Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-04-17

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Charles came mp behind mo and looked
over my shoulder.
"Good gracious!' said Lady Mary
solemnly. Ralph, you are a rich man.
| Why, mine are nothing to them" and
she touched diamond and emerald
necklace on her own neck. 81 never
knew poor Sir John had 80 much good
in him"
"Oh, Ralph, Ralph" cried Aurelia,
clasping her little hands with a 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
| think there was not woman pres
ent who did not envy Aurella as Ralph
took up flashing diamond crescent and
held it against her fair hair. | saw Eve
Ign turn away and begin to tear up u
small piece Of paper in her hand. Wo-
men are very jealous Of each other. es-
pecially the nice, by which l mean the
pretty ones. was sorry to see jealousy
so plainly marked in such charming
looking girl as Evelyn, but women arc
all the same about jewels. Aureha
blushed and sparkled and pouted when
the clasp caught Ia her hair, and shook
her little head iInpatiently 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.
Are you aware" he said at last to
Ralph, pointing to the crescent, that
those diamonds are Of enormous value?
l 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 rs this
are q grave responsib ility." He stood
shaking his head little and turning the
crescent in his hand. "Wondertul." 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 will put 1t round
it again. All these stones want polish
ing, and many of them resetting They
ought not to be tumbled together this
way in a bag, with nothing to prevent
them scratching each other. See Ralph,
here ID a clasp broken, and hero 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"
II suppose the second son was spe-
cially mentioned, Middleton" said
Charles, az l drew back to let the rest
handle and admire.
"Of course" said Lady Mary sharply
land very fortunate thing, too
"Nery-for Ralph," he replied. ut Is
really providential that am what am.
Why, l might have ruined the dear
boys prospects if had paid my tailors
bill, and lived in tho country among the
buttercups and daisies All, my dear
aunt, as | see you are about to remark,
how all things here below work together
for goOd!'
Il WAS not going to remark anything
of the kind" retorted Lady Mary, draw
ing herself up "but," she added spite
fully, Il do not feel the less rejoiced at
Ralph's good fortune and prosperity
when | see, as often do, the unSodly
fourishiug like green bay tree"
OF course" said Charles, shaking his
head, If that is your own experience
bow before it. But for my own part
must confess I have not found it so.
Flourish like a green bay treel No, Aunt
Mary, it is fallacy. They don't. I am
sure l only wish they did. But SEQ tho
rehearsal is beginning, May give you
an arm to the hall2'
The offer was entirely disregarded.
and it was With the help Of mine that
Lady Mary retired from az unequal
combat, which she never seemed able 10
resist provoking anew, and in which she
was invariably worsted. causing her, as
could see to regard Charles with the
concentrated bitterness Of which q Sc
verely good woman alone is capable
soon perceived that Charles was on
the same amicable terms with his IA
Their, that they rarely spoke, and that il
was evidently only with a view to keep
ing up appearances that he was ever in
vited to tho paterna roof at al Be-
tween the brothers, however, in spite Of
SO much to estrango them, certain
hndiness Of feeling seemed to exist
which was hardly to have been expected
under the circumstances.
The rehearsal now began. and Sir
George Danvers, who had remained be-
hind to put by the jewels, and lock them
up in his strong box among his papers,
came and sat down by me, again thank
ing mo for taking charge of them, though
l assured hilnsit had been very little
trouble.
mot much trouble, perhaps, but a
great responsibility, he said courte-
ously,
"a soldier. Sir George" replied, with
q slight smile, becomes early Injured to
, the gravest responsibility. 1t is the air
we breathe; it is taken az a matter Of
course"
lie looked keenly at me, and was 81
,, lent, az if considering something-per-
haps what had said.
; was delighted TO find the play was
: ono Of those which had seen acted dur
ing our passage home. There Is nothing
like 80 much as knowing play before
hand, because then one can always
whisper to one's communion what is