The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-09-28

dollars, and is young, handsome and dis
tingue But it's too late for regret. Yet
he would hardly suit me, being dark.
just my style, look better beside large
forid man, like Mr.. Goldthwait.n
Yes; and his age makes you look so
young mere child real old mans
darling" ] responded, fiatteringly; for
she was beginning to age, and the idea
Mortified her.
He is sixty just twice my years, !"
she responded, with frank look,
though knew her to be forty.
some would never take you to be
thirty" / answered, and left her looking
in the mirror, while / went to my room.
The general balcony ran outside my
windows Three young ladies, with
arms entwined, We're walking outside,
and ] soon discovered their conversation
to be on the subject of the expected ar
rival, Mr.. Reginald Amberly.
One of them seemed to be acquainted
with the gentleman, and well informed
regarding him.
Screened by the blind, | listened
eagerly to their conversation, and soon
heard enough to convince me that Reg
inald Amberly was certainly most de-
sirable match" as good as he is rich
and handsome" said one of the girls,
"and entirely without bad habits"
There was no limit to my aspirations.
| should not have attempted the siege,
however, had it not been for one remark
of the girls He is passionately fond
of gems and jewels"
felt my eyes flash like my jewels.
My sapphires
They were very costly; they were
rarely beautiful they were very be-
coming to me. There were scores of
women in the hotel more likely to win
Reginald Amberiy, but these gave me
one chance, and determined to take
advantage of it.
There were balls almost nightly at the
Cape House, but | seldom attended
them, as / did not dance and could out
shine nobody in dress. But that night
| went to the ball
l think l looked well in. dress OF
pure white tulle, made high in the neck
to conceal my thin shoulders, and with
my soft hair arranged in shadowy clus-
ters about my face, before put on my
sapphires But they gave me AN air OF
elegance which was very striking.
My spirits rose high with delight as ]
surveyed myself, preparatory to taking
an arm of Mr. Goldthwait, in company
with Mrs Glare, and entering the ball
room.
My first fear that Reginald Amberly
was not present, but in an instant
knew that was mistaken.
The stranger, young and superb in ap
pearanee, talking with the leading belle
of the season, must be and was Regin
aid Amberly.
"Why, Ignatia," cried Mrs. Clare, as
| dropped the mantle from my shoulders
on entering the lighted hail.
Is that the necklace given you by
your old friend =" she whispered. 81
never saw anything SO magnificent"
Every eye that fell upon me fingered
| was the object of increasing attention
but l cared for nothing but to win the
observation of Reginald Amberly.
Such piercing eyes could not long fail
to observe me. feigned to be talking
earnestly to another admirer of my
sapphires, when I saw bis glance fall
| upon me, saw him start, and leave his
companions to approach me nearer.
He seemed to think that his eyes
must deceive him, and yet watched his
handsome face flush with enthusiasm
and before / could anticipate his inten
tions he had obtained an introduction
and stood beside me.
] forget what was first said, his low
mellow voice and sunny smile so charmed
me, but / recollect asking him the usua
commonplace, /" How do you like the
| Cape2"
Very much," he answered The
bright eyes of the ladies are eqialled
only by their jewels, which is saying 1
great dealo
Miss Lulu Wayne says you are fond
of jewels, Mr. Amberly.'
/ 81 am very-and | have, I think, q
very good collection. / have seen many
more valuable than any | possess, but
have never seen sapphires equaled by
those Miss Berne is wearing this
evening"
This with an exquisite bow and smile
DO you like them asked.
"They are exquisite"
"Thank you. l value them partly
because they were given to me by a
friend now dead, whose loss / can never
replace"
"a relative, probably7"
"No | lost all my relatives Of
them-many years ago. My sapphires
were given to me by a lady whose friend
ship was quite disinterested
/ think he had actually not seen me
until now-only my sapphires--I drop
ped my lids, but saw, beneath my lashes,
his beautiful features soften with sym
pathy as he looked down ON my deli.
cate profile and clustering hair.
| 1t was but an instant's gaze, but in it
/ read his generous and tender nature,
and laid the knowledge by for future use.
"Does Miss Berne dance2 Shall /
have the pleasure of quadrille with herr
l could walk through quadrille, and,
as Reginald Amberly danced as nobody
else did, bearing his partner with ease
through the most difficult figures, l
danced we'll that night.