The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-11-05

| 1AE DAAMOND NAN6s
Like drop of dew it sparkled on Cora
Vane's slender toreinger, catching the
slanting reflection of the afternoon sun
shine, as if every sunbeam loved to linger
within the crystal-hearted jewel, as the
young girl sat there, her fair head droop-
ing like lily bell and the lashes hafging
low over her flushed cheeks.
| Cora Vane was very pretty, with q
delicate, retiring lovliness that you need
ed to study before you fairly appreciate
it. Her hair was brown and lustrous,
like the shining husk of an October chest
nut, and the deep, hazel eyes that exactly
matched them in color, were almond
shaped, and full of limpid changing
lights. And yet, with all the gifts Of
nature, Cora Vane had never discovered
that she was beauty.
| "It's 80 strange that he loves me!'
thought Cora, her scarlet lips half apart,
and the sweetest dreamlike shadow of
smile lowering about her mouth. "He,
80 wealthy, so high-born, so courted in
aristocratic circles, where poor little /
have never been admitted. should al
most fancy the whole thing to be dream,
if it were not for this precious stone
sparkling on my ingerr'
And then Cora Eane leaned her cheek
on her hand, and drifted off once more
into the delicious reveries that come to
those who have set foot within the mys-
tic temple of love!
1t did seem not unlike the phantasmal
outlines of dream, when one came to
look at it from sober, everyday point
| e L
working daily governess, earning modest
livelihood by constant toil-how could it
be that Alban Carlesford, the courted
favorite of fortune and fashion, should
have learned to love her-should have
won her to promise to be his wife. And
she had told him, 80 frankly and freely,
the story of her humble life, even to the
brief, strange episode of Bruce Wayne's
love and proposals.
Bruce Wayner' Mr.. Carlesford had
repeated You do not mean the Bruce
Wayne who was in the Seventh regiment
at one time? Why, knew him WELL"
eyes," said Cora, blushing, cit was
Captain Wayne. He said he loved me,
but he was so fierce and passionate that
l was afraid of him. Oh, Alban, never
could have felt towards him as did to
you!"
And Mr.. Carlesford forgot the incipient
pang of jealousy which had already en-
tered his heart concerning this same
handsome reckless young captain, Bruce
Wayne, and felt happy in the undoubted
certainty that Cora was all his own.
Cora Vane was secretly thinking of all
these things the next day, as she sat by
little Bessie Malden's piano, counting
time for the child g unused fingers as they
strayed irregularly over the ivory keys,
for Cora had insisted on duly fulfilling
all her engagements for the quarter be-
fore she would consent to fix the mar
rage day, when the school-room door
opened and Captain Wayne lounged
idly in.
"run and get my gold eye-glass, that's a
little gem of girl. They're in the par
lor or under my dressing table or in
your mammals work basket or some
where !"
And Bessie, glad to be released from
the thraldom of the pianoforte, slipped
down from her seat, and trotted merrily
away.
Bruce Wayne sat down beside the daily
governess, with darkening look of care
upon his brow.
"Cora," he said most fercely, II am
in trouble, and there is no one to- bel p me
save you"
"Help you! II Captain Wayne what
can you mean?
"Cora, must have 800 between this
and sundown, or shall be ruined, dis
graced man. / can't tell you how it has
happened-you need not look 30 inquir-
ingly. Moreover, it is but a temporary
need-my allowance comes in tomorrow ;
but you see how it is-to-day is the period
of necessity"
"But,' faltered Cora, turning white
and red. "Your brother-in-lsw, Mr..
Maiden"
"He will not listen to word. He says
and cannot blame him much-that he
is tired of lending to me, and my sister is
Just as bad :"
"Surely your friends-"
He contemplated her with . mocking
laugh: ;,
II have no friends Yes, you may look
amazed, Cora, but it is the melancholy
truth. Sometimes" )" he added, with en-
phasis. ait seems to me that it would be
better to end the whole farce Of life at
once" :.
"Captain Wayne, you don't mean"
aI do, Cora. Nothing has gone right
with me in this world, and | swear to
you, before high heaven, that unless |
can somewhere raise the money to-day, !
will blow my brains out"
His eyes glittered with fierce light,
and deadly whiteness came round his
lips aud browA
"But, Captain Wayne. how can / help
youe / have no money"
"It is easy for You to say no, with that
jewel sparkling on your forefnger but ]
understand--you are like oil the rest OF
them and turn coldly away from the poor,
forsaken outcast," .as.t
aOh, Captain Wayne," sobbed the
moor. tsnderIhoArted little Corn, (" what
can t dof How can ] I----p