The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-01-09

He worked diligently at the long neglect |
ed farm chores, mended the broken gates,
replaced missing fence pickets, patched
the well-chain and made himself useful |
in all directions.
ga regular old TRIUMPH said Harry
Valance, who was engaged to marry
Mary, as soon as that imperious young
damsel should consider that she had
laid up enough money for her household
"The very person, should
think, that your aunt needs about the
place. And he works very cheap, you
say7"
Fifty cents day." said Mary,
Struggling her shoulders. "But Aunt
BaYley considers that ruinous price,"
'Hes not II young man." observed
Valance.
The next evening, when Mary was
looking over her little store of orna-
ments, she came across dull white
stone, set in a curious cable of tarnished |
metal. She took it up and looked ear
nestly at it.
''I wonder what old Hermann would |
think of it2" mused she. "I'vc always |
felt curious about this old ring that be.
longed to my fathers uncle. I'll ask
Hermann. If it should be real gem
thought, of course, it isn'tw
The old man eyed it keenly, turning
It this way and that. Then he lifted
his faded blue orbs to Mary's earnest
face.
els it real diamond9" she queried,
eagerly.
"One hardly knows" slowly spoke
Ernst. 81 wish, for the fraulin's sake,
that it was. l have not my instruments
here, nor my testing glasses. If the
fraulein does not object, will take it
to the jewelers. in Hungerford, aud to-
gether we can tell"
To this Mary promptly consented;
and not until he had gone, did she divulge
this little plan to her aunts.
"Hc'll never come back" said Mrs.
Bagley, with a gr oan. "Your diamonds
gone forever"
eff it is diamond" said Mary,
eat amt, and 1T never was," shrcwdly
spoke Miss Dodd.
Old Hermann trudged through the sun
and the dust to Hungerford, carrying
Sea- Captain Moorc's old ring in his
pocket.
"Thcre is a jeweler there" he said to
himself, "and 1 may get work. And the
money my brother CARL has left me-the
money that came in a lawyers letter,
this morning from Brugcs! 1t is not a
fortune, true, but it will help. had
thought would cease from toll and live
at my ease; but am quite strong yet
and who am ], to sit with folded hands,
while there is work to do in the world2
And the dear young fraulein has been
good to me, and she would not take
Car!l's money from mc, much though
long to give it to herl Hoch! she shall
fall into the trap old Ernst will set for
her. She shall marry and be happy"
The jewcler at Hungerford asked the
diamond cutter q good many questions.
"Ioure the very fellow | want" said
he. "I've an order from the ladies at
uungerford Grange to reset a parure of
very fine stones, and begrudge to share
lows in New York. You can do fine
Ernst, with professional pride.
every we'll, I'll give you trial. II
you suit, I'll make it to your advantage
to work for me. There are some points
you Europeans understand that we
haven't quite reached, as yet. Now,
what is this about an antiquc2 Let's
look at it."
cit is not diamond" said Ernst. ~
know enough of uncut gems to be sure
of that. 1t may be n white topaz; but it
is of very inferior grade. Probably it
is n Rhine stone, and nothing more.
But I wish that it should be q real dia-
mond."
:'Eh2" said the jewolcr.
"My work will be of some money
value, supposed"
81 don't doubt it; but
"And Ihave here something"
He opened his foreign letter and took
out its inclosure of thin paper.
"Ah," said the jcweler, "quite neat
I little sum, should sayI'
"For me it is wealth." said the old
man -v-rff rearst0he OF good water-as
a gift to one who has been heavenly kind
to the old exile"
''llumph" said the jewelcr.
Hermann Ernst came back late at
night.
'o P'eaSaht surprise iOr the 1rau-
lein," said he.
"Oh, was it real damond9" cried
Mary, her face lighting up.
81 left it to be cut and reset. | shall
ere ';ng bring back to the fraulein a
jewel of which she may feel proud"
spoke the old man.
81 always thought that ring was of
value" said Mrs. Bagley. "But we
hadn't no means o tellin'."
"Me with real diamond ring2" cried
Mary, ''lt seems impossiblel Oh, 1 am
so glad-so gladl"
She danced joyfuliy about the kitchen
floor, making an impromptu castanet of
an old tin bakepan which she CHANGED
just then to be buttering for use in the
oven.
Old Hermann watched her with beam.
ing eyes.
cit is good investmentl" murmurcd
he.
"Look hercl" said Mrs. Bagley, whep
the shining diamond RING. i'm its white