Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-11-10
5an gniertsiing Galt,
AUNT JANET'S DIAMONDS.
IN TWO CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER I-Losr.

ing, my love; il Ger tainIy Is old fashioned
4 bet the ssste is very good, and the stone
ssre pssticularly besutifui. Directly you be
come my son's wife. shall give them up Il
scl. sa'r 81
ssYou wonder / should like to part Will
them stany time of life! The truth is, fo
ell their beauty, they affo.d me very little
pleasure; their sparkling brillisncy recall:
the saddest events of my life. | shall jus
have time TO tell sou the story
'Thess 1isneots wese a gift from my
Aunt Janet, my mothers sister. was LEFT
On orDssn ST an early age, and went to live
with Aunt Janet. She had very pleasant
house on Clsphsm Common, with large
garden; and she possessed an excellent in
come, arising from various sources. Aun'
Jsnet was widow, and her property hat
been left By her husband under her control
She hsc no children, and she brought me uI
as her daughter; not that was by that
means spoi led; in truth, was by nc means
.as great . fasorite as a little cousin OF mine
losish Wilson. child of my own age, whu
ueed 10 come and stay. occasionally with US
On the plea of little Josiah being visitor
4 gss si~syss forced to sige way to his
whims and fsncies, and let him be first in
every thing. Even at that early age, am
sorry to say, | began to dislike my cousin;
s9d my dislike was increased to hatred BY
his beiEg constantly held up. to ME as 8
pattern child. L believe thai losihh was
naturally beiter. behaved than / was; but
eyen 81 that early age. i could perceive that
be was parsicu'arlyi sly, and always took
care to put on his best behavior in my aunt's
presence. i can recollect, too, ! was con-
siantly punished for his faults; he used
ssoutly to deny every thing; it was useless
fof me TO speak; he was always believed,
and j received the punishment. ~.
when nv aun, purchased these diamonds
tosish and mysel: were taken as great
treat TO the; shop-a very old established
jewelers. in town. was ,oo young at the
time to know any thirg about the value Of
diamonds, but perfectly .recol!ect seeing
the man in the shop show this very set to
my aunt for her approval. After some de.
mur at the price, she gave check for the
money, and took the dimvnds hume with
her in the carriage.
sIt happened on that day my aunt was in
xcelIent humor With me; and while JosiaL
and myself were playing in her dressing
room, she called me 10 her, aud put the di.
smond necklace on my neck, in order, a.
ehe said, to see how 1t looked on another
person. was delighted at the glitter, ant
ran off to survey myself in the glass. My
aunt promised me. in reply to my express
sions of admiration, that if grew up goot
girl, those diamonds one day would be mine
Thercupon, Josiah began TO cry furiuusiv
and he declared, with childish .vehemeuce
that he .couid have the diamonds.
Il suppose this early recollection woult
meyer have come to mind, but for its con
neciion with subsequent events.
sAs we grew older. Josiah was sent Il
school, and we only. met during his holidays
At these periods, he was always spoiled b,
my aunt, and his chief amusement wa
plsguiBg and teasing me; any appeal to m
aunt was useless, ior she always took hi
part. When Josiah's education was finish
ed. be was placed in stockholders ofic
= 10 sesra the busiuess5 aEs 10 my tismay,
was arranged that he should reside with Us
However, matters did not turn out so un
pleasantly as ] had anticipated. Josiah
whenever we were thrown together, wa
civil and courteous; and though | neve
eould tolerate his sly manner, and the falls
way in which be treated my aunt, yet W
cGntrlved, on the whole, 10 live harmoniou:
ly together.
.At last, Josiah came OF age. lrecollet
how surprised was, on the morning of tn,
day, when he presented me, in the presene
of my aunt, with a very handsome braccle
AZ he was my cousin, and as we had bee
30 much together, l never dreamed fer
moment that there con.d be any Significant
III tie gin, and saw from my sunt's mann,
that she would have been hurt had refuse
.it.sh Ny aunt gave a grand party in hon'
of tae birthday, and was still more su
,prised 70 find that, all Josiah's attention
we're paid TO ne, although there we're seve
slyery pretty girls present. who. kne,
ssvedld have been nothing 10Th to receive Il
addresses of Mrs. Wilson's favcrite nephe,
this most unexpected conduct great
leabarrsssed me; Independently of my pos
ssiye .disiike for Josish Wilson, my teelin
,1hers set ina particular direction. Il W
dresdfully sdistres,ed lest Mr.. Hun,ly shou
-fancy TIA, 4 was erati6ed ,wilhsmy cousin
attention: and taerz 4 found that my au
had been whispering here and there mystic
.ously that my new bracelet was Josiah
present. would have given anything
.ear il, from my arm, and strove as much
possible 10 bury it in my dress.
The truth came out next morning. Af
l had read to my aunt, as was our custo
the lessons for the day, she spoke to me
serious tone. She felt she was growi
old, she said: in the event Of her death,
should be left without protector; it "
the dearest wish of her heart to see
yosiah's wife.
T trembled at her words, for knew, W
all her kindeess, that my aunt was of VI
determined disposition, that she could ne
bear to be thwarted.
i replied that Josiah's conduct had ne
led me to suppose that he regarded me o
er than in the light of sister. 'Ay,'
plied nv aunt, Il have talked the mat
over with your cousin, and he confessed
he has liked you very mush' for years p'