Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-06-14
THE CORAL BRACELETS.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.


Put on more coal, Hawkins said Nina
Pelham, querulously, as she sat in front of
the placing sea coal CRATE, rObed in blue
cashmere morning dress, lined with q
quilted satin Of the same celor. and her
small feet comfortably ensCOnced in blue
velvet slippers. edged with snowy swans
DE- wn.
Hawkins, a solemn and somewhat conse-
queDtial looking servant in sober black,
| obeye6 his young mistress. rather petu-
liant behest, but paused moment after
he had heaped the blazing coal upon the
redhot bars of the CRATE.
If you please, Miss Nina, there's
young person down stairs would like to
see yOu.'
What kind of a person, HaWkinsY
questioned Nina, languidly lifting her eyes
from her work, with some slight appear
aDce of interest.
We'll, Mss said Hawkins, hesitating a
little, she's very genteel spoken-a real
lady. you'd think. if it wasn't that she is
dressed so sbabbily and scant.'
1t isn't the dressmakeIP
No, Miss Nina, certainly not
Nor anybody ceme after the lady's
maids situatiuDi'
mo. Miss; l should say not-she doesn't
look like Iady's maid
Well-show her up
AnG Nina's pretty bead settled back
| among the cushions ui her chair with re
| turning indolsnce. But the instant her
eye fell on the sweet. Though very pale
face Of the slender looking giIl who ad-
vanced timidly into the room, usbered by
the stately Hawkins, che lat upright with
genuine surprise depicted in her coun.
tenance.
Anna Wharton! is it possible that this
is your
Then you recognize me, NinaP said the
stranger, family crimsOning. 1t is 80 long
since we were schOol-mates together at
Madame Sauriat's that ] thought fear
ed-you would scarcely remember me-
sit down. said Nina, rather uugracious.
| ly motoning With her heavily ringed fng.
ers toward a chair. What can l do for
you"
Miss Wharton did not cit down, how
! ever-it might have been that she was res
! PEELED by the extreme GOODNESS of Nina's
manner-bu: went on speaking, in hesi-
| Eating, uncertain voice.
OF course you have beard of our misfor-
tunes, Nina-my poor fathers failure and
death and my mothers subsequent de
cease? p
L had not heard it. SAID Nina, coutem-
| plating her dainty slippers. People III
society have SO many things to think and
| talk about
There is no use. resumed Anna, in try
| ing tn conceal the fact that am compelled
to earn my daily bread by my hands -
! And she added, with slight flush on er
cheeks, heretofore have experienced no
difficulty in comfortably supporting both
myself and my little brother. But since
he has fallen ill
i am very sorry that have no fine
sewing to give you remarked Nina in o
| constrained voice; and really my allow
ance of pocket money is very small that
-
Anna Wharton colored scarlet.
You entirely misunderstood me, Nina
Il do not come here to beg
She drew little morocco box from her
pocket as she spoke, and opened it.
i remember that you used to admire
these Neapolitsn cOrals very much in our
| school days l have been 10th to part
with them up to this time, although it has
been necessary to dispense with every rel
&c of happier times. But my brother is
dying for want Of proper nourishment and
| the Injuries which money only can obtain
for him. l wish to sell the bracelets, Nina,
and thought you might like to purchase
of me-
Nina leaned forward in her chair aud
took the box, her eyes sparkling at the
| sight of the beautifully carved bracelets CT
NeapoIitan coral; all streaked ard veined
with the softest rose color, that lay in the
simple casket. She bad been endeavoring
| for the last year to obtain set of rose
coral. and here at length it WDs; ready to
her hand. But Nina Pelham was wO-
man of the world; and understood the con-
temptible art of making "a good bargain
So she wisely repressed her ecstaoies, and
aeked, with cold indifference:
How much do you expect to receive
for them, Anna WhartOp?'
Papa gave eighty dollars for them in
Italy, and they are as good ss ever
Nina shrugged her shoulders.
'0f course you can't expect to get the
twentieth part of that price for them
now?'
Nina Pelham said Anna Wharton.
firmly, i am at your mercy in this matter,
Whatever you may please TO give l must
accept, for | am straitened by necessity
Name price at once-but, Nina, remem-
Der that you are rich and am poor a
Il shall give you FIVE dollars, and not an.
other cent said Nina COMPRISING her
lips.
Five dollars =
And Anna Wharton thought, with q
sinking heart, of the numberIess little
oaintles she bad fondly hoped to buy her
sicK brother from the proceeds of those
delicate ornaments. ~
Snst as you please observed Nina,
eoioly. 1 only purchase them out of char
ity t. you.' W O""''
Anna silently placed the ornsUor,. =,
the table Decide Miss Pelham. and held ora M
q thin hand, that would tremble a Et,Ia -
spite Of her efforts at self.control. for a., -
moneytNina drew out Of her small silver
portmonie, and extracted therefrom a
orumpled bank bill, which she cooly hama.
ed to Miss Wharton, And they parted
Anna, in her scsnty, muchwOrn garmeuts.
and aching heart, to face the cutting wind