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

cricket, ana extremely nelpful wltnal.
He worked diligently at the long neglect
ed farm chores, mended the broken gates,
missing fence pickets, patched
the well-chain and made himself useful (
in all directions.
ga regular old trump!" said Harry
Valance, who was engaged to marry
Mary, as soon as that imperious young
dsmsel should consider that she had
laid up enough money for her household
plenishing. "The very person, should
think, that your aunt needs about the
place. And he works very cheap, you
say?"
FIFTY cents day. said Mary,
Struggling her shoulders. "But Aunt
Bayley considers that ruinous price,"
"He's 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 i'm 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. sI've always
felt curious about this old ring that be.
longed to my fathers uncle. I'll ask
Hermann. If it should be a real gem
thought, of course, it isn'tm
The old man eyed it keenly, turning
1t this way and that. Then he lifted
his faded blue orbs to Mary's earnest
face.
els ita real diamond'" she queried,
eagerly.
"One hardly knows" slowly spoke
Ernst. 81 wish, for the fraulin's sake,
that it was. have not my instruments
here, nor my testing glasses. If the
fraulein does not object, l will take it
to the jewelers. in Hungerford, and 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.
"Hell never come back" said Mrs
Bagley, with groan. "Your diamonds
gone forever"
EFF it is diamond" said Mary.
'It amt, and it never was," shrewdly
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 q jeweler there" he said to
himself, "and may get work. And the
money my brother CARL has left me-the
money that came in lawyers letter,
this morning from BruSes! 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 l, 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
Carlls money from me, much though I
long to give it to hcrl Hoch! she shall
fall into the trap old Ernst will set for
her. She shall marry and be happy"
The jeweler at Hungerford asked the
diamond cutter good many questions.
''Iou're the very fellow | want" said
he. 'Ive an order from the ladies at
uungerford Grange to reset parure of
very fine stones, and begrudge to share
my profits with those constituencies fell
lows New York. You can do fine
work ~ .-.--. CAV.
Ernst, with professional PRIDE.
every we'll, I'll give you trial. II
you suit, III 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 Lets
look at it."
''It is not diamond" said Ernst. 81
know enough of uncut gems to be sure
Of that. 1t may be a white topaz; but it
is of a very inferior grade. Probably it
is n Rhine stone, and nothing more.
| But I wish that it should be a real dia-
mond."
:'Eh2" said the jewelcr.
"My work will be of some money
value, supposed"
'I don't doubt it; but"
"And have here something"
p He opened his foreign letter and took
out its inclosure of thin paper.
"Ah," said the jeweler, "quite neat
little sum, should sayl"
''For me it is wealth." said the old
! man .V-rif H rearstohe of good water-as
gift to one who has been heavenly kind
to the old exile"
'Humph" said the jewelcr.
'iSimGhu LTHSC came DaCk late Mt
night.
81 have pleasant surprise for the frau.
lein, said he.
"Oh, was it real diamond?" cried
Mary, her face lighting up.
81 left it to be cut and reset. I shall
ere icng bring back to the fraulein
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. "1t seems impossiblel Oh, am
so glad-so gladl"
She danced joyfully about the kitchen
floor, making an impromptu castanet of
an old tin bakepan which she chanced
just then to be buttering for use in the
oven.
Old Hermann watched her with beam
ing eyes.
cit is good Investment" murmured
he.