The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-06-07
N $. Glll9Sbl"1lgl'i Diam3 rs.
Continued from fourth page3

i ]
country once when was a verr lirtIe
girl; that was before | went to the cvn-
vent, you know"
TO the convent"
She gave a charming impronptu
laugh.
Il wasn't quite a NUM- didn't want
to make you believe thatl Only was
brought mp i'll u convent near Paris; Ell
ucated there, ~ many young la,iIes are
| was there seven years-wasnt that
long?-and / only got out n little while
ago"
1T must have been awfully dull
"Ch, / liked IL in n sort Of way; they
were very kind to me there. but then
didn't know how pleasant it was outside!
You would never believe how delightful
the world is II you were only told about
it. Ny papa used to tell me abOut It
sometimes. and he il n great traveller
he has been everywhere. But | didn't
realize it until saw for myself"
Have you been TO America since
leaving the convent
''Oh. Yea / went TO New York, and
saw my cousins there. Papa went with
me, bat he came back to Paris first aud
| followed later. met him again in
Paris only few weeks ago. He will be
surprised TO sets You here. Mr.. (lainsbor-
ough- What y funny way you have
chosen to go from Paris TO Rome
through Dresden!~
Yes, I-bHt, by the way. how did you
know was going to ROine2 And why
will your papa be surprisedT
Again she laughed. and regarded me
with so delightfully."- miscellaneous a
some way be making n fool OF myself
What did it all mean? bit TIy lip and
the color came into my face from provo
cation at my own evident thick headed
ness.
IF You had only waited little longer
in Paris" she continued, still smiling
systematically, perhaps we might have
met in a more regular way, and perhaps
then you would have let mo have a look
at your-diamonds!"
My diamondsl That explained the
mystery in a flash.
lis your father Mr. Birch1noreY-
Il am Miss Birrhmore. II you please.
sir. You never asked me for my card,
and didn't like to force it on you. 1t
was so kind of you to take me on trust,
without making sure that was all right
first. thought Enghshmen were more
cautious and reserved"
could now join in the laugh against
myself with full appreciation of the ex.
cellence of the jest. Mr.. Birchmore.
then, had been Il married man after all
OF course he was Why had not be-
F. H.
ness between him and his daughter?
Take her on trust, forsooth! How /
longed TO retort that | was ready to take
her for better, for worse, then and there.
if she would have me! II she were
fair specimen of American girls, what Il
nation of hours they must be indeed
But then they were not all brought mp
in French converts. 1t was that that
added to Miss Birchmore the last IRE
sistible charm.
That it was that gave her that naivete
that innocent frankness, that uncon-
scious freedom. And this lovely creature
had actually know me by report before
we met. Her father had told her of me.
and evidently he had not given Inc
bad character. And this accounted for
the favorable change in her manner
when she saw my card. Well, It was
altogether delightful had been guided
by a happy destiny; thank fortune.
had so conducted myself as at least not
to prejudice Miss Birchmore against me.
Verify, good manners are never thrown
away, and moreover prided myself las
| fancy most gentlemen do) on my abli
ity to detect true lady at a glance
We now resumed our conversation on
a stil more confidential footing than
Miss Birchmore related
many amusing anecdotes of her late ex-
perience in New York, as well as of her
earlier days in the convent, and even
some passages Of her child life previous
to the latter epoch observed, how
ever, that ever and anon she would
check herself, seeming to pass over GER
tain passages in her history in silence.
and this reminded me of the similar b9-
havior which had noted in her father.
That secret, that mystery-whatever it
was that weighed upon him-had cast
Shallow over her young heart like
wise. Honestly did l sympathize with
ner unknown trouble, and srdently did
lOng-all vulgar curiosity aside-to
have the knowledge of 1t impaired to
ME. Few calamities are 50 heavy as
that by earnest and friendly help they
may not be lightened. What could it
be3 In vain / asked myself that ques-
lion.
Here was this lovely girl, in the first |
fresh bloom Of existence, just beginning |
70 taste with eager, uncloyed palate all |
the sweet joys and novelties of life
health, youth, a happy temperament |
md ample wealth ranked on her side, |
md yet this bitterness of misfortune,
not by r5ghts her own, must needs com
Its bhghting influence to herl
i was trAgical to think OF. Yes, ever
md anon could mark its traces in her
1ivid face and winning bearing; pass
ng gloom Of sadness IN those wonder
al eyes: q culver Of apprehension about
he lips; an involuntary gesture Of nerv-
BUSINESS or lassitude; many trifing signs,
'caroely perceptible perhaps to a regard
ess keen and wstchful than mine had
.lready become. Already But time