The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-10-01

nothing 10 do with it. She liked his
songs, his voice, his face, the things he
said, and she gave q little smothered sigh
now and then when she remembered
that she was not beauty like Maud or
Elsie. He would like Elsie, of course.
She must not think of him, she must
dive him from her mind, and she stroye
hard to do 30, while the other girls pitt
ed themselves against each other, and
beWildered the young millionaire as man
was never bewildered before. For years
he had seen no female society, but had
lived the life of q hermit and the sudden
dawn Of all this young beauty upon him
made him ready to exclaim:
"HoW happy could I be with either were tother
dear chaHmer away
First he made love 10 one girl, then to
the other. Innocent little Grace had her
share Of tlattery and smiles, and all New
port declared that the diamond man"
would surely marry one Of them.
At last climax came. One evening
Maud stole to her room with diamond
ring on her finger. The next Elsie had
one in her pocket book, and on the third
little Grace had a great glittering thing
under the candle fame, and whispered
II wonder what he meant by it %
To Elsie the young man had said some
thing about diamonds matching her
eyes boot 1s.t
To Maud he had said that this diamond
would, for the first time, become precious
If she wore II,
To Grace nothing of the sort. At first
she had refused to take it, but he had an
swered:a
~ gave your sister one last night"
And then she slipped it on her finger.
A tear as bright as the little gem fell
upon it as she hid it in her casket where
she kept her ornaments, and asked heav-
en- to forgive her if she still cherished q
thought that 1t would be wrong If he be-
came her sisters husband.
"Girls," said Charles, that evening,
coming into their parlor, "Ive come to
give you a warning. There's story
aflOat about yonng Edmunds. They say
his diamonds are all paste His servant
told some men at the hotelso, Youmust
be cautious, you know. 1t may be true.
He may be an impostOrp n sa'.
| Maud started. Elsie grew pale. Grace
looked indignant. The entrance of some
stranger stopped the talk, but not the
consideration ofthe subject, and later on
when all therhouse was still, Elsie sought
an interview with her cousin Charles,
and showed him her ring, and told him
It's story lrI'd -'HI ''t 3-nAl '.'.h
RIt win be as we'll to have it tested"
she said II don't want to make any
mistakes"
you're a cool girl" said the consin, in
admiration. "Pll have the thing donep
An hour afterwards another ring was
in his care. Maud had brought him hers.
But Grace never thought of doubling that
the glittering stone on which she had
dropped tears was genuine. 'Ilr
Cousin Charles went city-ward that
day, and returned very pale and serious.
He bowed coldly to young Edmunds as
he passed him on the piazza; and Elsie
and Maud knew what had happened
when they had looked at him, but each
went for the. jewelers. verdict all the
same. As rendered by Charles, it was
this.
paste, by Jovep - 5.' 2"
Then the girls waxed furious. They
exchanged condolences. They told little
Grace, and Cousin Charles did his part.
Society had cut Mr.. Edmunds before the
next night came, and the landlord regar-
ded him doubtfuly, as one whose bill
was not likely to be paid. Only one
friend stood by him-it was little Grace.
One day, as she saw him walking on the
beach, sheiwent to him and held out her
hand. rt- ,.....
"Mr. Edmunds," she said, "I want you
TO know that I-not that am anybody,
but still don't believe that you knew it.
! The old gentleman that left them to you
deceived you, / am sure. Please to tell
every one so. Iknow you never could
be an adventurer, and it is not your fault
/ the diamonds were false, and thought
I'd like to shake hands and say So" y
"Thank you," he said, holding out his
I hand. 80 you don't doubt me? p"
I mo" said Grace. "I don't see how
any one can" .' .'.''I '..... .-N'
"Yet knew those were bits of paste
I, when Igave them, said Mr.. Edmunds.
/ ~ knew that they were not genuine dia-
mohds. Yes Pm as bad as that. What
I now, Miss GTacie?Hl ~ Uua ~. t
She looked Tuefully- into his face
"Pm sure that can't be true" said she.
"Please say it isn't. I've thought so well
! of you, I-)' l. in1 Dob ,...'iOf.' I'h
r dGraeie," said young Edmunds, think
well OF me still The story of the old
, mans generosity was quite true. Ihave,
and can prove that l have diamonds that
, are worth at least a million of money,
but gave bits of paste to three young
I ladies, because | knew that a girl who
liked me for my diamonds would be
shrewed enough 10 have them tested, and
!, that a girl who liked me for myself would
I doubt neither the gems nor the truth.
Thank you, Oracle All this little world
shall know that am not an adventurer
before tomorrow dawns. II shall be
] known that you have not misplaced your
confidence. Have you your ring, little
ladyp fr.'T
She took It from her pocket-book. In
/, a moment more he had exchanged 1t for
] another.
"0nly you must wear this" he said.
And Grace, looking into his eyes, knew
! what he meant, and wore it.
1t was the wedding of the season, that
Of Grace Ripely and Robert Edmonds
! and If the two bridesmaids never forgaye
!, the bridegroom they were ashamed to
: own it. The most mercenary girls pre-
tend to sentiment, at least while they are
young, and both declare in public to this
7 day that they never credited the absurd
! scandal, and that Grace and Mr.. Edmonds
had been engaged "for ages" when il
, arose. ss ~ vv