The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-04-13

2 for sometime, and was very quiet ana suDdue
n all the rest of the evening. Chester did hi
/ best to make up for what he felt had bee
uucalled for harshuess, but without avail.
/ ''You must forgive me-" he said, quit
S touched by her evident detection. Il did no
| mean to vex you so deeply. l spoke hastily
and perhaps a little unjustly.
| ''Oh, you are quite right she answere,
r with a little sigh. She was sitting on lov
chair near the fire, her hands elasped in he
, lap. She despised fancy work of all kinds
and possessed the art of sitting perfectly idlt
in an easy and picturesque manner. Cheste
was certainly not in love with her; neverthe
less, he could not but acknowledge that, if {
little wanting in womanly grace and gentle
ness, she was, Notwithstanding these de6een
cies. strikingly handsome young creature
And he had never seen her look so womanly as
she did tonight
When Miss Hardwicke awoke from her
usual after dinner nap, she proposed that-in
accordance with promise which it appeared
she had made Diana some time ago-the
famous diamonds should be unearthed from
the safe, and brought down stairs. Accord
ingly Chester was intrusted with the key, and
one of the servants summoned TO assist him
in bringing down the brass bound box con-
tanning the jewels. They certainly were splen-
did diamonds, and as case after case WAS
opened and their contents flashed and seiu.
tllated in the lamplight, Diana drew deep
breath OF admiration.
"Oh, auntie they are matchless-maguif-
cent! ." the astouished girl said in low voice;
II have often heard my father speak Of them,
but never dreamed they were anything like
that
The old lady was pleased at the evident i'm
preston her treasures created.
Come here, my dear, she said, with a
loving smile. And making the girl kneel be-
fore her, she elasped the superb necklet round
the slender throat and insisted on trying the ef-
feet of the whole suite. Even Chester utter.
ed an involuntary expression of intense ad
miration at the result. Diana's cheeks were
flashed to a deep pink, her splendid eyes
shown like stars under their thick lashes.
The fiery Jewels cleaned in her hair, in her
ears, on waist, neck. arms, and fingers, con
,rus,ing effectively with the ilmy black gown
she wore. and flashing out quiyering rays of
light like a thousand hreflies. She looked
like some Eastern queen.
/ When the diamonds were again consigned
to their velvet beds, Chester. at his godmothet's
request, took them up stairs again. Diana,
\ 4 Al
begged to be allowed to accompany him.
II viii help to carry the box" she said,
( laughing; "and besides, | do 50 want 10 see
the inside Of tha, safe You know, auniie,
yoa said might.
What curious key - said Diana, watch,
I ias Aueutirely as Chester fitted it into the
lock. You have to press little knob some
where above, haveu't you, before the key
tarus.
.'Yes, said Chester, smiling. "who told
yoa -
.Auntie told me. She sald no one knew
+ the secret Of il bu, herself and you. Bat as
I | am one Of the family, she told me ton. "
And Diana nodded her bead wssh pretty air
+ OF Importance.
As she spoke The door Of the safe swung
slowly back. and Chester stepped IN. The
safe itself was le, into the sail, and was about
the axe OF very small room. All the Hard.
~ieke plate, except that ia daily use, was
ranged msShodieA!iy on the shelves which
. lined the walis. and modessly matiied in
chamois leather bags The box containing
the jewels had special corner for itself
Chester, having deposited the box in lis
coracr. turned to his companion, who sill
stood in the corridor.
'.Would you ike to come in?' he said,
helding out his hand, and feeling really vexed
With hinself for bis unreasonable prejudice
sgainsl this lovely girl, ~ho seemed to try so
bard. a. times, to be Eeuile and conventional.
Take care Neither you nor | can stand
upright here.
Diana entered cautiously, for the ceiling
sras low, and Chester exerted himself so far
as 10 unroll from their wrappings the euriously
chased punch bowls, aagons, candlessieks,
Se., ABd to relate the many quaint legends
concerning them, which had descended, like
the plate itself. through the countless gener.
a,ions Diana was deeply interested, bu, the
lock. with its concealed spring and curious
action, seemed to take her fancy almost more
than anything. She made lssnH0x show her
the working Of the spring again and again,
and thanked him very prettily as they went
slowly down the broad staircase together.
And he, strangely constituted young man
felt obdurately conscious that in spite Of her
beauty and winsome ways he certainly did
not like her. At least-well, he vas not
quite sure. And Diana, naughty Diana, was
smiling mischievously. Why
For tWo days after the diamond show, as
Diana called il, her aunt noticed that she
always made point of meeting the postman,
morning and evening, at the foot of the ave
nue.. On the third day she entered the
morning room Just after breakfast with rather
a heightened color, and with an open letter
in her hand Miss Hardwicke was alone,
Chester having gone round to the stables.
Diana handed her aunt small bundle OF
letters, then, nervously twisting the paper she
held, she said in a low voice:
'Auntie, may speak to you about some
thing -
Certainly, my dear. You do not need to
ask that, should think. What is it child p
The girl hesitated. then said frankly;
II have something to tell you, auntie.
Something l ought to have told you before,
Miss Hardwicke looked vaguely alarmed.
'.Well, dear?" she said anxiously.
I'll ought to have told you before now,
stammered the girl, ''that-that | have a
lover-that am engaged to be married. "
The old lady did not speak for few
moments. She was conscious of a keen pang
of disappointment; for she thought she had
observed an alteration in her godson's manner
to the wayward Diana during the last few
, days, and had hoped great things. For was
not that love the most lasting which began
with a little aversion? Then a sudden hope
inspired her.
"My dear" leaning eagerly forward, lis il
, is it Chester ?"
"Chester - repeated Diana. Then the
; excitable girl burst into wild peal of hys
: terical laughter. ''0h, forgive me, she
gasped, controlling herself with an effort
''But could not help thinking how disguste6
I L q ,Ns,T