The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-01-19
THE CRAIGMORE DIAMONl'

THE CRAIGMORE DIAMONr
i've got 1t, Nell! I've got 1t at last
the Craigmorc diamond!"
She came riotlng into the room like
a small whirlwind. impulslve. alnbi.
tious Amy. could not tell, well Us
knew her. whether It was love or ambl.
tion that spanked in her eyes and ami
mated her lovely face.
Il don't know whether to congratu-
late OF commisrrate You. Amy" / re.
piled. us she dropped gracefully into u
chair. aud turned her bright, rlante
face toward mo. as Ii expecting some
comment. You know the proverbial
Jealousy Of the CraigmOres."
And the beauty Ut their diamOntls!'
broke In irievcrcnt Amy. And the
blissful fact that I have succeeded In
SECURING the gem Ut thu entire cullec-
tion--th" historic jewel. only used ia
deck the hands Of their brides. When
"SN u NS tLs luHI WlhtcTs
| made up my mind to wear 1t, some
day. ami. VOLTA. 1t Is Accomplishment
and she held up her white, diMpleti
hand. On one taper finger Of which
slowrtl the matclileSs genl-tI1lly match
less. for there was not It's equal for size
and hrilliancy In any collection on this
side Of the Atlantic. When l saw II
thtn. ! felt that I would give anything
in the world to possess it-and all ]
have had to give IL one little ''yes!"
III your heart went with 1t. 1t Ia all
We'll enough" said, scanning her love-
~ face keenly, but having to acknOwl.
edg" myself fouletl In cleaning any in
telligible Interpretation from lis ex.
preston.
But there Is Que thing more you will
have to give, or give up. now. and that
Is your favorite pastime of flirting
Felix Craigmorr will not tolerate any.
thing OF that Kind in his plightell
bride"
Felix Craigmorc will find himself
grandly mistaken. IL he imagines that
because ] am engaged to him intend
to make a nun OF myself for six months
and reserve my smiles only for him.!
said Amy. with IL willfNl toss OF her
pretty head. "Since he has done me
the compliment Of asking me to be his
wife. he must do ME the further com.
pliment OF treating me as Il person
worthy to be trusted, aud as one hav
Ing a realization OF and regard for my
obligations toward him.
If you only will. Amy, am sure he
can ask nothing more" rejOined. with
Il sigh; for In her air aud manner
could detect none Of that deep. genuine
affection which Is ut once wOman's
stay and shield. but you are sc
thOughtless--so recklessly daring. Amy
What would be to you a mere mis-
chievolis escapade. or bit Of harmless
pleasantly. might seem to one of Felix
CraigmOre's hasty. temper and Jealous
disposition. like some sinister act OF
willful bad falth--or worse still. doub
Il. dealing-:lnd that beautiful jewel
which you are almiring so justly. be-
come curse To you rather than u bless
Ing. l wish you would give up all In
asiNOuISS WIN klAth NAtNhNhAVSs <AihS
! cannot help feeling that he Ia DIES
tined to work you some evil yet
Well. really, Nell. with your Gus
toInary aStutencSs you have hit upon
the very last person In the world for
me to turn the cold shoulder to-" said
Amy. with Il laugh which from any one
else than my lovely, petted, thoughtless
sister l should have resented as an In
....v Il, t., sts ~,
liX. and the one to whom l am really
indebted for this good fortune. seeing
] made his acquaintance first. and
through him became acquainted with
Felix. 60 lie down and rest your poor,
tired brain. and then you will he better
able To make more sensible sugses-
tions. Why. Mark is Felix CraigmOre's
best friend all the more reason that
he should he mine"
II am afraid you will discover to
your bitter cost that he = q friend to
no one but himself" ans Hered grave
~: for Amy's good fortune. as she was
pleased to call 1t. seemed to have put
her In more wlllfully perverse mood
than usual. But have warned you
II can do no more
..I.nckily for me-" retorted Amy. "As
for your lectures. they don't amount to
anything. since shall continue to do
as l have done-just IA l please. All
revoir. my dear Miaerva!"
She danced over to me-. and almost
without stopping. bent down and drop
ped light kiss on my cheek. then
trippetl out Of the room like the child
that she was. while l sat looking sad
~ after her, wondering II good or evil
were to predominant In this change
that had come into her life.
or stainless life and character and
most exalted views Of faith and honor.
Felix CraigmOp. was q man whose
love would be- indeed true wOlnan's
crown. but whose Jealous suspicion.
once aroused. would be apt to sweep
everything before 1t, without that calm
dispassionate discrimination which
might have otherwise have averted Il
final catastrophe.
In vain l tried In a delicate way to
win from Amy some word or sign that
would assure me of her love for Felix.
but either from pcrverslty or from lack
Of any such sentiment, she bafflcd me
at every turn.
4 week went by. and nothing occur
red to mar the smooth current Of their
courtship. With Felix. Amy was all
that was sweet. amiable and winning.
while ! grew to admire and appreciate
his sterling worth more and more; but
i knew what he evidently did not know
that every afternoon Amy met Mark
Gramthley In the little arbor down by
the lake. and my heart grew heavy
with apprehension Of coming evil.
II came all too soon and In the most
unexpected way. Felix had gone to an
other town for . few days absence.
when ON the very day Of his expected
rcturn Amy came into the house with
strange expression on her face that
] had never seen there befOre-a look
Of utter WEAKNESS, mingled with some
thing like fear.
What Is the matter with yOu child:"
l exclaimed, starting from my chair.
Il never saw you look 50 Queerly. Are
You ill:"
Il guess not. hut my head aches.' she
answered. putting her hand lang,li1ly
to her forehead II fell asleep in the
arbOr. and felt so queer that l
awokp"
Was Mark Granthley there with
you:" asked with sudden vague alarm.
Part OF the tlme," she replied. then
pettishly: Don't talk to me any more
about him-l hate him."
Let me make you some lemonade,
and then sit In this big chair while