The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-05
MY DIAMONDS.
MARY KYLE DALLAS.

Dora had invited me TO come IO Her
birthday party. There were to be music
and dancing, and all the young people l
liked best were to be there. 1 had a new
dress, and had never yet worn the dia-
monds that had been left to me by my
great-aunt Margaret, whom 1 had never
seen, though was named for her. She
had lived and died in England and these
Jewels W, re sent to me. The loss OF a
well-known friend had not dimmed their
splendor, for Aunt Margaret was only a
name.
OF course wanted to go to the party,
and the only objection any one had to 1t
was that long journey by rail lay be-
tween our homes; that my father was
away; that my mother had company to
entertain, and that Aunt Sophy had
sprained her ankle. If went must go
alone.
al suppose there is no reason why she
should not" said mother. l hope she
has self-respect enough not to notice
strangers, and if there should be col
lision 1 couldn't help it. So go pack
your trunk, child, and I'll send Nora for
a cab; and don't forget to put every
thing in that you need. Don't leave
your toothbrush behind, as you did last
time" -.
"Or your pocket handkerchief" said
aunty, "or your present for Dora.
"As if could leave that" cried.
"But you did 60 off with one shoe in
your shoe-bag, and had to wear your
boots all the time you were at the
Noble's," said Aunt Sophy, bent upon
being provoking; land when we left for
the country last year you lit the gas be-
fore we started, and left it 80. And the
bill"
LET the child Alone" saaid grandma
"You were giddier than she is at seven
teen. But put the arnica and the pep
permint, and the box of Curem's pills in
your trunk. No knowing what may hap
pen"
Thus furnished with advice, left the
room and ran up stairs, glad enough to
be permitted to go. had everything
ready, and my trunk strapped, and 1
had only to dress. l was certainly con-
scious that my gorgeous diamonds were
not the things to wear with my gray
travelling dress, but put them Oh, muf-
fling the earrings and covering the pin
with my vail, and hurried down again.
Mother took no notice of the simmer
under my vail, neither did grandmother.
but Sophy was very sharp-sighted. and
on the watch for misdemeanors on my
part. 1 saw her putting UP her eye
glasses, and knew what would come
next that little shrek and tho same
cry: -,
herl Take off your vail. Maggie. Yes,
she has put her diamonds on! A niece
of mine not to know how vulgar it is to
wear diamonds in the daytime on Jour-
neyr :,
mother.
$50 imprudent!" cried mamma.
you'll be robbed and murdered, my
dear, before ever you get to your cou
sins houser' said our lady guest.
81 can't take them off now, it's too
late" said L.
''Put them in your reticule," said our
friend.
''She'd leave it behind her" said Aunt
Sophy, who was cross on account of her
sprained ankle.
sThe cabman, Miss" said Nora; "and
he says you've Just time, and no more, to
catch the train"
l was glad of the excuse, for muffiing
my glittering ears again, and giving the
goodbye kisses; but despite my haste
Aunt Sophy found time to call after
me:
Remember my warming; those dia-
monds will get you into trouble before
your journeys over
Certainly Aunt Sophy was very, very
cross.
However, we reached the train in due
time. Ny baggage was in the hands of
an expressman. had seat on the
shady side of the car, and it was pleas
ant day. Best of all, had no next
neighbor. and it was not until we had
stopped ut many stations that heard
the dreaded question: SIS this seat occu-
pied ?" and answered by moving nearer
the window to admit stout person,
gayly though cheaply dressed, who car
ried travelling bag in her had, and who
at once made a most disagreeable i'm
preston on me, for soon discovered
that she thought civility obliged her to
talk to me.
Now girls quite understand that pa
ternal warnings as to strangers alludes to
gentlemen, and it is simply brutal not to
answer . woman who speaks TO you. I
detested this person at sight, but was
obliged TO say Eyes," No" or Indeed"
occasionally. She told me all about her.
self, and all about her journey; she re-
marked ON the passengers and criticised
their bonnets, and she asked me the OBJ