The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-12-08

into Mrs. Rivers wan hands; aud no
sooner had the visitor departed than
she hurried into the next room. whore
a beautiful young girl was sitting. ar
ranging freshly cut rosebuds In slen-
der-throated Bohemian vase.
Look. Ethel!' she cried, exultantly.
''Did Won ever see such beauties in
your life2 Real Oriental opalsl Worth
u hundred pounds IL they're worth a
penny! And I've got them for a tenth
OF .he money!"
''Oh. whereP"
Mrs. Rivers was here Just now. She
has lost everything. and is in great
straits for little money. ! do believe
could have got the opals for less
money yet. IL / had chosen 10 stand
out little longer, only, OF course. one
doesn't like 10 grind the faces Of the
poor. and All that sort Of thing"
sNo. OF course not, mamma, said
Ethel Harcourt. still admiring the red
and purple lights that came aud went
in the polished hearts of the opalss
.'Oh, what beauties they are"
- never saw finer stones IN my
life. said Mrs. Harconrt. complacently.
"Not that they are SO large. but the
colors are SO cxqnisitely blended. And
now I'll tell you what, my love: ! will
have thcm reset. with a row OF dia-
monds around each, and they shall be
your wedding gift. Shall YOU be
pleased with that?"
"Oh. mamma. how good YOU arc!'
cried Ethel. holding up one of the fiery
stones close 10 her small ear 90 mark
the effect. while the light of innocent
girlish triumph illumined all her face.
Mrs. Harcourt stopped and kissed the
small red mouth III there was weak
spot I'm her Achillean armour OF cold
worldiness, IL was her love for this,
her only daughter.
And while Ethel sat among her silSen
cushions. arranging roses and thinking
OF her coming marriage. Mary Rivers
went home To her only daughter, a
pale girl in the last stage OF consump-
ton.
"Well. mother?r she asked, rs soon
as the troublesome spasm of coughing
which seized upon her as the door
opened, was over.
II have sold them. Nell"
.'For as much as yon expectedP'
.For ten pounds. Oh. Nell, Nell"
as she dropped her head on the arm OF
hcr daughters chair. and burst into
tears. Il was forced TO accept what |
could get. could not see you suffer,
dear"
Mother said Nell, slowly, "of
what do you suppose the consciences
of the rich are madeP'
II don't know. child, don't know.
But now must pay the landlord and
the baker. and get you the bottle of
cod-liver oil and the port wine, and
them
.'And by that time our money will
be all gone. aud whatwill you do then.
mothcrp The opals which we thought
were TO supper. us so long-oh,
motherl"
Poor Mrs Rivers turned away, that
Nell should not see her tears.
Ethel Harcourt was married the next
month, and the ornaments that she
wore upon her wedding-day were a
set Of magnificent Oriental opals,
whose red and lilac fire was outlined
with the white glitter of diamonds.
Aud everyone admired them, with the
single exception Of the groom's grand
aunt, weird, witch-like old lady, who
shook her head when she saw them.
and muttered-
"Unluckyl Unlucky! BY land or
by water an opal is sure to bring trou-
BILE"
But nobody minded Aunt Belton's
malignant grumblings. Why should
anyone, In the brightness and rejoicing
of the wedding-dayP Aud so the
young couple sailed away in the gal
liant ocean steamer that was wrecked
of the coast three days later.
"All on board pershedln
That was what the telegram said.
Perished in sight OF land. Aud Mrs.
Harcourt was left childless on the
same day that Nell Rivers was buried
in the cheapest cemetery they could
find.
"It's the opals," nodded Aunt Bel
ton. They're shining and sparkling
at the bottom OF the ocean now, and
it's the best place. To my thinking,
that they could possibly be in. knew
no good would come of 'em when /
saw them swinging to the brides ears
and glittering on her breast It's an
unlucky stone, and always VAST
But a deeper rcasoner might have
pondered whether retributive Provi-
dencc had not more To do with the dis
astrous chain of events than mere luck.
For Gods poor have none but Himself
70 avenge theml
A most Interesting experiment cul.