ring y' tork of is wuth so much." Oh, Sam, how can you say so?" cried Bet, assuming to be shocked. Jus' show tts th' ring, deary, an' then he'll see." Still, in the dark as to the sinister motives "hich actuated the couple, Jenny readily agreed, and, thrusting the lantern into Sam's hanrl, ran into the house to get the ring. Bet and her man exchanged looks of con- gratulation. I'll grab it while y' hold her," said Sam, hoarsely. Pertend to put yer arm roun' her, fond-like, and then-" Thia agreeable conversation was abruptly ended by Jenny herself, who came swiftly out of the house with the ring on her finger. She waved her hand. ga:iy before her two friends, as she believed' them to be, and Sam took the candle out of the lantern so as to see better, for the rapidly gathering clouds made the evening darker than usual. In the i i light the great jewel set in the ring flashed gloriously, and the two robbers drew long breaths of greed. 'Tis wunnerful," cried Bet, with a stealthy glance at Sain. '• Five hun'red an' T I "Nearer s-even hundred, George says," replied Jc-nnv, 'delighted by the praise. "Eh, deary"—Bet's treacherous arm stole I round the girl's neck—" t' think as yer mar- riage depends upo' tliet ring." She tight- ened her grip. "Don't. Bet," Jenny tried to twist away; "you're hurting IllE" mean t' screamed the blacksmith's daughter in quite a new voice. 0 m' tlll ring For a second Jenny was paralysed, then suddenly realised her danger. Craft came to her aid, for she recognised that she was alone and powerless. "Don't hold me so tight and I'll take it off," she said, with pre- tended pettishness, and Bet was quite de- ceived. Sam took a stq; nearer, still holding the candle, while Bet passed her tongue over her dry lips and bent eagerly to see Jenny take the ring off. All at ouee the farmer's daughter dashed the candle from Sam's hand and sped like a hare towards the house. The candle, still lighted, fell on a heap of loose straw near the shingle fowl-house. Heedless of a possible conflagration Bet and her man set off in purstfit, with hoarse cries of rage and of baffled greed. Their path to the i house was lighted by the crimson flames of the burning straw, which speedily set alight the fowl-house. Jenny new like the wind, and tried to shut the door; but the pair were too quick for her, and dashed inside. The girl ran along the passage to dart into the I parlour and lock the door. A minute later heavy blows on the panels told her that the robbers were trying to force an entrance. With a quickness of invention born of dan- ger, Jenny dragged forward the old-fash- ioned sofa and pushed it against the door. Even if the lock yielded, they could not en- ter while she was thus protected. Then she staggered to a chair and fell into it in a half- fainting condition. "I must do something to bring George," she thought, trying to brace herself to meet the worst. "The lamp" That signal might bring help from the fields, so she lighted the'large lamp and set it on a small table 111 the window. But already, although she knew it. not, her lover was on his way, with the labourers and War- ton, for the streaming flames of the fowl- house had been to them a beacon of distress. Meanwhile Sam and Bet, knowing that their time was short, hammered persistently at the door. They forced the lock and found the sofa barred further progress. With the inbred quickness of a Sam abandoned the-attempt and rushed outside. "The win- der." growled Sam. "Come along, Bet." In two minutes they were smashing the I window, and before Jenny could think of a new plan to hold her fort they were in the room. Wifli a scream of Bet j plunged towards the girl and ber in 'I n mighty embrace, while Sam seized her hands and tore at her fingers. The ring I gone! NNIliere is't? Where is't?" he demanded, black with rage. Gie's th' ring!" j *Xo! No! No!" gasped Jenny, struggling vafrantly. Where is't?" screeched Bet in her turn, and slapped her captive's face. "Where you won't get it," gurgled Jenny, on whose throat were now Sam's cruel hands. "It's—mime." C-r,*t,tiii,, her teeth Bet looked round room, but could see no sign of the ring. Her eye caught sight of the blue vase which .