Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-08-05
ABAG OF DIAMONDS.

Il DHU VI OlAuONDSs
lie had screwed his courage TO the
sticking point. After all, what good
to the old mau was that bag of gcmsi
What good except TO count oyer, mark
their twinkling facets. gloat over their
value, and laugh at those who might
cove. them. Palsied fingers would
shake as The strings of the chamoit
skin treasury were rapturously united,
and amomcnIs life and energy fash
into pinchcd check and faded eye, as
every evening the revelation Of untold
wealth woke in withered heart its
only surviving passion. But what
good to the world or 10 the man was
that brief minute of ecstasy? Was il
10, paid for a humdredfold by nights
Of fear and forebodings of robbery
that made life perpetual horror?
How often had Paul heard his uncle
wake from his noontide nap with n
dreaming cry: "My diamonds, my
diamonds, is that you Paul? L thought
Il was a robber."
His thoughts were TO como true to-
night. Paul tried to persuade him
54!f thet the treasures he hsd set his
heart on belonged to him as much
IS If they had been lying in O
mine, the prize of the first finder.
Then came another thought His
,wn poverty and his great love. His
lncle's ward was as poor as him solf;
poor, proud and beautiful. Such
covers only grow in hard and soli-
'Orv places; in The nipping air, and
u7crowdcd even by tho obtrusiveness
Of love. Straight, slender, full-hued
ss o rose, with big soul bcaming in
her face and eyes, with meek, silent
ways, and bearing unflinchingly the
blows of on old mans brutal tongue,
this girl had presented TO the poets
mind the image of power, of profound
passion, of untiring cons,ancy such as
had enchanted him and transformed
his life.
; She had been first shy 10 him then
wistfully tender, as if sho piticd him.
1t was in the arbor at the foot of the
garden, where hc was seated now. be-
hind the hedge of clipped yew, that
she had nestled closo in his arms, and
they lad known tho first moment of
happiness in their deserted lives.
"Wc must be patient. Paul"
Patient, did she say? They had been
so long enough. His plans were ripe
now, and lie was watching the light in
his uncle's window. The old man
would. sleep well. he had taken care
of that, tonight. IL lie awokc? Well,
that too, was provided for. Old men
are not hard to smother. The night,
dark and damp, suited dark thoughts.
And tho sting of long oppression, the
blind feeling after revenge for years
of cruel Sights and insults, had long
engendercd such thoughts. And now
came vision of an earthly heaven,
the hope of a new life beyond the seas.
"Yes, will fly with you any time
you ask" the girl had said resolutely.
ave shall be happy, rich or poor"
No! not poor. lie would provide
against that.
The lights III tho windows of the
mansion are gone out. Even the win
dows on the ground floor, which open
on 10 the piazza, are dark. That is
lis uncle's room. Paul rises from his
seat. The dripping jasmine spray that
strikes his check as he leaves the little
summer-house makes his heart stop for
moment. lie fears even the faint
crunch Of his footsteps on the gravel.
There is dog baying in the distance,
rs if conscious that thieves are about.
lie steals past tho big pear tree at
the corner of the piazza, and tramp
ling in the soft mould of the flower
garden, where her jonquiis and tulips
grow, he crccps breathlessly to the
back porch. The outer door is quickly
opened. lie thrusts out his hand to
lind the knob of the house door and
taking a latch-kcy from his vest
pocket, lie opens it too. at the end
of the hail is his uncle's room. The
house is silent But hark! did he
hear foolfall2 1t must DC heavy
football that is heard OIL the thick car
pet and steady floor of oak. lie had
never before explored this old ram-
Ding dwelling in darkness, II was
H"ays to him a sad and drcary place;
Place of faded hangings, old.
%snloncd and tastelcss brio-a- brac.
"ih''nGs insipid in their tarnished
.iemes, and books that echoed tho
."hcy and opinion of a dead genera
'oh-havorless as yesterdays news.
lie has reached his uncle's door.
'here he produces dark lantern from
maer his cloak. Drawing up the