The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-10-26


ing a little towards penniless BOYS
ana young students Of art and
medicine.
Secretly, however, Grace had all
ready bestowed genuine admira-
ton upon this man Of many dia-
mondS. His wealth had nothing
TO do with it. She liked his songs,
his voice, his face, the things he
SAID aud she gave little smother
ed Sigh now and then when she re-
membered she was not beauty
like Elsie or Maud. He would like
Elsie of course. She must not
think Of him, she must drive him
from her mind, and she strove hard
10 40 so, while the other girls pit
ted themselves against each other,
and bewildered the young million
aire as he was never bewildered
before. For years he had seen no
female society, but had lived a
hermit, and the sudden dawn Of
all This young beauty upon him
made HIM ready to exclaim:
"How happy 1 eouli be wi,h either, were
'tothel dear charmer dear chalmer
away"
First he made love to one girl,
then TO the other. Innocent little
Grace had her share of tlatterv
and smiles, and all Newport de-
clared that the diamond man"
would surely marry one OF them.
AT last the climax came. One
evening Maud stole to her room
with diamond ring on her finger.
The next Elsie had one in her
pocket book, and on the third
little Grace held a great glittering
thing under the candle flame and
whispered:
II wonder what he meant by
itN
10 Elsie the young man said
something about 'diamonds
matching her eyes"
To Maud he said that this dia-
mOnd would for the first time be-
come precious if she wore it.
To Grace nothing of the sort.
At first she refused to take it, but
she had answered:
81 gave your sister Maud one
last evening""
And then she had slipped it on
her finger.
A tear as bright as the gem fell
upon it as she hid it IN caskel
where she kept her few ornaments,
and asked heaven to forgive her if |
she still cherished a thought that |
would be wrong If he became her
sisters husband.
"Girls," said Charles. that even
ng, coming into the parlor, give
,ome TO give You a warning.
There's story afloat about young
They say his diamonds
ire all paste. His servant told
ONE men at the hotel so. You
INST be cautious, you know. II
nay be true. He may be an i'm
,oslor.n
Maud started. Elsie grew pale
Grace looked indignant. The en-
rance Of some stranger stopped
he talk but not the consideration ;
f the subject, and later on when
he house was still, Elsie sought I
n Interview with her cousin
'harles and showed him her ring
nd told him its story.
ut will be well 10 have it test S
d. she SAID, II don't want 10 t
lake any mistakes" a
You are a cool GIRL said the
)usin in admiration. an have b
lie thing DONE"
An hour aTterward another ring il
as in his care. Maud had brought S
IN hers but Grace never thought
doubling that the glIttering 81
one on which she dropped tears Y
as genuine. Ii
Cousin Charles went cityward Al
at day and returned very pale
ID serious. He bowed coldly to s;
'uug Edmonds as he passed him b
the piazza; and Elsie and Maud
lew what had happened when e,
ey looked at him, but each went
r the jewelers. verdict all the 81
me. As rendered by Charles 1t al
rs this: ii
''Paste, by love-" W
Then the girls waxed furious. bl
Iey told little Grace, and cousin ca
larles did his part. Society had
t Mr.. Edmonds before the next in
ght came, and the landlord re- ty
rded him doubtfully, as one
lose board bill was not likely 10
paid. Only one friend stood by pt
nit was little Grace. One day OF
she saw him walking on the So
ach she went TO him and held th
her hand.
Mr.. Edmonds," she said, 81
mt you TO know that I-not that h,
I'm anybody, but still | don't be. &C
We you knew it. The old gen.
man who left them 10 you de- b.
we'd You, I'm sure. Please e,
every one so. | know you tv
nd never be an adventurer, and nj
not your fault the diamonds
false, and l thought / would tn
e 10 shake hands and say so.S
Thank you" he said, holding pI
his hand. $50 you don't doubt
p so
No said Grace. 81 don't see Of
v any ono cam dr.
Yet I knew those we're bits Of
.ie when | gave lhem,n said Mr. ey