The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-03-27
The Diamond Cross.
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A young girl stood at. jewellers counter
cxamipg witli esser cycs flc gems so cnsitng-
Iy arraycd There were all manner of pre-
cious stones, rare and dazzling. aud pure pale
pearls, and creamy canoes. AL were bcauti-
fal, and Agnes turned her gaze from one to
another unable 10 decide which was the mos:
desirable, till 'sudleuiyu small cross set with
diamonds. and twinrd with delicate vine,
flashed It's starry light in her eyes.
.See. mother, see that beautiful, beautiful
cross l.,shc exclaimed. 81 would rather lisyu
that than all the other jewels in the case"
"It is very beautiful" said her mother. ..but
diamonds arc far too grand for my Agnes, and
far too expensive for her fathers means"
.Whatsisssl,c price,, shc, asked tl,c. clerk
hoping. that her mother had over estimated it.
siIsA Andred dollars.', was the answer. IS
With one more look at the coveted treasure,
Agnesaturncd away feeling, that it was useless
TO hoIe to. possess it ! yet the thought of it
would MT lc,.yc her aud she went home rest.
less aud eiissatisacd. "
That evening, soon after the lamps were
lighted, tiIcaloor bell rang, and presently the
servant brought in a small package, and with
it note addresscJt to Agnes Breaking the
seal, the young girl found it to be from a
much, loved uncle, who stated that unrccn by
her he ehal chanced to enter the jewelry store
at the time she was SO eagerly admiring tho
diamond cross, andto crafty himself, ga well
as his niece, he had at once purchased it for
her. The note closed with these words: ~.
nIf ever this gitt, becomes indeed cross, do
not hesitate TO dispose of il"
Agnes could scarcely believe that it not
all dream, aud her fingers tronibled as she
loosened tie ~rarpinsgsa, a.
off ,eyer,shis gilt beeaines indeed eros" "
she repeated as she lifted it from its dainty
case cWhat could my uncle mean and
then as the diamonds threw out their slender
jets of light, she forgot all else in wandering
admiration stsldi
For many days the diamoud cross a
source of much delight. There was scarcely
lover of gems ID tle town who had not
looked at it with longing eyes as it sparklcd on
its downy cushions in tie jewelers. case, and
when they learned that Agnes had become its
happy possessor, they thronged about her with
warm congratulations. 1t was not long, hos
ever, before there reached her, many invidous
remarks made by the very friends vino had
seemed 80 sincere in their admiration Of her
unclc's costly gifa Que said that it was en-
tirely unsuited to her style of face and dress !;
another suggested that she probably knew that
.hcr wealthy relat. ;e was within hearing at the
time she expressed herwish for the cross and
one even ,iinted that after al, the diamonds
were nothing but paste. Agnes sensitive
heart was ,sorcly wounded, and afraid of ex-
citing more remarks of similar nature, she
soon ceased to wear the cross in public, con-
tcnting herself With admiring it in secret
Ono morning there was quite an excitement
made by tho report that burglars were in the
neighbo.s 2od, aud chat SO, oral large roLberies
had been. committed the previous night On
inspection it was found that an attempt had
been made TO break through one Of the base
mcnt windows of Agnes home, but the iron
ibars I refused to yield. Agnes first thought
was Of her treasurc--her cross. What if they
had succeeded in entering, and had robbed her
of tkat ,An6 the fear that something Of the
kind might come to pass, so troubled her mind
that She could take no peace or rest when the
cross was not with her. Unwilling to be seen
wearing IL, She fastened ribbon to the case
"a si,,s i.vid is 4 tss tisy kent it con