-he had given so treacherously to her victim, ami she made for it to sweep it off the mantel- jxeee. "Look on t' flure-t' flure," said Sam, fiercely, while he struggled with Jenny, who was fighting silently and viciously. She's let it drop." on her hand when she come in," muttered Bet, and dropped on her knees to scramble about, searching. "Where is't; oh, where?" Distant "houts,. growing nearer, told the pair that help was at hand for the girl they were trying to rob, and the noise made them rage impotently. I'll scrag y' if y' don' tell us," growled Sam, furiously. "Shan't! Shan't-! r ou shan't set it. "I .shall!" shouted Bet. groping blindly, "When y' lose th' ring lose George, fur cash, his fether 11'11 nivir L.t y' marry him." She rose with a fierce look, and grasped the hlue vase to throw# at Jenny. T"l eo ft,.i- na t Dry up," cried bam, tigtitenmi* j| clutch on Jenny's throat. Leinme job, carn't y'. Hai I I r ti lie might well use the gipsy express'0 k George crashed through the v. in«0^ -.0 j flung himself on the man. Bet, still the blue vase, retreated towards t,' goo -1 against the door, and' tried to (trn w;th one hand. Why she held on to the it was difficult to say, but hold on "jjt L unt'l Warton and his men thrust door and seized her by the arms. In jiI .e1¡ minutes Sam was prone on his back a,¡øI 8<>?( was in the grip of angry men. Mrs. VyP sif& rushed in through the broken door to. up Jenny. ,11!f>¡ "My child! My cliLcd! She is del1 tt- "No, mother, I'm still alive," Jenny, and was helped to her feet. wanted "my ring. What brought vou iB cf George?" ft !l The fowl-house is on fire," said lover, hastily. "But the ring?" till "Is safe," said Jenny, and Sam | his teeth wfth rage, while Bet. unable I restrain her anger, flung the blue v8" ff.. V Thank you," cried the girl, "ulJp strange smile in her flushed face, and p-j. up the vise. You've given me what I v:l!' ,/f j It While tlte two robbers were held by S;;t p men, and the faces of all expressed euri jj 8to() as to the meaning of Jenny s Ile Hi "tilted the h ue vase upside down. File h I w'th its glittering stone, fell into the paløJøtl r4 liri- liaiid. From Sam there came a gr Mil from Bet a howl of rpge. o "Oh, and I had it, I had it the; screamed, struggling. Jf ft() "Yes, you had it," retorted Jenny. SW T flipped it into the vase just before y broke in by the window. I knew you w0 look there. And you, Bet, provided me >, the h'ding place, for you gave me the r9. Oil Bet burst into tears. 1 And," added Jenny, "knowing notf truth, "you have given me George, for S out this ring and the money it bringS, Soli¡ could not marry George." al1 "I'd marry you in any case," said(ljj| lover, and folded Irer in his arms. brave lass." to Tie kissed her before them all, while J pn still weeping, and Sam, still swearing,. h 1\¡:e taken away. Thus it came about that" to the two robbers were in the dock, the to lowers were at the altar, with six ht'11^ d pounds in the bank. And eonsp!cl^J amongst the display of presents at the "t<i? ding was the -blue vase which Bet had to Jenny to her own undoing. Many ? *^4 It during her twelve months of prison £ ,«4t Bet reflect on that, and remember thau yf Ob) happiness cf those she hated came fro3* i ,ln 1 own generous act. Fate is so ironical. Mop LT.čE END.] a —^ S

A WELL OUT AND MAP* BREECHES ] IS A NECESSITY.^ g I j Write for Patterns Pot t free. I 1, jf jf v{j w»-1"*1 -J&' #| f fell if5 ) t] I MI | lj { J i; f_\ 1 I u OR BREECHES MAKING IS AN AR1; We Make a Speciality of These. GARMENTS all Cut and Made on the Premises. f Only Experienced Workmen Kep" Q vn MORGAN & LEWIS, Tailors, Brecon. ALL KINDS OF INSURARJCF-S EFFECTED. CLAIMS PROMPTLY SETTLED Agent for Several First-Ciaa Companies- W. WILLIAMS, (| Accountant, Insurance, and General AgetJ I SENNTBRIDGE Office 14, SHIP ST., BRECOAN. GWILLIM'S MAGGOT LOTION. FOR MAGGOTS IN SHEEP. Kills instantly. Does not injure the wool and the Fly will not attack after its use. I In handy tins, 1/9, 3/ JIG, 7/6. I oLY OF Walter Gwillim, M.P.S., I Agricultural Chemist. BRECOS.