The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-16
A DISCOVERY.

;44O1INLo t3ki0s'V '4O3ASs S'eS4A b. SeA> -
ma, who had hitherto been silen'
listener to q discussion which We
younger people we're having about
gems, but our discussion instantly
gave place to interest in grandma's
remark. for what she had to say We
generally found intensely interest
ing.
Polishing her glasses. grandma
said: ssThey we're associated in my
mind with q youthful ascapade oi
mine that caused me so much dis.
ress of mind that for a long time ]
could not bear to look upon 9 dia-
mond if could help il, for as sure
as I did I experienced all tho feeling
of deathly faintness which oyercame
meswhen made the startling dis
covery that 4 had lost my stepmoth-
er's jewels.
Here grandma put on her glasses
and resumed her wo.'k, as if that
was the end of the matter. But the
olamor which followed this move on
her part soon convinced her that our
newly awakened interest was not to
be so easily allayed or her work re-
sumed until we had heard the story
of her escapade.
Well, ycu know. I said grandma,
ssTwas quite young when my mother
died. and my stepmother was a
woman of very good family and con-
siderable wealth I wa the only
oIlild and, I fear, somewhat spoiled.
THAT winter / made my debut in 30
oiety, which was an event / had long
looked forward to. Mother had been
very indnlgent to me-, and not one
of the bevy of buds who were to
como out at the same time had q
handsomer or more costly outfit
than that which was ordered for me.
But + did not have q single orna-
mont given me for the event. Most
of my companion buds had been
more fortunate than myself in that
respect. ...ome had pearls of great
nrice bestowed upon them. a few
had old fashioned gems reset for
them, while one or two had confess
ed to borrowing from sisters already
married or older friends ornaments
elegant enough to wear upon that
suspicious occasion, for young ladies
did not in those days make their
first appearance aba tea or q recep-
zion, . added the old lacy, with a
rather disdainful curl of her lip.
fssA grand ball was considered the
proper thing
I I Now. my step,nother had a set
OF magnificent diamonds which she
never wore, for as she was a great
sufferer from asthma she seldom
went into society. She had planned,
however, to, ohaperon me, but q
cold caught g few days before had
brought On an unusually severe at
tack of her old complaint, and a
friend of the family, who was bring
ing out her own daughter, was to
Eake charge Of me also.
! Under the circumstances ven
tured to ask my stepmother to le5
me wear her diamonds and received
a very prompt and decided refusal
to my request. 1t is needless to say
I Isulked q good deal. I could not
understand why she should refuse
to thus complete my happiness. Of
course she was right, and I was
wrong, but at the time I thought I
was q much abused individual.
81 poured my tale of VOC into the
sympathetic ears of my closest
friend, Dil1y Smith-Daffy Down
Oily. as we girls called her. She
was not a bit like daffodil. but a
very sturdy young lady, full of spirit
and resource, which she needed, be-
ing the only girl in a house full of
boys.
g Won't your father come to the
rescue?' ssid Dilly.
s "ButI s.,ook my head. l knew
Satter than to appeal to him.
! "'Do you know where they are
kept2' she next inquired, and I ac-
knowledged that did.
Help yourself said Dilly. She
will never know it, and even if she
ahould hear of it afterward she will
overlook it, or you can do penance.
diamonds are your style exactly,
and it is mean of her not to let you
Morrow a piece.
J, ssIt is not difficult task to per-
euade one to follow the way their
inclination leads, asmine did in that
case. I knew right from wrong very
decidedly. but I soon made myself
believe that mother would overlook
my disobedience and forgive me for
Jakins such liberty with her
jewels.
"When one yields to tempta-
tion, I believe things are made easier
for them, at least SO it seemed to me
then. The very day Of tho ball an
aunt Of mine-my fathers eldest
.sister-came from a distance to
make Us 9 short visit, and mother
was consequently much occupied,