The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-06-15
THE CORAL BRACELETS.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

"Put on more coal, Hawkins" sale
Nina Pelham, queruleusly, as she sat il
front OF the blazing sea7coal CRATE, robec
In blue cashmere morning dress, linec
with quilted satin of the same color, anG
her small feet comfortably ensconced in
blue velvet slippers, edged with snowy
swans down.
Hawkins, solemn and somewhat conse-
quential looking servant in sober black
obeyed his young mistressr rather petu
liant behest, but paused a moment after he
had heaped the blazing coal upon the
red-hot bars Of the CRATE
'lf you please, Miss Nina there's a
young person down stairs would like to
see you."
"What kind Of a person, Hawkins ?''
questioned Nina, langnidly lifting her
eyes from her work, with some slight ap-
pearance of interest
"Well, Miss" said Hawkins. hesita-
ting little, 'she's very genteeI -spok en-
"a real lady, you'd think, if it wasn't
that she is dressed SO shabbily and
scant"
'It isn't the dress ma ker? as
Mo, Miss Nina. certainly not"
Nor anybody come after the lady's
maids situation ?''
."No, Miss, l should say not she
doesn't look like a lady's maid"
'Well---show her upl''
And Nina's pretty head settled back
among the cushions of her chair with re
turning Incidence But the instant her
eye fell on the sweet, though very pale
face of the slender looking girl who ad-
vaneed timidly into the room, ushered by
the stately Hawkins, she sat upright with
genuine surprise depicted in her counter
ance. -
"Anna Whartonl Is 1t possible that
this is you?" Sa' D!a ~ i7a
"Then you recognize me, Nina?" said
the stranger, family Grim 'oning 'It is
so long since we we're schoolmates togeth-
er at Madame Sauriat's that | thought
L feared-you would scarcely remember
me-"
"Sit down." said Nina, rather uncra-
ciously motioning with her heavily ringed
finger toward chair "'What can l dc
for you ?" " @9a aa7f ~ i.
Miss Wharton did not sit down. how
eyer-it might have been that she was
repelledby the extreme coldness of Nina's
manner-but went on speaking, in hes
ltating, uncertain voice.
"Of course you have heard of our mis-
fortunes, Nina-my poor fathers failure
and death and my mothers subsequent
decease ?"
81 had not heard Of it." said Nina, con
templating her dainty slippers ''People
in society have SO many things to think
and talk about!''
"There is no use, resumed Anna, sin
trying to conceal the fact that l am com
PEELED to earn my daily labor by my
hands. And she added, with slight
flush on her checks, 'heretcfute l have
etpstisHcsd no dificultyir comfortably
supporting both myself and my little
brother. But since he has fallen ill
81 am very sorroy that have no fue
sewing to give you," remarked Nina, in
a constrained voice; ''and really my al
lowance of pocket-money is SO very small |
Anna Wharton colored scarlet.
''You entirely misunderstood me, Nina
Il do not come here to beg" ..--
She drew a little morocco box from her
pocket as she spoke, and opened it.
Il remember that you used to admire
these Neapolitan corals very much in our
school days. have been 10th to part
with them up to this time, although it has
been necessary to dispense with every relic
of happier times. But my brother is
bying for want of proper uourishment and
the luxuries which money only can obtain
for him. I wish to sell the bracelets,
Nina, and-I thought you might like to
purchase them of me.
Nina leaned forward in her chair and
took the box, hec eyes sparkling at the
sight of the beautifully carved bracelets
of Neapolitau coral; all streaked and
veined with the softest rose color, that lay
in the simple caskst. She had been en-
deavoriug for the last year to obtain
s.t of rose coral, and here at length it was
ready to her hand. But Nina Pelham
was woman of the world, and unders TODD
the contemplate art of making "a good
bargain" So she wisely repressd her
ecstacies, and asked, with cold indiffer
ence:
"How much do you expect to receive
for them, Anna Wharton?"
Papa gave eighty dollars for them in
Italy, and they are as coed as ever"
Nina shrugged hsr shoulders.
"Of course you cant expect to get a
twentieth part of that price for them
now?"
sNina Pelham" said Anna Wharton,
firmly, II am at your mercy in this mat
ter. Whatever you may please to give
must accept, for [ am strgitened by neces
sity. Name price at once-but, Nina,
remember that you are rich and | am
poor" ~
II shall give you five dollars, and net
another cent, said Nina, COMPRISING her
lips. .
Five dollarsl''
And Anna Wharton thought, WITH
sinking heart, of the numberless httle
dainties she had fondly hoped to buy for
her sick brother from the proceeds Of
those delicate ornaments.
"Just as you please, observed Nina,
coldly. 7 only purchase them out Of
charity to you"
Anna silently placed the ornaments on
the table beside Miss Pelham, and held
IL Al L "a J