The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-10-01
ward pennies boys and young stu


things he said, and she gave a little
smothered sigh now and then when
she remembered that she was not s
I. beauty like Maud or Elsie. He would
! like Elsie, of caurse. She must mol
think OF him, she must drive him from
her mind, and she stroVe hard to dc
so, while the ettser girls pitted them
selves against each other, and beWild-
cred the young millionaire as man
was never beWildered before. For
years he had seen no female society,
hut lived the life of a hermit, and the
ldden dawn of all this young beauty
upon him made him ready to exclaim
How happy could be with either were t'other
l dear charmer away
First he made love to one girl, then
to the other. Innocent little Grace
had her share of flattery and smiles,
and all Newport declared that the
diamond man" would surely marry
one of them.
At last a climax came. One even
ing Maud stole to her room. with a
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
flame. and whispered:
81 wonder what he meant by it ?"
TO Elsie the young man had said
something about diamonds matching
her eyes,"
To Maud he had said that this dia-
mond 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:
81 gave your sister Maud one last
night"
And then she had slipped it on her
finger.
4 tear as bright as the little gem
fell upon it as she hid it in her casket
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 hus-
band.
.sGirls," said Charles, that evening,
coming into their parlOr, I've come
to give you a warning. There's a
story atioat about your young Ed
monds. They say his diamonds are
all paste. His servant told some men
at the hotel so. You must be cautious,
be an imposter."
Grace looked indignant. The entrance
ofsome stranger stopped the talk, but
not the consideration of the subject,
and later on when all the house was
still, Elsie sought an interview with
her cousin Charles, and showed him
her ring, and told him its story.
sit will be as well to haye it tested"
she said. 81 don't want to make any
m:stakas."
'sYou're cool girl" said the cousin.
in admiration. "I'll have the thing
DONE"
An hour afterwards another ring
was in his care. Maud had brought
hers. But Grace never thought of
doubling that the elittering stone on
which she had dropped tears was
genuine.
Cousin Charles went city ward that
day, and returned very pale and seri-
Gus. He bowed coldly to young Ed
munds 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:
s'Paste, by Jovep
Then the girls waxed furious. They
exchanged condolences. 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 |
lit was littleGrace. One day. as she |
saw him walking on the beach, she
went to him and held ont her hand.
.Mr. Edmonds," she said, Il 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.
know you never could be an adven-
turer, and it is not your fault the dia-
monds were false, and I 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. 81 don't see how
any one can"
t'Ye ct knew those were bits of paste
when l gave them, said Mr.. Edmonds.
diamonds. Yes, I'm as bad as that:
What now, Miss Oracle 2"
She looked ruefullv 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, Il"
"Gracie," said young Edmonds, |
ssthink well of me still. The story OF
the old mans generosity was quite
true. have, and can prove that l
have, diamonds that are worth at least |
a million of money, but gave bits of |
paste to three young ladies, because l |
knew that girl who liked me for my !
diamonds would be shrewd enough to
have them tested, and that girl who |
liked me for myself would doubt |
neither the gems nor the truth. Thank |
you, Oracle. All this little world |
shall know that am not an iventur-
er before tomorrow dawns. 1t shall
be known that you have not misplac-
ed your confidence. Have you your |
ring, little lady ?"
She took ii from her pocket book.
In moment more he had exchanged |
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 |
ever forgave the bridegroom they I
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 |
they never credited the absurd scam
dal. and that Grace and Mr., Edmonds |
had been engaged ''for ages" when it
arose.
In the north western corner of the
Territory of Wyoming. saws an ex-