The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-08-23
THE HIDDEN DIAMONDS.

Bees were humming drowsily among
the honeysuckles, lazy yellow butterflies
| fluttered away their short existence
over beds of pinks and marigolds. and
the sunlight OF Il bright June morning
glinted through the vine-leaves on a
brown-haired girl, who, seated at the
open window of Virginia farmhouse.
was busily sewing on dress of antique
brocade.
Old laces, quaint silver jewelry,
high -heeled shoes, and other ornaments
of ladies of by-gone generation were
scattered on the bed and floor, while
the gaping top of a large oaken chest
disclosed delicately tinted satins and
gauzes faded by time and disuse.
With the music of the birds outside
the girl mingled her own voice, until
the sound of departing wheels on the
gravel, quickly followed by banging
door and rush of skirts up the staircase,
make her look up with start.
''Well, Christie" she said rs a
younger girl entered, ''has he gone at
last? 1t was too bad to be interrupted
i'll the midst OF preparations for the ball
by your aged admirer. But he stayed
| so long that he must have proposed.
Did he?''
"Oh, the old brute! How l do detest
himI'
And Christobel Penraven threw her.
self on a lounge with an angry bounce
and famed her flushed checks excit-
edly.
Very pretty she looked as she did so,
for the dark and sparkling eyes, slight
ly retrousSe nose, and expressive Grim
son-lipped mouth possessed piquancy
that was irresistible.
But her chief charm was lacking on
this June morning; the merry smile
that usually dimpled Christie's mouth
was gone, and instead of it an ominous
pucker contracted her white forehead.
and one small shoe beat an impatient
accompaniment to thoughts that were
evidently unpleasant.
Her sister looked at her in amaze
ment
CATER you've cooled off little, do
give me the particulars of Mr. Smithers'
visit. Did the venerable Beniah fall on
his knees-or try to kiss your hand-or
what on earth did he do, to make you
look so angry?"
To her utter amazement the girl
Lll ucu SuNltlthlS low dIuS lGE. utT eS CS
filled with hot tears.
'Oh, Maud Maudi" she cried, show
can you speak so lightly when my heart
is almost brol<en?'
'.Are you crazy, Christie? What could
that old humbug have to do with break
ing anyone's hearth
"More than you'd think" returned
tile girl sadly. ''Ah how little | thought
when we ridiculed his uncouth ways,
that should have to choose between
such husband as that, and being not
only homeless myself, but seeing you
and father forced to leave Glenmore,
toO.h
Leave Glenmorer' echoed Maud,
her placid eyes wide with amazement.
Eyes, leave our dear old home for
ever. 1t seems that several years ago
father borrowed some money from Mr..
| Smithers, giving him mortgage on the
farm. 1t now amounts to two thousand
| dollars, and as we've no money to pay
| it, and the time expires next week,
Glenmore will have to be sold. Mr..
Smithers has long wanted the place, and
| will buy it himself; so he drove over
this morning, with fathers knowledge
and consent, to propose that should
remain ut Glenmore as the future Mrs.
Smithers If | don't consent, he will
! be forced to request US to move out next
week, as he wishes to take possession
at once. All, it is like horrid dream!'
and with burst of tears, Christie
| buried her face in the sofa cushions.
''But are you sure that what he says
is true?'' asked her calmer sister un-
| willing to believe such unWelcome
news.
"Only too true" moaned the discon-
solate girl, ''for father himself came in
| with him, and told me to listen atten-
lively to what Mr.. Smithers said, as it
| was of the utmost importance to all OF
us. And he looked at me SO sadly
when he said it, Maud. Oh, what must
| do?'
Heaven knows" her sister answer
ed uncertainty, glancing from the pas
| sion-tossed heap of cambria on the
lounge out through the open window.
There lay the level pasture land be-
yond the garden, green with the fresh
verdure of early summer, and farther
still the dark shadows of pine woods.
No grand inheritance certainly was
the moss-grown farmhouse on the out
skirts of the village of b, but it was
very dear to the two girls whose short
lives had been spent there, and the
thought of leaving it seemed bitter az
parting from lifelong friend.
Poor girls! the farm was their father
sole possession, and long as they talked
over "ways and means.n there remain
ed no solution to the sorrowful problem
of debt, but to part from Glenmore.
Come, Christie the elder siste1
said at last. "don't be so respondent
Think how father will feel if he see
you look SO unhappy on the day you'v.
been anticipating SO long. Things lool
rather blue, admit; but something ma,
happen in a week.
..In the meantime, let us enjoy th'
ball tonight, and face our troubles after
wards. Console yourself by thinkin:
of-well, say of Mr.. Hilton, instead o
the odious Beniah. Don't you thinl
him pleasanter subjectp''
The blush that softly tinged Christie
cheek was sufficient answer to her ques
ton.
But brighter still the too truthful
blood burned in her young chez ks wheI
they entered Mrs. Hilton's parlors tn
same evening, and were warmly wei
coined by the hostess and her handsoh
nephew.
1t had been that lady's whim to CIV
an "Ancestor's Ball. at which ever
invited guest must wear an antique cos
tune, and as the two sisters, arraye
in rich brocades and with their brlgh
curls powdered after the manner OF rev
olutionary danes, passed through tn
well-lighted rooms, many turned
look again'at the pretty Misses fen
raven"
!. "How well you have carried on
Aunt Helen's idea," Julian Hilton salo
h as he stood by Christie's side, lookln
down at her admiringly. You ohl
= need frame to make perfect plctur