The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-11
The Split Cameo.

tumbling and glittering on the bare lapse
of yellowish beach /; one or two sails gleam-
ed far off in the hazy distance; a flock Of
white winged birds were sailing heetly
along the unshadowed blue of the heavens
fresh, salty breeze rushed in through the
window at which Miriam Leigh was sitting,
and tossed the golden curls of her. little
five. year-old nephew who stood by her side
The child was leaning forward to examine
tiny bunch Of trinkets that hung from
Miriam's watch-chain.
''What is broken, Arthur
"This pretty stone"
And the boy, holding up the bunch of
trinkets, showed her one which was larger
then the rest-the fragments of pink
cameo, without setting of any kind. On
its surface was carven a tiny white rose,
the leaves and stem of which were evident
ly with the missing fragment
Miriam Leigh's FACET was a pale,
gentle looking face, framed in silky, chest
nut hair, and lit with dark gray eyes
flushed crimson for NOM mt.
''It has been broken for six years, Ar
thur she said, addressing the boy, though
seeming to address her own thoughts, and
speaking in low, dreamy voice. SIT was
given me, this fragment here, by friend
"a very dear friend-on leaving me for a
long, long journey
"What pity" said Arthur, in the same
grieved voice.
"What is pity?' Miriam asked, smil-
ing family "that the cameo was broken,
Or that my friend went away"
Both" said Arthur, after moments
demure hesitation. Then he added, sud-
denly, speaking " ith great childish earnest
ness: "Was your friend lady or gen
tleman, Aunty?'
Another flush of the pale, thoughtful
face.
'Nurse and Hetty are on the beach yon-
der, and l think are looking for you, Ar
thur. HadDt you better 60 and join them 7"
''But you haven't told me, aunty, wheth-
er it was a lady or a gentleman" persisted
the incorrigible Arthur, looking up curious
ly into Miriam's eyes.
"A gentleman, Arthur r'-spoken in
scarcely audible tones. s'Nurse sees you"
she added, and is beckoning for you to
come"
Arthnr obeyed nurses signal, aud Mirri-
am, left alone in the vacant hotel parlor,
leaned her head upon her hand, supporting
her elbow upon the window-sill, and sat
thus for ten minutes or longer, musing ST.
lently.
At the end Of that time, her married
sister, Mrs. Quintard, entered the room.
Mrs. Quintard, it may be well to state, was
a tall, dignitied, handsome woman, who had
married prosperously, and execrated senti-
ment. She seated herself at Miriam side
and began speaking in rather severe tones {:
''What sentiment have you been talking
to Arthur, Miriam, about that ridiculous
cameo which you persist in keeping?'
did he repeat what said?' Miriam
asked.
She spoke calmly now; there were no
secrets between herself and sister,
'.Of course. You know what a gossip
that child Of mine is. wish you'd throw
that cameo away, Miriam, and make an eff
fort to forget that absurd affair, of six
years standing, with Maitland Morse"
1T is no longer an affair, Julia" Miri-
am uttered the words without apparent ef-
fort, and in a tranquil voice. Maitland
Morse is dead I; there can be no doubt of
his having been lost at sea. We know
positively that the Cleopatra was wrecked. y
"But your hopes were not said Mrs.
Quintard, with an odd mixture of sternness
and humor. ''The Cleopatra left you a
spar to cling to, Miriam, whatever she did
for poor Maitland Morse, on going under
the sea. Shadowy timber, l must own,
however, and apt to swamp you one OF
these days in the dangerous ocean oflife-!ong
celibacy.''
''Were there any arrivals this morning r
Miriam asked, bent upon changing the
subject.
Eyes Ogden Haight came down. By
the-way, Miriam, I think he is very much
taken with you. | trust that
"Please don't ask me to be civil to Ogden
Haight, JULIA" said Miriam with little
smile Of mock WEAKNESS. "Anybody else r
YES another gentleman. Tall, not IN
handsome, and bearded like q pard.' !
don't know his name, but he seems really to
be somebody"
''Is it the gentleman who is walking on
the beach yonder, with nurse and Hetty and
Arthur asked Miriam. She pointed out
Of the window IN a certain direction while
speaking.
eyes" ; Mrs. Quintard said. ''Arthur and
he seem to be excellent friends already. 1t
is wonderful what expansibIlity that child
has
"There's such nice gentleman at the
hotel Aunt Mirry. He builds the beauti-
fullest houses said Arthur, stumbling lit
tie over this important superlative.
"Builds houses?" Miriam asked, puzzled
at the child's remark.
She was upstairs in her own room now,
putting the finishing touches to her after
noon toilet before the glass.
"Sand dhouses," Arthur exclaimed patron
izingly.
Here followed several sentences Of pane
gyric on the gentlemans architectural pow
ers, to which Miriam listened absenty.
Five minutes later, Mrs. Quintard, Miri-
am and Arthur were standing amid quite an
assemblage of hotel guests, on the wide high
pillard piazza of the - House. The
occasion for this assemblage was the mo-
mentarily expected appearance of the pas
senger coach from L. Station, in