Delta chief., 1884-03-12

part, she said, she had no fear Of Mr..
frere; he was rich enough to be an
eligible part; but he seemed afraid to
speak to her. So he was, for she was
the handsomest woman he had seen
for many day, and experience had
taught him that he would fall in love
with her, and that if he proposed she
would refuse him.
The last day of his stay arrived, and
he was very sad. In the afternoon he
deserted the men, who were out shoot
ing, and went into the morning-room
where he found all the young ladies in
the state of gaicty, which young ladies
sometimes indulge in. They had been
pulling the men to pieces in their alb
sence. and laughing at them; poor old
Mr.. Frere. whom any one of them
might have had for lover, had Just
had his turn. He was given to making
passionate speeches whenever he could
get the chance; and some of the girls,
on comparing notes, found that he had
used the identical words to each In
fact. he did somewhat lack imagina-
ton. This amused the girls immense
ly, and they wero laughing over it
when he came in. They Immediately
began to tease him, and while they
asked him hundred questions all at
once he stood smiling. fattered. and
perfectly happy in their midst. Con-
fused by the presence of SO much beau
ty, he made q speech. which most of
those who heard it regarded as absolute
nonsense.
Ladies'" he said. II am going
away tomorrow. II is dreadful TO 90
and leave you, don't think / have
the courage to do it. unless one of you
will consent 10 console me. Which of
you ladies will marry me? NV wife
will have the late Mrs. Frere's dia-
monds, and they are not to be de-
spised."
He spoke as II partly in a joke. and
laughed as he said il. But his ewes
looked eagerly and anxiously round
the merry circle to sec If any face look
cd thoughtful.
II will. Mr.. Frcre." said the beauty:
diamonds suit me and adore them.
The others looked in smazement. and
then burst into psals of laughter. The
idea of the beauty sacrificing herself
for a set Of diamonds-she who, il was
supposed might wear = csronet If she
chose! But Lady Rose knew her own
position better than any one else. She
had been out several seasons and had
had no offer worth accepting, and her
mother would not let her have the man
she loved. A rich old man. who, as
she fully determined. should bo her
slave. and n set OF diamonds for her
own. which were n fortune in them
aclves-,hese things wero worth think
iny about.
Tho whole thing WAS treated rs q
joke a; the time by every one present,
but in the evening Mr.. Frere came
quietly TO Lady Rose and sat down by
her.
Lady Rose" he said. ..if YOU nre
willing to hold to the bargain we made
to-day. will keep to my part of it."
She raised her eyes and looked coldly
into his.
.If you mean, it," she said. $50 did
I. As said. diamonds suit me, and
have none"
II will give you tho late Mrs. Frcrc's
on your wedding-day." he answered
''The jewel-cnse which contains them
shall be opened by you for the first
time since she herself shut it,
In due timc the marriage WAS an
nounccd and the details were settled.
The wedding was fixed for an early
date. Lady Rose. having made her
bargain. WAS not difiident about fulfill
ing IL. She wanted the diamonds; not
only for their beauty. but because when
they werc once in her hands she would
be rich in her own right for the first
time in her life. She was avaricious
because she was unhappy; and she de-
tcrmined that IL Mr.. Frcrc proved in
tolcrablc, and wanted TO be her master
instead oE her slave. she would, like the
late Mrs. Frcrc. run away. but she
would not commit the fatal mistake of
leaving the diamonds behind.
At last tho wcdding-day came, and
therc was no doubt about one thing
Lady Rose was the hsndsomest bride of
the whole year. And yet she was so
pale as to lock like tho ghost Of her
self. The diamonds she wore were the
envy and admiration of her friends,
They were magnificent; hcr white neck
and arms blazed with their beuutv.
When Mr.. Frere brought her tho
jewel-casc and the key a sort of sbud
der came upon her at the recollection
OF who had last opened II. She fell.
for moment, sorry for poor. frsil Mrs'
Frerc. who had loft ail behind her
her home. her reputation. and her dia-
monds.
But before loag she made q dIseoverv
which chilled her blood, and made hcr
faoe a. whitc ~ that Of . ghost, Ths
diamonds wcro paste! Before her f,i1ht
the runaway had had the set Of Jewels
exactly initiated by dsxtrous dweller
in the pAlais Royal and popa hut !.