The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-07-31
The HAUNTED JEWELS.
by SARA Il. ROSE.


"No," said old Grandma De Varnoy,
in voice Which reminded one of Il
spiteful cat; mo girl shall ever own
my Diamonds who will not own tue
name l gave her--AIehitable Augusta,
an aristocratic, high sounding name it
is, too"
But. grandma, who could expect any
girl nowadays to own up to such RI
dicnlous, old-fashioned name as that? /
won't, any way--not for thousand dia-
mond sets."
Nobody wants you to; nobody wants
you to. You never should have them
any way, if you should call yourself by
as many names as Queen Victoria; it's
too late in the day, my girl"
"Who, then, shall you give them to,
grandma? Marcia?"
"Do You take me for fool, Mehita-
BILE Augusta DE Varney? LII / should
give them to that simple sister of yours,
don't / know that it would be you that
would wear them?"
"TLen, suppose, they will belong to
red-headed, cross-eyed Mehitable Sis
ley, who sheds hypocritical tears when
she hears that you are sick. But what
does she care whether you live or die ?
and / don't know as should, if you
would not even see my face"
"She cares as much rs you, my dear.
Your Joy when have bad spell shows
itself in your evil countenance."
"Ha, ha," laughed Gusta DE Varney,
SIN not a hypocrite, any way. l must
say, hate hypocrisy"
"There's a great many things yo,l
hate in this world, Mchitable Augusta
there's one comfort, any way. / shall
leave my diamonds to Mehitable Sisley
you shall never possess them"
"As if l cared who You left them to.
When you are dead l shall just take
the diamonds, and Miss Mehitable will
be none the wiser
"Mehitable Augusta De Narney!"
cried the old woman, in frenzy, and
raising herself among the white pillows
as far as she was able, 8 if you dare to
do such a thing, I'll ruin your whole
future for you. I'll make yoa wish you
had dealt honestly by that poor girl"
But, grandma, you forget" said
Gusta, in a low, provoking tone, "you
will be dead then, and cannot help
yourself"
The aged woman almost sprang from
her bed in her anger, Us she shrieked:
Il will help myself; l will haunt you
Mehitable Augusta De Varnev, if you
dare lay hands on my diamonds after
am dead"
Gusta tossed her head and laughed
in scornful, sneering way; but before
she could again speak the door opened
and Marcia, her younger sister, en-
| tered, saying. in a shocked tone:
"What! quarreling again with grand
ma, Gusta, and she SO very low How
can you have the heart to do SOP"
Il have no heart, you know, sis
nothing but calico gizzard," laughed
| Gusta.
Il don't know about that, Gusta
| you have very strong affections, and
may have to suffer by them as mucl
or more than you are causing grandm,
to suf II now."
Don't preach, l beg," cried the
heartless girl. "Here. hand me M,
hat; I'll get out of this as quick a
possible"
Aft,r the careless and ungratefu
Gutta had gone, Marcia, who was
sweet-tempered, kind-hearted girl. sa
down in the vacant seat and soothe,
her grandmother down to somethin.
like calmness; but Marcia knew that
spite of all her ministrations, the oil.
lady cared nothing for her, rating he
far lower in her affections than she dit
the impudent Gusta, whom she declare,
twenty times day she hated; but sh
went on with her duty as willingly a
if she had been the best beloved of he
grandmother's heart.
Everybody said that the fiery oil,
lady and her granddaughter Gust
were exactly alike; but, if one shoul,
mention the fact to either of them, sh
would fly into passion instantly an,
deny it with the greatest vehemence.
Old Mrs. De Narney had been yer,
high-spirited as well as wealthy woman
and her really fine diamonds had bee
the pride of her heart, and she In,
kept them through every reverse Q
fortune for the little motherless grand
daughter she loved so well, and VIII
bore her name; but as her idol gre,
older it was shattered, for August
became willful and very unk!nd to th
poor old lady, and refused utterly t
bear the name of Mehitable, which sh
hated. This was a great blow to til
proud old lady, and she determine
that if Gusta would not bear her nam
she should not wear her diamods.
Marcia the old lady hated. She ha
no spirit, Mrs. De VarEey said. Blu
she had another granddaughter, tn
child of her only daughter, whom sh
had repudiatcd, because she had dis
graced herself by marrying poor man
Mrs. De Varney was then wealthy. bu
she was now poor, but this made n
difference. She would not forgive til
orphan child of her only daughte
enough to see her. But although Mr.
De Varney would not look upon he
face, she now intended her diamond
for ner, because she said she hate
Gusta, and ii Marcia owned them, Gust
would be sure to wear them.
Marcia had listened to many excitin
talks upon the subject, but felt littl
doubt but that tiusta would eventual
own them but she often said ii WI
only right il Mehitable Sisley shoul
get them for grandma had done S
much for Gusta and had never eve
seen her daughters child. But tn
idea was u terrific thorn in the side ,
the proud and ambitious Gusta.
| Marcia sat by her grandmother's sid
long after she was sleeping PEACEFUL.
silently sewing npon some embrolder
intended for her sisters wardrobe.
Suddenly there was IA terrible shu,
der ran over the .orm lying SO silentl
among the pillows. and Marcia spran
10 her feet to see the old lady in II