Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-10-15
MORNING LEADER.
DIAMONDS.
BY MRS. MARY J. HOLMES.


I
and his voice trembled as he asked me-
"Where IS she now p
I'm Italy" answered adding that "her hus-
band was said 10 be very wealthy"
Bowing mechanically, he walked away and
year and a half vent by ere saw him again
Then be came among US as our minister The
old white haired pastor, who for so long had
told Us Of the Good Shepherd and the better
land, was sleeping at last in the quiet grave
yard, and the people had chosen Young Walter
Beaumont to iill his place. He was splendid
looking man, tall, erect, and finely formed. with
a most winning manner, and a face which bo-
tokened intellect of the highest orler. We were
proud of him, all OF rs, proud of our clergyman,
whe on the third Sabbath in June was to be or
dained IN the old brick church, before whose
alter he had years ago been baptized smiling
infant.
On Thursday afternoon preceding the ordina-
tion, large travelling carriage, covered with
dust and ladened with trunks, passed slowly
through our village, attracting much attention.
Seated within It, was portly, gray-haired man,
resting his chm upon a gold-heade1 cane, and
looking curiously out at toe people in the street,
who stared as curiOusly at him. Directly oppo-
size him, and languidly reclining upon the solt
cushions, was pale prOud-faced lady, who
evidently felt no interest in what was passing
around her, ior her eyes were cast down, and
her thoughts seemed busy elsewhere was
sitting at my chamber window, gazing out up
on them, and just as they drew near the pate.
| the lady raised her eyes,-the soft brown eyes
which once had won the love Of Walter Beau
mont, and in which there was now an unmis-
lakeable look Of anguish, as if the long eve
lashes, dropping 50 wearily upon the colorless
check, We're constantly forcing back the hidden
tears As this was Cora Douglas come back
10 Us again from her travels In foreign land
she knew me IN a moment, and in her face there
was much of her Olden look as, bending forward.
she smiled 4 greeting, and waved toward me
\ her white, jewelled hand on which the diamonds
flushed brightly in the sunlight
The next morning We met, but not in the
presence Of the old man, her husband Down
IN the lelfy woods, about q quarter of 4 mile
| from Mrs. Belumont's cottage, was a running
brook and mossy bank, oyershadowed bv the
| sycamore and elm. This, in days gone by. had
been our favOrite resort. Here had we built our
| playhouse, washing our bits Of broken china in
the ripping stream-here we watched the little
fishes as they darted in and out Of the deeper
eddles-here had We conned our daily tasks
here had she listened to tale of love, the mem
Ory of which seemed a mOcking dream, and
here as [ family hoped, found her. With &
haii-joyful, half lfmOaning cry, she threw her
| arms around my neck and could feel her tears
| lropping upon my face as che whispered, "Oh,
| LOttIe, LOttie, we have met again - the dear
JId urOOR.-
For few moments she sobbed as if her heart
you'd break, then suddenly drying her tears,
she assumed calm, cold, dignified manner,
| tpch. as l had never seen il. Cora blanchard y
cry coLlf'essas Questioned me OF what 1
had done during her absence, telIiog me, too of
her travels, Of the people she had seen and the
| places she had visited. but not a word said she
Of him she called her husband From the bank
where we sat the village graveyard was dis
cernab'e, with its marble cleaning through the
irees, and at last as her eye wandered in that
| direction, she said-"Have any Of the villagers
died Mothers letters were never definite"
Yes / answered, ''Our minister, Mr.. sum
ner died two months ago."
"Wbo takes his placel" she asked, and as If
/ a suspicion Of the truth were flashing upon her,
her ewes turned towards me an eager and start
led glance.
water Beaumont. He is to be ordained
/ next Sabbath and you are just in time," 1 re-
piled, regretting nv words the next instant, for
never saw I so fearful look of anguish as that
which swept over her face and was succeeded
bv cold defiant expression, scarcely less pain
| full to witness.
She would have questioned me Of him, I
think, had not an approaching fOOtstep caught
| our ear, sending a crimson flush to CoTa's hith-
erto marble cheek and producing on me most
unpleasant sensation, for knew that the grey
haired man, now within a few PAGES of US, was
he who called that young creature his trite-
Golden was the chain by which he had bound
her and every link was set with diamonds and
costly stones, but 1t had rusted and eaten to her
very hearts core, for the most precious gem of
all was missing from the chain-love for her
/ husband, who, fortunately for his own peace Of
mind, was too conceited to dream how little
she cared for him. He was not handsome and
/ still many would have called him a fine-looking
middle-aged man, though there was something
d.sagreeable 10 his thin, compressed lips and in
| tensely black eyes,-ihe one betokening a vio-
| lent temper and the other an indomitable will
To me he was exceedingly pOlite,-rather too
much so for my perfect ease, while towards
Cora he tried 10 be very affectionate.
Sealing himself at her side, and throwing his
arm around her, he called her "a little truant," "
and asked ''why she had run away from him. :"
Half pettishly she answered. because I like
sometimes to be al0ne;" then rising up and
turning towards me she asked if "the water
still ran over the old mill dam in the west
woods Just as II used to do" saying if 1t did
she wished to see II. "Y0u can't 90" she con-
tinued, addressing her husband, "ior it is more
than mile, over fences and ploughed fields"
Tbs was sufficient for Mr.. Douglas was very
iastidiOus in all matters pertaining to bis dress
and had no fancy for sOiling his white pants or
patent feathers. So Cora and set off togeth-
er, while be walked slowly back to the village
Scarcely was she out of sight, however. when,
seating herself beneath tree, and throwing
her fat upon the ground, Cora announced her
intention OfnOt going any farther.
| op1r- ,v,-I, - i, 49,, I o., ,,,,-1,
better" she said, and when looked inquiring-
ly at her, she continued, "Never marry a man
for his wealth, LOttie, unless you wish TO be-
come as hard, as wicked and unhappy as I am.
John Douglas is worth more than half mill
ion, ana yet / would give It all if / were now
the same little gIrl who SIX years ago waded
with you through the snow drifts to school on
that stormy day. Do YOU remember what we
| played that noon and my foolish remark that
would mary for money and diamonds! Woe is
me, I've won them both ~ and her tears fell
fast on the sparkling gems which covered her
slender fingers.
Just then saw in the distance a young man
whom l knew to be Walter Beaumont. He
seemed to be approaching US and when Cora
became aware OF that, she started up and grasp
ing my arm hurried away, saying, as she cast
backward fearful glance-"I would rather die
than meet him now. ! am not prepared"
For the remainder Of the way we walked on
in silence, until we reached her mothers gate,
where We found her husband waiting for her
Bidding me good morning she followed him slow
/ ly up the graveled walk, and saw her no more
until the following Sabbath. 1t was glorious,
beautiful morning; and at an early hour the old
brick church was filed to overhOwing, for Wal
ter had many friends and they came together
/ gladly to see him made minister Of God. Dur
ing the inst part Of the service he was very pale
and his eye wandered often towards the large
square pew where sat pOrtly man and beau
tiful young woman, richly attired ID satin and