The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-10-02

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book, and on the third little Grace
had a great glittering thing under
the candle fame, and whispered;
Il wonder what he meant by it? >
To Elsie the young man had sai6
something about diamonds match
ling her eyes"
To Maud he had said that this
diamond would, for the first time,
become precious if she wore it.
To Grace nothing of the sort. At
first she had refused to take it, but
he had answered:
''I gave your sister Maud one last
night"
And then she slipped it on her fin
ger.
A tear as bright as the little gem
fell upon it as she hid it is her cas-
ket where she kept her ornaments,
and asked heaven to forgive her if
she still cherished a thought that it
would be wrong if he became her
sisters husband.
"Girls," said Charles, that evening,
coming into the parlor, give come
to give you warning. There's a
story afoat about young Edmonda
They say his diamonds are all paste.
His servant told some men at the
hotel so. You must be cautious,
you know. 1t may be true. He may
be an impostor."
Maud started. Elsie grew pale.
Grace looked indignant. The en-
trance of some stranger stopped the
talk, but not the consideration Of the
subject, and later on when all the
house was still, Elsie sought an in
terview with her cousin Charles, and
showed him Eer ring, and told linn
its story.
"It will be as well to have it tes-
ted" she SAID. 81 don't want to
make anymistakes."
"You're a cool girl" said the cous-
in, in admiration. "I'll have the
thing done"
An hour afterwards another ring
was in his care. Maud had brought
in hers. But Grace never thought
of doubling that the glittering stone
on which she had dropped tears was
genuine.
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
.piszza; 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'
Then the girls waxed furious.
They exchanged confidence. They
told little Grace, and cousin Charles
did his part. Society had cut Mr..
Edmonds before the next night
came, and the landlord regarded him
doubtfully, 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, she went to him and held
out her hand.
"Mr. Edmonds,' she said, 81 want
you to know that mot that l am
anybody, but still 1 don't believe
that you knew it. The old gentle
man that left them to you deceived
you, / am sure. Please to tell every
one so. 1 know you never could be
an adventurer, and it is not your
fault the diamonds were false, and l
thought I'd like to shake hands and
say So"
'Thank you," he said, holding
out his hand. $50 you don't doubt
me?"
''No," said Grace. "I don't see
how any one can"
"Yet knew those were bits Of
paste when 1 gave them," said Mr..
Edmonds. II knew that they were
not genuine diamonds. eyes, Pm
as bad as that What now, Miss
Gracie?"
She looked ruefully into his face.
'I'm sure that can't be true" said
she. "Please say it isn't. I've
Thought so well of you, I"
"Graeie," said young Edmonds,"
"think well of me still. The story
of the old mans generosity was quite
true. I have, and can prove that l
have diamonds that are worth at
least one million of money, but /
gave bits of paste to three young Ia
dies, because that a girl who liked
me for my diamonds would be
shrewed enough to have them tested
and that a girl who liked me for my
Iself would doubt neither the gems
| nor the truth. Thank you, Oracle.
All this little world shall know that
l am not an adventurer before to-
morrow dawns. 1t shall be known
that you have not misplaced your
confidence. Have you your ring,
little ladyF
She took it from her pocket-book.
In moment more he had exehang-
ed it for another.
"Only 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 Ripley and Robert Ed
monds; and if the two bridesmaids
never forgave the bridegroom they
were ashamed to own it. The most
mercenary girls pretend to sentiment
at least while they are young, and
both declare in public to this day
that never credited the absurd scan
dal,and that Grace and Mr.. .Edmonds
had been engaged 'for ages" when
it arose.
The Lion
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