Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-06-20
THE DIAMOND CROSS.
Ely ANNA SHIELDS.

Aunt Myra gave me the diamond cross
to-day, my twenty first birthday, telling
me its great value, and that [ must
cherish it as an heirloom as well as for its
rare beauty. 1t comes to me by Inherit
rncc, but Aunt Myra has worn it since
my mother died. How beautiful |
thought it, rejoicing only this morning
in its possession. 1t is old-fashioncd :;
the cross formed of round bars crusted
with small diamonds, while five large
ones of purcst water, blaze in the centre
and at the ends.
Proud OF my gems, | took the cross
down stairs to show it to Nellie knew
she was IN the parlOr, but / did not see
Alfred Barclay there until she called him
to admire my diamonds. | did not like
the greedy way in which he looked at
them, and turned the cross in the sun
light to bring out the coIors, but then l
never liked Alfred Barclay.
When Nellie told me she was engaged
90 him, and ! knew the wrench the news
would be to Jack Trueman who has wor-
SHIPPED Nellie since she was child, |
had half mind to tell her l had de
clined the honor Of being Mrs Barclay,
but, thinking that she loved him, re-
Trained.
But be does not make Nell happy. Shc
is a bright, careless little thing. easily
Influenced, and he tries to persuade her
that Aunt Myra acts unjustIy in adopting
me. and promising she will leave me
Meadowland. Nellie has a small fortune
Of her own, but not so large as mine is,
even without Mead0wland, but she is not
Aunt Myra's own niece, but her hus-
bands, while [ am Aunt Ny-a'S sisters
child, and her only living relative.
We all hoped Nellie would marry Jack,
until she came to visit us at MeadOWland,
and meJ Alfred Barclay. She was cap
tivated at once, and will not sec that his
courtesy is exaggerated, his smile false,
his tiatgcIy too broad and his dress tlashy.
One Of his ornaments ~ is a horrible
grinning skull Of ivory that he wears as a
scarfpin, and makes me sick every time |
see il. ItIs the only one | ever saw, and
ii grins st me from the silken tie till
long 10 snatch it away, and throw it into
the river.
Well, as I was saying, Nellie seemed
to forget Jack, very existence as soon as
Alfred Barclay began to pay her atten-
ton, and it was not long before she told
me of ner engagement. When she came
to my room after Alfred left, to-day, she
was most unlike her sweet, bright self,
and it was not long before I knew that
he had put envious thoughts into her
mind.
''Altred thinks you are too small and
fair to wear diamonds, " she said; ''they
suit me better"
But my cross is an heirloom, [ said;
Kit should be mine, if [ never wear 1t. L
shall put 1t on tonight for Mrs. Cam
erOn's party, and IN honor of my birth
day
We were going to small party at Mrs.
Cameron's and l was already dressed,
when Dolf wrote me Il note, eXcuslng
himself from escorting me, as he was
called to a dangerous case at Sloan
Mills, five miles from our own village
Doll IS Dr.. Sanderson, my betrothed, my
big, ugly, darling sweetheart, who IS
worth a dozen little daprer wretches,
like Alfred Barclay.
call Mr.. Barclay a wretch, because
but l am coming to that presently.
Nellie and went to Mrs. Camerons,
and Jack offered his services as my es-