The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-11-26


she touched diamond and emerald
necklace on her own neck. 81 never
knew poor Sir John had so much good
in him."
''Oh, Ralph, Ralph" cried Aurelia,
clasping her little hands with deep
sigh "And will they really be my very
own?"
Ralph assured her that they would,
and that she should act in them the fol-
lowing nightif she liked. "a
[ think there was not q woman pres
ent who did not envy Aurelia as Ralph
took up q flashing diamond crescent and
held it against her fair hair. saw Eve
Ign turn away and begin to tear up a
small piece of paper in her hand. Wo-
men are very jealous Of each other, es-
pecially the nice, by which I mean the
pretty ones. | was sorry to see jealousy
so plainly marked in such a charming
looking girl as Evelyn, bat women are
all the same about jewels. Aurelia
blushed and sparkled and pouted when
the clasp caught in her hair, and shook
her little head impatientlE and was alto
gether enchanting.
After the first burst of admiration had
subsidized Gen. Marston, an old Indian
officer who had been somewhat in the
rear, came up and looked long at the
glittering mass upon the table.
care you aware" he said at last to
Ralph, pointing to the crescent, "that
those diamonds are of enormous value?
have not seen such stones in any shop
in London. dare not say what that one
crescent alone is worth, or that emerald
bracelet. Jewels of such value as this
are a grave responsibility" He stood
shaking his head little and turning the
crescent in his hand. "Wonderful!'' he
said, wonderful! Do not tear up that
piece Of rice paper, Miss Derrick" he add
ed, taking it from her. ''The crescent was
wrapped in it, and I will put it round
it again. All these stones want polish
ing, a1 i many of them resetting. They
ought cot to be tumbled together this
way in a bag, with nothing to prevent
them scratching each other. See, Ralph,
here is a clasp broken, and here are
some loose stones, and this star has no
clasp at all. You must take them up to
some trustworthy jeweler and have
them thoroughly looked over"
81 suppose the second son was spe-
oial1y mentioned, MiddletoAp said
Charles, as I drew back to let the rest
handle and admire.
"Of course" said Lady Mary sharply;
''and very fortunate thing, too"
''Very-for Ralph," he replied. cit is
really providential that I am what am.
Why, I might have ruined the dear
boys prospects if had paid my tailor's
bill, and lived in the country among the
buttercups and daisies. All, my dear
aunt, as I see you are about to remark,
how all things here below work together
for good"
81 was not going to remark anything
of the kind" retorted Lady Mary, draw
ing herself up; "but," she added spite
fully, II do not feel the less rejoiced at
Ralph's good fortune and prosperity
when T see, as I often do, the ungodly
fourishing like a green bay tree"
"Of course" said Charles, shaking his
head, ''if that is your own experience I
bow before it. But for my own part I
must confess I have not found it SO.
Flourish like green bay tree! No, Aunt
Mary, it is fallacy. They don't, I ana
sure only wish they did But I see the
rehearsal is beginning. May I give you
an arm to the hall?'
Tho Offa7, woo o-otira1v 1icrn0ardn6