The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-03-30
THE DIAMOND RING.
DY SHIRLEY BROWNE.

catching tho slanting reflection Of
tho afternoon SUNSHINE, as if every
sunbeam lovod to lingor within
tho chrystal-hoartod jewel as the
young girl sat there, her fair head
dropping like lily bell, and the
lashos hanging low ovor hcrflushcd
cheeks.
Cora Vano was worry pretty, with
n delicate retiring Iovolinoss that
you needed to study bcforo you
could fairly appreciate it. Her
hair was brown and lustrous, like
the shining husl< of an October
chestnut, and tho dccp hazel eyes
that exactly matched them in col
or, woro almond-shapcd, and full
Of limpid, changing lights. And
yot, with all these gifts of nature,
Cora Vano had never discovered
that sho was beauty.
"lt's 80 strange that he loves
mo" thought Cora, hor scarlet
lips half apart, and the sweetest
uream-liko shadow Of q smilo how
cring about her mouth. "He, so
wealthy, so high-born, so courted
IN aristocratic circlos, whore poor
little l havo never bccn admittodl
l should almost fancy tho whole
thing to be dream, if it were not
Tor this precious stonc sparkling
on my fingers! !"
And thon Cora Vano loaned her
chcck on her hand, and driftod off
onco moro into tho delicious rove
rios that come to those who have
SGT foot within tholmystic temple
oflovct : = =
1t did SOON not unliko tho phan-
tasmai outlines Of u dream, whom
one came to look at it from q So
ber, everyday point of Wow. Here
sho was, q littlo hard working dai.
~ governcss, earning n modest
livelihood by constant toil--how
could it bo that Alban Carlosford,
tho courtcd favorito of fortune and
fashion, shoul have learned to lovo
hcr--should have won her to prom.
lso to be his wife. And she had
told him, so frankly and freely,
tho story of hor humble life, ovon
to tho brief strange episode Of
Bruce Wayno's love and propo.
sails.
"Brpco Wayne!" Mr.. Carlosford
had repeated ;"You do not mean IN
tho Bruce Wayne who was in tho
Seventh regiment at ono time.
Why l know him we'll p
"Yos," said Cora, blushing, "t
was Captain Wayne. He said ho
loved mo, but he was so fiorco and
passionate that 1 was afraid Of
him. Oh! Alban, 1 nevor could
have fclt towards him rs I did to
you'll"
And Mr.. Carlcsford forgot tho
,"c'p'ent pang of jealousy which
had already entered his heart, con- |
corning this same handsome, rock
less young captain, Bruce Wayne,
and felt happy in tho undoubtinr
certainty that Cora was all his |
own.
Cora Vano was secretly think.
ing Of all thoso things the noxt
day, as sho sat by little Bossio
Maldcn's piano, counting timo for
tho child's unused fingers as thcy
stfaycd regularly over tho. ivory
keys, for Cora had insisted on full
filling all hor engagements for the
1uartoF, boforo sho would consent
TO fix tho marriage day, when tho
school-room dooro opened, and Cap
tain Wayne loungcd idly in.
"Bossio," ho said to his little
noico, ''run and got my gold cyo-
glasses, that's a little gom of girl.
They re in tho parlor, or under
my dressing tablo, or in your
mammals work basket, Or some
wherep' os.*&a
And Bessie, glad to DO roloasod
from tho thraldom of tho piano-
1orto, slipped down from l,or, scat.
and trotted mcrrily away.
Bruce Wayne sat down beside
Tho daily governcss, with a dark.
ening look of caro- uRon his brow. I
"Cora," he said, almost ficrccly, T,
III am In trouble, and thoro is no /
ono to help mo-savo you"
"Holp you ! / +? Captain Wayne,
what can you moan?" ...f
"Cora, | must hayo q hundred ,
dollars bctwoon this and sundown. !