Daily Republican., 1884-05-20
THATRUBY NECKLACE.
BY CATHERINE E. LEsHER.


afternoon shing on her, NJ she gazed
with tear-dimmed eyes upon the ruby
necklace she held In her hand, the
glowing, blood red gems, set In hligree
of antique gold, burning like living
fire gems that seemed like drops Of the
life-tide ebbiug from apassionate heart.
"And Frank told ne never TO part
with it," she thought sorrowfnlly.
All, he did not gness what trouble
was In store for me then. His rich old
father was too proud to allow his only
son and heir 10 we'd a poor young
working girl like me, and so he sent for
him to come home as once. knew
what that meant, although my pride
kept me from revealing 1t even to my
own sweetheart. And now two long,
weary years have passed, and still we
are separated. Love can never cross
the terrible gulf that yawns between
my poverty and his wealth, and 80 why
should mourn for one who has, per-
haps, forgotten me long ago? All,
Frank, the loss of this necklace, the
last token I possess OF the dear, old,
happy days, almost breaks my heart,
but what can I do when starvation
stares my poor sister and me in the
face I? Surely you would allow me TO
make the sacrifice rather than see little
Lisa suffer.
She pressed the necklace to her
uuivering lips, her tears falling thick
and fast upon it. How the light flashed
and leaped in the dazzling stones, and
how their fiery hearts seemed to burn
and glow.
"Ah, how strangely hard and cruel
the world has been of late to me" she
murmured, looking dreariiy ont OF the
narrow window with bitter sigh. :" II
is all trouble for some, all happiness for
others. l wonder II 1t ever comes out
even? Must 1t be always trouble, pain
and heart-hunger for one like ne""
And then, turning wearily away, she
stepped across the room, placed the
ruby necklace back into its satin.lined
case, put on her dark cloak aud hat,
and cheerily bidding her little invalid
sister goodbye, went directly to the
lovely home Of Olga Thornton, who
had been "a schoolmate of our heroine
when fortune had lavished ler gifts
alike on both.
"Oh, surely You have brought the
neck lace ?" said vivacious little Olga,
in her impulsive girlish way. What
q superb jewel. 1t Is the very thing
needed to finish my costume for to-
morrow right. III could give you
more for it, my dear, certainly would
but poor papa only allows me 30 much
money every week.
And, half an hour later, Claudia
went home with lighter hsart and
few dollars In her well-worn purse
never dreaming what was destined tc
come of Olga Thornton'spurchase Of tht
ruby neck ace. j.
at certainly was d good bargain,
thought Olga, az she placed 1t around
her neck :" So it was a present from
her sweetheart. Poor Claudia, no won
der she cried y hen she parted with it
am glad that / have found her, and
80 far az | am able, I'n.help her. But, oh
dear me-" with quick impatient sigh
+" If it wasn't for auntie's COZ nsels re
certainly marry Guy Gordon and b.
happy at least, instead of endeavOriDl
to win this wealthy Mr.. Lawrence,
wonder If he would laugh If he knew
that bought this beautiful jewel that
may shine the brighter in his handsome
dark eyes, for he certainly il very atten
! tive to me-"
| But the good hearted little Coquett'
never guessed for moment that it wa
simply Uecause her lovely, hazel eyes
reminded him of pair Of dearer oDe'
which he had despaired long ago OF evel
seeing again.
He had made earnest inquiries for his
betrothed, from whom he had in reality
been separated by his proud, rich Old
father, but he found in two short years
all trace of her had utterly disappeared
His father had died since then, and
left him immensely wealthy, and
| though flattered and made love to, ht
was still unhappy on account OF the
loss Of his own true sweetheart.
On the day following Olga Thornton's
purchase of the ruby necklace, Claudia
Naw Frank Lawrence as he was driving
in buggy down Broadway, but she
shrank away, believing that he had
forgotten her, not dreaming for a mo
ment that he would have given all his
wealth to find her.
And that evening as he entered the
ball room, Olga Thornton, with little
ecstatic thrill, saw him single her out
How handsome he was tonight she
thought.
He caught sight of her ruby neck
lace, and looked at 1t so earnestly that
she smilingly asked him if he didn't
think 1t was pretty.
A curious look swept over his face.
"Miss Thornton, If am not greatly
mistaken, l have seen that necklace be
fore. If it may not seem impertinen'
on my part, will you inform me how
you obtained it?"
His excitement infected her.
~ purchased it from Miss Claudis
Merle, who sews for me, and whose
poverty evidently drove her to par
with it," she answered, readily. "PooI
Claudia, how pity her.
He drew back a pace.
"Claudia Merle?" he calculated.
"Surely, then, you can help me find
lost friend for whom have sought &c
long In vain."
And then pretty little Olga told him
all she knew about her lovely young
seamstress, who had wept 80 bitterly In
parting with the jewel she priced.
"And you will allow me TO redeem
the necklace for her, Miss Thornton %
he asked.
Certainly" she answered, warmly,
guessing now what her purchase Of the
iowel was about to result in. "Dear
me, Mr.. Lawrence, 1t sounds for all the
world like u novel. l never thought
yon were the sweetheart of whom she
spoke. All, surely you will never allow
her to suffer sorrow and poverty now. y
And early the next morning when
no went to the address kind-hear6ed
Olga bad given him, he found poor
Claudia at last.
"On, Frank, Frank, thought you
had forgotten mer' Claudia cried, as
she nestled in his arms and ho clasped
the ruby necklace about her neck.
"Thank God, that made the sacrifice
| which has brought me back my own
true lover and the happiness l have
crayed for through all those weary