Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-08-10
IA SOLITAIRE DIAMoyp.

1neVer saw more beautiful solitaire
diamond than the one Mr.. lack Car
riere put on our Miss Eva's finse,
when she became engaged to him-.ond
I knew something about diamonds, too
for before I came to my present posi
ton had lived in a jewelers. family.
She showed it to everybody in the
house, of course, and aside from the
justifiable pride she took IN it's beauty
and value, she regarded it with a deer
affection, almost reverence, that was
very touching.
Il love it, Betty she said to me- rs
was brushing her pretty hair that
evening. IF I should lose it, or any.
thing should happen to it, think il
would break by heart OF course Jack
would replace it-or try to-but I do
not believe there is another like it in
the world-so pure, so perfect! / never
thought l was superstitious before,
Betty; but if should lose that ring,
should know that it meant misfortune
for Jack or for me-or both of us; and
if any one should steal it from me ]
never could forgive him-never while ]
lived!'
Il hope nothing will happen to it,
Miss Eva" 1 said earnestly. "And
surely no one would be so wicked as
to attempt to steal it from your
"Of course not, Betty!" said Miss
Eva, with q little laugh. Il have been
talking nonsense But I have felt so
strangely nervous all the evening"
don't know what it means, unless it
is because Jack is going away next
week. I can't seem to understand it."
''You are tired and a little bit eXcit-
ed, Miss Eva, over that beautiful ring"
said, as I went on brushing her hair.
'Mr. Jack will be home soon again."
"Of course he will, you little wise
head" said Miss Eva. with a smile that
was a more cheerful one this time,
as I could see from the reflection of
her face in the glass. Il am tired, and
a little bit nervous; and SO 1 will say
no more but let you quiet me by brush
ing my hair awhile. That soothes me
more than anything else does.'
I went on brushing her hair in ST.
lence, but her strange words ranked
in my mind, and my thoughts went
back to the early part Of the evening,
when she had exhibited her ring to the
family.
Her father had merely remarked in
his practical, matter-of-fact way:
"Umph! fine stone"
Her mother had raised the lovely lit
tie hand that it decorated to her lips
and kissed it fondly; Miss Taylor, who
held the double position of companion
and governess to Miss Eva's little SIS
ter. had uttered few quiet but hearty
words Of admiration; but Mr.. Paul
Urquhart-a cousin several times re-
moved, who was there on visit that
seemed to be likely to stretch out in
definitely. grew deadly pale for a mo-
ment. and then turned upon Miss Eva
a look that she did not see, but seemed
to feel-for her color came and went,
and she did not like herself at all Tor
the rest of the evening
Rut saw it, and it looked as l could
imagine a snake might look when he
was trying to fascinate his victim.
None of us in the house really liked
him. and we wondered why he was
allowed to prolong his visit SO:
# was well known that he had tried
TO court Miss Eva, but she would have
nothing to do with him in that way;
and he gave up, apparently "lth sooo
grace.
Since then he had been very attentlve
to Miss Taylor, but she apparently uiu
not like him any better than MISS IVA Nv,
did-avoided him as much us possipl.,
and always seemed i'll at ease Ill LIS
presence. 49,. o,- ~.
Moreover, during the last week or
two she had been evidently 1rouDleu
about something, and had gone ABOUT
the house in Il sad. quiet way that reill-
" made my heart ache-for she was 50
kind and pleasant that we an lo'eu he:
only next to Miss Eva herself:
= brushed my young ladys nalr uil'l1
she told me to stop, then assisted nel
ia undrcss herself and left her.
Two days later Mr.. Jack went away:
His last act was to raise the hano
that wore his ring to his lips and say
with an earnestness 1 never heard MN
"Take care of my pledge. dearest:
Keen it safe and bright as an earnest
of my return! ,.<
And there were tears in Miss ETa's
ewes as she said almost in a whisper
II WILL Jack, I will!''
That night when | brushed her nan
she held the ring pressed up against
her face the whole time, and all through
tho next day she would sit and look 1T
If as if it were magic mirror in which
she could see where Mr.. Jack was ana
what he was doing. The next day she
complained of headache, and said sht
would lie down awhile on the bamboo
couch that was on the side plazz'l-s0
I brought her an afghan ana sole
inflow. and then left her.
/ was busy fixing some httle MATTERS
in her room an hour or two later WheD
q stem at the door made me look u
to see my young lady with a lace
chastity white, almost stagger into the
room I sprung up to catch her, think
inp she was going to faint, put she
missed me, and sunk into a chair, trem'
bling as with an ague.
! nRetty,' she managed to utter Mt last
and holding out her hand as she hlo
CO .",The worst has come! My ring
nv, nv beautiful diamonds gone! Aud
Oh how can I ever meet Jack-Wna'