Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-04-30
Diamonds.

''Oh, you ought TO see the new gentle
man :" exclaimed Nellie Ford, as she rush
ed into the boarding house parlor, wher,
the three eligible ladies of the house wer,
lounging. ''Such magnificent diamonds
just think, he wears pin as large rs a fry
ing-pan and a ring to match, and he's 3
Californian, and isn't married, and he mus
be as rich as CresuS, for he's taken tn,
rosewood rooms all to himself He is look
ing for a wife, too: heard him tell Mrs.
Crumpet so myself. Isn't it splendid =
And Nellie clapped her hands and waltzed
around the room.
\ rich bachelor looking for wife, The
ladies. as if electrified. started from theiI
apathy and eagerly besieged Nell. who had
been favored with a look at him, with all
sorts of questions concerning him.
..What is he like 2" asked Miss Bell, who
dotted on tall men, as he tall or short =
..Well, said Nell, hesitatingly, '.he isn't
very tall; in fact, he is rather short and
pretty stout too"
''Oh." exclaimed Miss Bell in impatience
money, though, she added, 80 one can
overlook defects. Is he handsome in the
face, Nell I"
..Not reJ.y, said Nell again. ..You see,
his face is pretty red, and his hair too
'.Ah, weather-beaten from exposure at
the mines, said Mrs. Lee, an interesting
widow, on a sharp lookout for number two.
''Such delightful, adventurous life, And
then these Californians are so chivalrous.
and such worshipers of our sex; and 50
liberal, too, their gifts are often princely. "
Here Mrs. Lee glanced complacently at her
pretty fingers as if in her minds eve she
saw the new gentleman big ring flashing
there
That evening brought our new guest,
whom mot knowing his proper name) we
had christened Diamonds "a name that
stuck to him to the end of the chapter.
After dinner he held kind of court in
the parlor, at which all the lady-boarders of
Mrs Crrmpet's establishment were pre-
sented. And never, on any one occasion,
had thev so WED with each other in splcndor
Of costume.
Just think, said candid but worldly
minded Nell, IF it wasn't for the man :
diamonds, quite likely we never should
Slltdh 10 illIl- lbI -btAAltSo hA4pNo Altit ;
nothing in his looks to recommend him"
The others, less candid, would not agree
with her His diamonds and elaborate
dress rather enhanced than hid ruiiianly
look he had. which they all called his
charming piratical air: and he was sweetly
and playfully compared TO Captain Kidd,
Byron's Corsair, and scores of other darlings
of romance.
He at once became the lion Of the house
yes. indeed, in more WAYS than one; for,
like the roaring lion, he went about seeking
whom he might devOur. but was sensible
enough not to roar to scare away his prey.
He was consulted on all matters of business
by the gentlemen, who would sit absorbed
listeners TO his accounts of mining, and
of the countries he had Travelled
through. But no one seemed to notice the
fact that he never knew anything about the
many persons whose names were mentioned
to him. although the life he described as
having led must have brought him in close
contact with many Of them.
1t was impossible for an outsider to tell
which was Diamonds favorite among the
ladies. After breakfast, he would lounge,
paper in hand, into the parlor,
where the widow and Miss Bell were sure
to repair.
Both ladies bore this partnership with
good nature, as each one managed plenty OF
undisturbed interviews with him. Dia-
monds improved these interviews so well
that he soon became the affianced husband
of the widow, and the ardent and favored
suit0r of Miss Bell.
So each lady being under the blissful
deluslon that she was the sole object OF his
choice. could, in her sweet security, allow
him to lie gallant to her friend; he was so
gentlemanly.
''Ne will keep our engagement sweet
secret, darling. " he said TO the widow, ''un-
til my birthday, just three weeks hence.
1t seems long time TO wait, dear one, he
said. caressing her, ''but it would give me
such pleasure to make it known on that
dav. How astonished they will all be,
Won't they, pet Now just set your little
head to thinking what pretty things you
would like me to get for you Do not be
afraid to tell what you fancy, for whatever
money can purchase my wife shall have.
There was no need to make any such
request of Mrs. Lee, for her little head had
been busy thinking of what she intendcd
to have ever since she had met Diamonds.
First came his diamond ring and pin-each,
as Nellie said, as large as a frying pan
which she already looked upon as her own
AT is in bad taste for gentleman to
make such display" she said to herself.
81 can easily talk him into giving them to
me. Won't they all be jealous. There
are that absyrd Miss Bell and that eontemp-
tible little schools girl Nell both tagging after
him all the time. | believe they actually
imagine he cares for them.
That evening Diamonds being left alone
in the parlor with Miss Bell, drew close to
her. and bending over her, said tenderly,
and almost sadly:
sIf YOU had not said something | heard
YOU say once, i would have the boldness TO
ask a great favor of you.
ssWhy, what did | sayl" asked she CO.
luettishly.
'eYou said you would never live out OF
New York.
.'Well, what of that 7"
.eWhy, niy home is in San Francisco,
he said, significantly.