Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-13

others but I've kind Of feeling about it,
because Of what my nurse told me-
What did Nurse Adams tell you about
that locket, Nellie dear2n asked Gwen, who
was still busy with her cousins hair. 81
never heard anything about it, except that
your papa had it made for my aunt, aud
bought the emerald from an Indian prince
because she took such fancy to the stone
and he never refused her anything"
That's quite true, Gwen papa did do
that but the princes black servant told
nurse more about it, and nurse told it to
mamma, and that made her so doubly fond Of
the locket. She wore it constantly, and that
makes me look upon it as too good and wise
somehow for me to wear at a party and TO
make myself fine with"
Wise; what do you mean, Ncllie7"
"Well, I'll tell you, IL is this And don't
you 60 and tell it over all the school for
don't care for them all to know and 20 talk.
ing about it. The princes servant, who was
quite a superior kind Of man and knew great
deal about all sorts Of things, nurse said,
told her in his country emeralds were held in
/ great esteem, not only because they were
costly and beautiful, but because they have
the strange power of discovering any false
hood. The stones are said to show this
by burning quite pale aud losing their lovely
colour"
"a superstition nothing more, Nellie"
said Gwen, kindly | don't want to say
anything against your lovely stone and
honor your feeling of reverence for it, but
| do not understand how you can believe in
such folly"
1t was Ovens six months superiority Of
age that spoke there.
Never you mind, said Nellie, flushing
angrily, " | do believe what that dear old
nurse told me, much more than anything you
say"
Then, seeing she had yexed Gwen, she
flung her arms round her and said;
Don't be hurt, dear, I'm sorry was
cross but you must not tease me about this
locket, please. Thank you so much for doing
my hair so beautifully"
Nellie went to the eroquet party, but she
did not wear the emerald locket, nor was it
mentioned again between the cousins.
The examination time was approaching,
the eagerness and ardor Of both the girls were
constantly increasing, aud it did indeed seem
very likely to be hard run as to who should
gain the prize. For once all Nellie's flighti-
ness was laid aside, and with her greater abil.
ity the odds were much in her favor. The
sympathy of the class was with Gwen they
felt it was hard that she who had worked
steadily all the year should be outdistanced
by sudden outburst of energy on Nellies
part. This tacit sympathy had the effect of
ashing all Nellies ambition to yet greater
ardour. She would win, she would show the
others il was not Gwen only who could be
Industrious Day and night Nellie thought
of nothing but her lessons, and the coming
examination, and how she might best contrive
to be ahead Of her cousin.
Gwen did not work any less hard, but her
motives were more honorable; for she thought
of the pleasure it would give at home if she
gained the prize, and thus proved that she
had made the best of the opportunities Uncle
Grifliths had given her. Then, too, perhaps
her brother George would not think her quite
so slow as he said all girls were, and would
allow her sometimes to look into the beauti.
; full books he brought home with him, and
perhaps-perhaps he would let her look on
some day when he was doing what he called
his chemical experiments, privilege he had
Away refused her
So the time passed on, aud the great day
was at hand 1t was the evening but one be-
fore both the girls had been working theiI
; hardest, for it was nearly the last day they
> were allowed to look into their books the
/. day after tomorrow they would have TO de-
pend on their memories only.
Gwen was already in bed, and worn out
, with fatigue was falling asleep, while Nellie
still stood before the lOoking-gass undoing
her thick plats with feverishly hot excited
hands. 1t seemed to her somehow impossible
to be quick tonight, and yet she was very
tired too. She sat down on the bed and begar
i to think. Many things coursed through he
brain the events Of the last weeks, Gwen
a constant kindnesses to her, which she wa
j continually striving to hold before her mem
, ory to keep down naughty thoughts tha
. would rise up and suggest to her to do hel
cousin some harm, She could not feel sure
!, of herself well as she had worked ther,
: were so many things she had learnt last tern
/ when she was not so attentive, the want 0
, which she felt painfully now, and which sh'
a was sure Gwen, who had been uniformly in
dustrious knew.
E What wonderful translation that wa
Gwen had made from the German this morn
. ing NOT wrong word, and so elegant
) put. She could not have done it withou
: . help, it seemed impossible
I Ha what was that shot through he
e brain Frauleir Strumpf said she had
/. complete translation of that work among he
d books. What if she told Mrs. Strayteac
}. that Gwen had been using it But it woul
:. be tcllinga story, for she knew of nothing {
e the kind. No, she did not know II but
e seemed so very likely, it was clearly imposs
e Bile Gwen could have done it so well alon'
It Gwen would not condescend to such NEAR
q dishonorable act, suggested Nelie's bette
n self. People have been known to do meanc
IT things on lesser proyocation, whispered tn
n tempter. So Nellie tripped down stairs sof
d ly and there, on the table near Fraulen
d desk lay the book in question: still cleal
/. er proof that it must have been used. Bu
k Mrs. Straytelace would demand yet clear,
proof, and so, not daring to stop and thin
/. what she was doing, Nellie lifted up tn
|. sloping lid Of Ovens desk and popped tn
o book inside. Then she hurried off to Mr.
l. StTdJlelacc 10 luiOIH dkdiust ntI couhlu'-
ID Mrs. Sirayteace looked shocked when sh
a heard Nellie's account.
Is Il cannot believe it, my dear Nellie" sh
t. said surely you must be mistaken. N
g girl in my school was ever yet dishonorab
IS enough to use crib, and your cousin GIVE
k is the last whom | should suspect of such
n despicable, unladylike action
k 81 But, Mrs, Strayteace,' answered Nelli,
j. 4" saw it in her desk not half an hour az,
and have no doubt you will find it ther
>, STILL for Gwen is gone to bed We both wer
early tonight 80 as to be fresh for tomorrow
70 work, but could not sleep remembering thi
so | came down to tell"
o "Well we will 60 and see. Nellie, but
II hope and trust you are mistaken There al
e few girls in the school whom trust so con
n pletely az | do Gwen Owen, and shoul
b grieye to find my confidence misplaced"
!. She believes in Gwen, like every on
. else" thought Nellie, in whom these word
stirred up increased anger against her cousin
Il. UaIl H., .nea If,, lo;... l..l 80