Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
A WILLING CAPTIVE.


ter of a well-known jewelry estab-
lishment, looking over tray of orna-
ments and gems, both set and unset.
Il like this lace-pin exceedingly"
she said, selecting from the lot a pin as
long as her little finger, and not much
wider. sit is unique and curious, and
very beautiful besides"
The ornament deserved her words of
praise and admiration. It was in the
form of dragon, the body of enamel
and tinted gold, quantity carved, and
glittering with deep : set diamonds
placed at uneven intervals to the very
tip of the tail, while two splendid ru-
bies blazed for eyCs.
eyes, we think it very handsome,"
said theyoung man who waited on her;
''but this one is sold. We can have
another just like it made for you, how
ever, Miss Sylvester, if you wish.''
Stella was looking intently at a star
of tiny diamonds that sparkled on the
back of the little dragon in her hand,
and she did not answer at once.
THAT star was set in by Mr.. st.
Austin's ORDER" said the clerk, noticing
what attracted her attention.
She looked up quickly, her lovely
face suddenly flushed, her lustrous
eyes rivalling any jewel before her for
brightness.
.sHas Mr.. St. Austin bought it?n she
asked.
Eyes; and as it is to be a gift, the
star, for some appropriate reason, was
inserted. VIII you have one like it
Ordnrad Miss SylVnctnrpn
ooh no, thank you!' said the girl
with an amused twinkle. There are
many other lovely things here that L
admire as well as the pin. This chain,
for instance, of carved red gold bricks,
Joined with diamond links, is exquisite;
and | think want it even more than
the pin. However, / cannot decide
upon it now, so will only trouble you
for these japanese sleeve buttons,
which [ really need, having just lost
my prettiest pair"
She took the little parcel and passed
out to her carriage, which was waiting
at the door.
Dear Alan" she murmured, the
name lingering caressingly on her lips
as she sank back in the cushions.
''He means to give it to me next week
f9 my birthday! How pretty it is,
and how nice of him to have the star
put in for my name! Stella, q star
why, of course it's for me; but | must
not let him think that know anything
about it!'
And then she fell into soft happy
reverie. in which the dragon that
figured so prominently was not at all
of fearful kind.
Alan" said Mrs. Griffith to her
nephew the very next morning, "you
must have seen host of pretty things
when YOU chose that wonderful pin for
your Stella. Tell me something we
can get as Il farewell gift for our dar-
ling Norma. Your uncle and | sail in
two days. and we have not yet settled
upon anything for her. Tell me some
thing very nice"
"Why, my dear aunt, get that very
pin you speak of, for it is still for sale!
| discovered by the merest accident
that Stella preferred a certain chain
with diamond links. so have procured
that for her instead. | like the pin
better myself; but the taste of your
extraordinary sex is quite unguessable,
and | was glad to be told her choice.
The pin will be just right for Norma,
as it happens. star and ALL
''Why, nothing could be BETTER" said
the delighted mother. There's apret-
ty Irish legend that says the name
Norma means "a morning STAR 1t will
suit the dear girl as if it were made for
her.
although it wasn'tr' laughed Alan.
''But [ will call at Telfer's on my way
down and bespeak it for you before
someone else gets it."
And SO, when the two girls met at q
little informal dance given few nights
after by mutual friend, the brilliance
suddenly died out of one fair star, and
her radiance was utterly quenched by
the light of that diamond pin fastening
the lace about the white throat of the
other.
Stella Sylvester loved her betrothed
husband deeply and jealousy, and the
thought that he could have bestowed
so lover-like a gift on another than
herself filled her heart with a passion
ate anger against them both.
'sHe had no right to give her such a
present! She had no right to accept
it." she said, pacing her room that
night with restless steps. 'sSome pref
ty tritie she might have taken as from
cousin; but so valuable and peculiar
a gift should only be accepted by a
woman from the man she is going to
marry. Naturally, I thought"
4 crimson glow of modification ard
wounded pride spread over her face,
and turning quickly to her writing
desk, she seized sheet of paper and
penned the impulsive words that bore
such Amusement and grief to Alan the
next day.
Il wish to be released from the en-
gagement existing between US" she
wrote Il find l cannot marry YOU,
and 1 deeply regret that the mistake
of thinking it possible should ever
have been made
She signed it with her full name, and
when Alan, bewildered and thunder
struck from so unexpected a blow,
wrote at once entreating and demand
! ing an explanation, his letter was re-
turned unopened.
Norma Griffith flew to her friend.
hoping to CLEAR away the misunder-
standing which she was sure must have
taken place between the lovers. but
Stella only looked at the little pin
which the girl always wore now. and
misconstrued her interference. She
answered coldly that her decision was
final, and refused to discuss the matter
| further.
SO Norma, baffied. hurt, and offend
ed, left her with feelings of angry re-
sentiment, and the friendship between
them almost came to an end.