Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-09-05

How did he meet herr" l inquired.
"On the Rigi, last summer" said
Charles. ~ am thinking of going there
myself next year Lovely orphan sat by
Lady Mary at table d'hote. Read tracts
presented by Lady Mary. Made &C
quaintance. Lovely orphans travelling
companion or governess discovered to be
live sister of defunct travelling compan-
ion or governess of Lady Mary. Result,
warm friendship. Ralph, like dutiful
nephew, appears ON the scene Fort
night of fine weather. Interesting ex-
petitions. Romantic attachment, ce-
mented by diamond and pearl ring from
Hunt s. Roskells. There is the whole
story for you"
Evelyn Derrick Joined us as he finished
speaking. She was tall, graceful GIRL
gentle and dignifed in manner, with o
pale, refined. face. She was pretty in
way, but not to compare to Aurelia.
Evelyn had an anxious look about her,
too. Now do not approve Of girl
looking grave; she ought to,be bright
and happy, with smile for every one.
1t is all very well for us men, who have
the work Of the world to do, to look
grave Mt times, but with women 1t Is DIFF
ferent; and woman always looks her
best when she smiles--at least / think so.
Then Aurelia came down, perfectly
dazzling IN white satin; then Sir George,
then Ralph, giving an arm to Lady
Mary, who suffered from rheumatism In
her foot. Then came the gong, and
there was rustic down of more people,
young and old, friends of the family
who had come to act or to sec their sons
and daughters act. AS I never could
get even their names right l shall not
attempt to give any account of them,
especially as they are not Of Importance
IN any way.
After dinner, on entering the drawing
room, l found that great excitement pre-
vailed among the ladies respecting Sir
Johns jewels. About his sad fate and
costly legacy they all seemed fully ip-
formed. II had myself almost forgotten
the reason Of my visit in my interest tn
my new surroundings, not having even
as yet given up the jewels to Sir George
Danvers or Ralph; but at the urgent ro-
quest of all the ladies at once Ralph
begged me to bring them down to be
seen and admired then and there before
the rehearsal began.
"They will all be yours, you know"
Ralph said to Aurelia. "You shall wear
them on your wedding day
you are always talking about being
married. said Aurelia, with q little
pout Il wish you would try and think
of something else to say. was quite
hooking forward to it myself until I
came here, and now | am quite, quite
tired of 1t beforehand"
Ralph laughed delightedly, and Sir.
George reminding me that everyone was
dying Of anxiety. himself included, ran
upstairs to take the brown bag from
around my neck, and in n few minutes
returned with it in my hand. They We're
all waiting for me, Lady Mary drawn
up tn ON sT1n chair beside un ebony table,
on which asmall space near her had been
cleared, Charles alone holding rather
aloof, slipping his coffee with his back to
the fire.
Don't jostle," he said, as they all
crowded round me. Evelyn, let me
beg of you not to elbow forward in, that
unbecoming manner Observe how Aunt
Mary restraints herself. Take time, Mid
dleton! your coffee is getting cold.
Won't you drink 1t first?'
AS he finished speaking l turned the
contents Of the bag upon the table. The
jewels in the bright lampHght seemed
to blaze and burn Into the ebony of the
table. There was u general gasp, a
silence, and then chorus of admiration.
Charles came up behind me and looked
over my shoulder.
"Good gracious!r said Lady Mary
solemnly. "Ralph, you are rich man.
Why, mine are nothingto them!" and
she touched diamond and emerald
necklace on her own neck. 81 never
knew poor Sir John had SO much good
in him.
"Oh, Ralph, Ralph cried Aurelia,
clasping her little hands with deep
sigh. "And will they really be my very
ownYs
Ralph assured her that they would,
and that she should act in them the fol-
lowing night II she liked.
think there was not u woman pres
ent who did not envy Aurelia as Ralph
took up flashing diamond crescent and
held it against her fair hair. saw Eve
Ign turn away and begin to tear up a
small piece of paper in her hand Wo-
men are very jealous of each other, es-
pecially the nice, by which / mean the
pretty ones was sorry to see Jealousy
50 plainly marked In such a charming
looking girl as Evelyn, but women arc
all the same about Jewels Aurelia
blushed and sparkled and pouted when
the clasp caught In her hair, and shook
her little head impatiently and was alto
gether enchanting.
After the first burst of admiration had
subsidized Gen. Marston, an old Indian
officer who had been somewhat in the
rear, came up and looked long at the
glittering mass upon the table.
Are you aware" he said at last 10
Ralph, pointing to the crescent, THAT
those diamonds are of enormous value:
have not seen such stones iu any shop
in London ldare not say what that one
crescent alone is worth, or that emerald
bracelet. Jewels of such value as this
are grave responsibility" He stood
shaking his head little and turning the
crescent in his hand WONDERFUL he
said, wonderful! Do not tear up that
piece of rice paper, Miss Derrick, he add
ed, taking it from her. "The crescent was
wrapped III it, and will put 1t round
it again. All these stones want polish
ing, and many of them resetting. They
ought not to be tu,nbled together this
way in bag, with nothing to prevent
them scratching each other. See, Ralph,
here is clasp broken, and here ore
some loose stones, and this star has No
clasp at all. You must take them up to
some trustworthy jeweler and hase
them thoroughly looked over
n suppose the second son was spe-
cially mentioned, Middleton" said
Charles. as drew bach to let the rest
handle and admire.
"of course" said Lady Mary sharply
land very fortunate thing. too
.Yery-for Ralph" be replied. "Ists