Beulah - Page 197/348

She ran up to her room, threw open the blinds, looped back the

curtains, and drew that mysterious package from her pocket. She was

very curious to see the contents, and broke the seal with trembling

fingers. The outer wrappings fell off, and disclosed an oblong,

papier-mache case. It opened with a spring, and revealed to her a

beautiful watch and chain, bearing her name in delicate tracery. A

folded slip of paper lay on the crimson velvet lining of the box,

and, recognizing the characters, she hastily read this brief

sentence: "Wear it constantly, Beulah, to remind you that, in adversity, you

still have "A GUARDIAN."

Tears gushed unrestrained, as she looked at the beautiful gift. Not

for an instant did she dream, of accepting it, and she shrank

shudderingly from widening the breach which already existed by a

refusal. Locking up the slip of paper in her workbox, she returned

the watch to its case and carefully retied the parcel. Long before

she had wrapped the purse in paper and prevailed on Clara to give it

to the doctor. He had received it without comment; but she could not

return the watch in the same way, for Clara was now able to attend

regularly to her school duties, and it was very uncertain when she

would see him. Yet she felt comforted, for this gift assured her

that, however coldly he chose to treat her when they met, he had not

thrown her off entirely. With all her independence, she could not

bear the thought of his utter alienation; and the consciousness of

his remaining interest thrilled her heart with gladness.