Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-11

roof" said Gladys. "the top Of the great pines
near the Yosemite, and the rainbow over
Niagara, and how fine it was by moonlight"
Il don't know that it signifies. Barbarians?
Why, she told me she always ate with her fin
gers before she came here, and when / ex-
pressed my horror she asked me, really asked
me, If expected her-fancy-to eat with her
toesr'
she was trying to shock you, mamma"
"She is quite capable Of it. And 1 don't
people"
And some Of those people, shs says" re-
marked Philippa, actually have as many
wives a. they want. One-she didn't know
him. she had heard about him-had more than
ffty!"
"Philippa. can't allow you"
"And, mamma'-with deepening blush
she says they buy divorce as easily as they
do gloves"
"Oh, my dears, she il very demoralizing
keep our own side of the house as much as pos
sible."
II don't know" said Philippe, after her
mother had stepped out upon the gallery, and
was pursuing her constitutional around the
house. like the wind in the riddle, II suppose
It's very much by the way and not at all what
one ought, but il does seem as if some Of these
Americans had-had-a very good time l do
wish, Gladys, that Rogers could ft our dresses
as theirs fit. Look at our waists. And that
Miss Anna Aston waist makes her look like .
lily on stem"
1T wouldn't make any difference, Philippa, {"
sighed Gladys. I'm only sorry that Hubert's
here. wish he had gone up into the mount
aims, as he meant"
And while they were murmuring on their
mother swept back and flung herself into the
bamboo chair.
"Oh, my darlings?" she exclaimed, breat TIL
lessly, Il am afraid we have made a great mis-
take. Those AlSton's are no poor sea captain )
daughters, you may be assured. l was passing
their windows and it happened to me to glance
in, and there stood Miss Anna dressed ont in
twenty thousand pounds worth Of diamonds,
and no lessr'
"iiamma!''
What did It mean? Can you conjecture7
What can 1t mean? / saw it myself. There is
a great mystery. Young girls with diamonds
like that"
American girls all have them, mamma"
But many. And never shown before 1t
is very mysterious" said Lady Oily, shaking
her head.
DO you suppose they are going down to
dinner in them" asked Gladys, with light Of
expectation i'll her pale eyes.
Il don't know don't know" said Lady
Dllly, gloomily. Can it be that these girls
are by way of being anything dishonest
1T much more likely that they are two rich
American girls, of those millionaire people, out
on Il mamma
ION a what Philippa?'
But when, a little later, Lady Diliy saw tho
two young barbarians in their black net gowns
without so much as gay ribbon she was still
more COMPOUNDED. Where were the Jewels?
Why were they put on? Why were they taken
OFF We're they honest property or were they
thieves booty2 What did they imply? Could
they do anything but draw with them the
boundess wealth of mines and railroads and
prairie citiesi
There was only one way to solve the problem
She crossed the broad gallery d-by where
they all fingered under the pretty colored
lights, listening to the sea, and sat down by
Priscilla.
My DEAR" she said, las passed your win
dow tonight did not see your sister dressed
wlth-with rather costly-with . psrure Of
''Oh, dare say" said Priscilla. 1--WE put
them on sometimes when we are little home
sick. They are Aunt Friscilia's."
OH said Lady billy. 'Heirlooms, then"
Why, If you choose to call them 3d." said
Priscilla.
You are very fortunate to have such treas
ures," said Lady billy.
DO you think sop said Priscilla. Diamonds
are as common as cows in New York"
They have such fortunes there," sighed
Lady Oily. "Of course one could not afford
to keep money locked up i'll jewels unless one
had many times as much more behind them
couldn send your name up to the agency for
titled husbands if you hadn't the jewels all
ready that baroness, or a countess, q
duchess, or whatever you register for ought to
have. l believe Annas up for an Italian
prince. She thought she d like that better than
an English lord, and they cost just the same
It's mach more romantic, and the Italian an
cestors are longer, and when you are paying
for them you may well get them long as
short I'm not registered yet; but then I'm
going to be"
My dear" gasped Lady billy.
Your mother seemed sort of surprised"
said Priscy to Miss Phihppa afterwards, Ito
think we had diamonds. | believe she thought
VIC were like little naked savases playing with
precious stones and not knowing their value"
Philippa blushed to the roots of her thin drab
hair, whether on account OF the little savages
or the divination OF her mothers thoughts
But mamma was surprised she SAID, lat
your mOdestv Ill not wearing them, don't you
know, like other American"
zone gets out of the habit Of wearing them
It's SO inconyenent always to have your gun
loaded, and when we 60 out on Broadway with
several thousand dollars worth of diamonds
on, We either must 60 armed or with detec-
tive To be sure"
Fancy
''fo be sure, If any one should hold rs up"
Il beg your pardon"
What for! Oh! l mean Just rob us-he
"ooiN NC o'i uhS up OH tno AcAt eleClTiC Wire
by the crowd, Americans are 81 chivairic. But
1t Is SO easy to escape INTO the prairie and be
lost IN the junsles there, that it's just as well
not to provoke assault"
'How nasty! How extraordinarily nasty I!
don see how you can live in such a terrible
country Why don't you come to England and
be safe!"
Terrible country" cried Priscilla in shrill
displeasure. 'Well. unfortunately we like it,
We like the smell of gunpowder. We often
have gunpowder burnt at weddings instead of
having flowers"
You have never been in England, have
you: asked Gladys, joining them. You
ought to so. don't you know. You would like
to see our place. The park lis ideal, and the
gardens, oh . tine gardens used 10 be. in grand
papas time, a dream of beauty. It's very much
gone by, to be sure. But il poor papa only had
the money to keep it up, We shouldn't be down
here in this latitude. 1t will be Huberts some
day, dear boy. He is the best and kindest boy
You really don't appreciate Hubert on first ac-
qua!ntance."
Il suppose" said the reckless Priscy, The
isn't as dumb as he looks"
Dumb
~ mean-you don't mean to tell me-he
hasn't an impeachment in his speech? Isn't
tone ue-tled or soneIhing?"
OH exclaimed Gladys. Hubert! Dear
me. You ought to know him better. You
ought to hear him make a standing speech
Why, he-he finishes it. He's-he's ELOQUENT
When he told US about hunt in the hills once
1t really made me shiver."
did he kill anything?'