The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-17
THE DIAMOND EARRINGS.

If there was one person in the worlt
more than another that Mrs. Temple
ton gazed at with eyes of curious re
gard, it was her husband 8 cousin, Mrs
Morris; and if she had one ambition
eclipsing another, it was to eclipse Mrs
Morris in every direction. If Mrs. Nor
ris set MP wall-basket, Mrs. Templeton
comprised hanging cabinet. Ii Mrs.
Morris had a new ivy-pot, Mrs. Tenn
pleton would have nothing less than a
window garden. A single vase on Mrs.
Morris piazza caused Mrs. Templeton's
premises to break out with urns until
they looked like stone-cutter' yard.
If Mrs. Morris gave a high tea, Mrs.
Templeton had dinner party out of
hand; if Mrs. Morris had luncheon,
Mrs. Templeton had ball, or what
answered for one in the limited round
of pleasures of their place of abode;
and if Mrs. Morris INDUCED herself
with news silk, Mrs. Templeton always
counted her founces, and made her
own phylacteries broader.
When one day, then, Mrs. Morris ap-
peared at church-the usual place in
the town of Carleon for ladies to ex-
hibit their toilettes-with pretty little
pair of diamonds sparkling in her ears,
you can imagine the state of disgust
and wrath in which Mrs. Templcton
walked home, and the very disagreed
BILE time that Mr.. Templeton had of it
as he walked beside her, endeavoring
to look like the happiest domestic man
in Carleon. The sermon was criticised,
the minister made out time-server,
the parish denounced collectively and
personally, his own peculiar friends
among the rest, and finally his cousin
iHetty was reached, and her habits, her
manners, and her dress were made the
text on which to hang anathema
maranatha of worldliness, affectation,
bad taste, low moral sense, irreligion,
and last of all. extravagance-his dear
little harmless Cousin Hetty, whose red
curls lighted such a frank, child-like
countenance, and whose two diamonds,
he had been guilty of thinking, during
the ''Te Deum," just matched the
hmpid sparkle OF the clear dew-drops of
her gray eyes. But Mr.. Templeton had
far too much experience to say anything
of the sort. 'James Morris could not
pay his debts if he were sold out to-day"
said his wife. "And look at his wife's
dress!-Maria, how many times must
ltell you to keep those children inside
the curbstoneP-his wife's dress just
one glitter of satin and jet. And l de-
clare it was impossible for me to fix my
eyes on the lecturn for the way in which
she kept those diamonds twinkling be-
fore me, with her head on the perpetu-
al dance. A pretty place for diamonds
church! l know woman who wore
them to her fathers funeral; l suppose
she would. l should think, at any rate,
she could have controlled her inclina-
tions and waited till next Sabbath-dia-
monds on Palm-Sunday! But it's high
time of day, l must say" warming up
with her husband silence, "when l am
without single diamond to my name,
and there is James Morris wife-James
Morris who owes you $4,000 borrowed
money
1t was very weak in Mr.. Templeton
to interfere; but one can not be always
on ones guard. understand, Juliet,
my love-" said he, shat Hetty's Uncle
Roberts sent her those earrings
"Uncle Roberts, indeed! l should
like to see Uncle Roberts for once, if he
isnot mythical parsonage altogether, -
cried his wife, with the air of expecting
Mr.. Templeton to produce the alleged
Uncle Roberts Immediately. "Uncle
Roberts! Uncle Roberts,! 1t is ALWAYS
Uncle Roberts. And you understand,
forsooth! Why didn't 1 understand
Why were the earrings concealed from
meP For all | know you gave them to
her yourself. Perhaps you are this I'm.
Gle Roberts who is always brought to
the front at every pet piece of extrava-
gance. For my part, wish had even
husband, not to speak of an Uncle
Roberts, who would not see me trodden
under foot by any little mink who
chooses to toss her head above me-
my dear! my dear! Just remember
where you are; just remember the chill
dren," murmured Mr.. Templeton,
foundering in little farther.
Where am! / suppose you don
want all Carbon to hear how am out.
ragged. You'd like to keep it secret.
You'd like to have me endure in 81
lence. OF course you don't want the
children to hear their mother tell the
plain story of your neglect, your out
rage" h.'0 aN
Here Mr.. Templeton took off his ha
and made low bow with glitterins
smile to a gentleman and lady passing
in an opposite direction.
What in the world is the matte
with Mrs. TempletonP'' asked the gen
tleman. "She looks like thunder
cloud full of lightnings.
''Hetty Morris earrings, guess,
was the answer. ''She has probabl,
seen them at church to-day. Poor MI
Templeton! What life that vixel
leads himr' n4 ro, a..1
II don't know about that. He is tire
mendously in love with her."
''How can he beP''
''Force of habit. may be. And she !
abeauty, you know. And when she
good-natured there's nobody like her.
"Well, by Easter you'll see her wit
pair of solitaires, I'll wager anothe
pair. Take me up"