The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-14

1efmInsshallng troops, no Mvogac sonss
Az 49, bssetiss they lat = long-
|1 .l - h1 Eliise Is 3 A AZ 1,r.sHi Homo iI,i.s.zin.
#SAFaM%g$1
HARRIET LANES DIAMONDS.
8 rfarri.A Lanes diamonds had bsen tha
.sS 4 II hey soul for nearly forty years
1ss y navhad been rivsn TO her by her husband
s5sommsmorate The birth Of shcir first
shild. when misfortus came to them
vnsn the plantation had 70 be m~ortgaged-
No. hrahand had refused to listen to he'
lsltsrinR suggestion:
ssE,poss wo sell the d~iamondsY"
mot IL / know II! Not q bit of It," hehsd
nnsvSssd stoutly. ..They shall be a little
nsst-sgR FOR you." :,
A rhat had bsen forty-hvc years ago. The
mortgage had been lifted, hvc sturdy sons
brought 70 manhood. and one smart
daughter 70 the age Of II. Then the good
huabapd was called toa higher life and
Harriet ohsrishsd her diamonds more than
evss Tor his sake
Il Il sweet daughter was making up
IN mind Is pet hurried. Money was not
Y too plentiful about the place that year.
ma Harriet had some difficulty in getting
1oeether the necessary a~ctioles for her dear
Minniess trousseau. Miss Minnie's At
6anced Vas j prominent business man OF
RaSon Rouge, and her mother was deter
minad chat she should not have to blush
hAoause cf "her things." So without con-
nultinr Any one the dear soul decided to
oell her diamonds.
mind" When, one morning. she an
nonnosd TO her family that she was go.
INC % the city to get Minnie some things"
IA caused most decided sensation. "Pve
shali stay with Mary" she said.
Mary Wns q schoolMate OF hers b had
ciyen hsr ! standing invitation to visit her
This going 70 New Orleans was really a
wonderful event in Harriet Lanes life.
wedding trip.
When the steamboat came putting mp to
Che landing Harriet's heart almost failed
Net. But shs clutched her black bag and
drew ono long breath which lasted till she
h3d crossed the stage plank.
That night shs DID not =. sleep; .he feared
~ reached the city. and her friend came
down to the boat 10 meet her. In the course
ofthe evening she confided the object of
her trip 10 her dear Mary. She displayed |
the dismonds-the earrings set in clusters
81 twelve stones; the breastpin. CROSS
shaped, having twice the number, and the
with diamond eyes. She grew eloquent
her face younger-ths little stoop in her
shoulders almost disappeared.
t.The first time I wore them" she said, in
the dreamy way old women have when they
tell You Of what 4%appened when they were
aEE-N-& - , -hvsnkn~sr 80 A--l
The church folks did stare! Then I had them
on 81 Sic Louis wedding. The people looked
g en- morn they did at the bridev'
She sighed ~ she added: ..
..If pa was alive / wouldn't be selling 'em
now. But Min needs more things than the
place can afford TO give herr"
Then Harriet questioned eagerly the price
IF goods, etc. What wsuld q good silk dress |
cost? MIN must have one!
what do you think | should ask for my
diamonds?'' she snid, after everything else
had been dismissed. 'Pa gave $500 for
them"
"You won't get as much" answered her
friend quickly. She had looked at the
stones carefully. 4
well. IN make myself satisfied with
$780," returned Harriet.
That night the mother saw Minnie in her
dreams wearing q blue silk dress. The next
day was spent in sightseeing. New Orleans
0AQ changed 10 IN forty years. |
The second day Mary took her guest to
the stores and she had a good look at
things,'' finding out their prices, etc. Just
az they were about to take the cars Mary
suggested that hOr dear Harriet should stop
at Griswold's and see what valuation he
would put on the diamonds; of course had
them with her.
The polite salesman called the proprietor
OF the store, g
He examined them carefully.
where did you buy these?" he asked at
length.
"Pa-that il. my ~husband-got them in
Baton Rouge and he paid $500 for them"
answered Harriet Lane, proudly.
Then he Was outrageously swindled."
For . moment Harriet thought he was
joking. Then she grew wrsthful, and
snatching tbs jewels from him, she rushed
out Of the store.
THAT man must be crazy, or he is a
thief." she said to Mary.
swered her friend soothinQlv. But alas,
everybody was of Mr.. Griswold's opinion.
Let as 90 home" said Mary. Poor Har-
riet's face vas SO pinched and gray-look-
ing.
Lady Mary advised her 10 sell the set for
old gold. but Harriet only shook her head.
day following she went home. Mary
insisted on paying her passage and sending
Minnie the blue silk dress and several other
the diamonds were to have paid for.
Harriet put her diam onds back into their
She never told her children their
secret. Often she would look at them.
They Rlistened a. brightly as ever. Per
haps she hoped they we're real after all.
When she was dying. wears later, Minnie
heard her mutter: TELL Min to keep the |
diamonds. Tell her she must meyer sell
And Minnie never will.-New Orleans
Pioayune.
Little Girls Experience in a Lighthouse. |