Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1900-09-27
with eager. trernbling fngers SD

VIZ G0SS1s LIC1IlOIlnS 1uS0IS she
obeyed. She raised the cover, uttered
a cry of amazement, of rapture. then
threw her arms around her sba
neck pressed her lips to his cheek, and
cried TREMENDOUSLY:
ooh, Cecy! it isn't true! It can't bel"
In the morocco case were a necklace
and ornament for the hair, complete.
Eyes, they are yours, darling" he
said. with a laugh, it seemed a bit ner-
vous. after our talk I had a most
unexpected piece Of luck. So-so-well,
you see-I thought I would invest it in
-ha ha-portable property. Now put
them on"
Only too delightedly. Bending this
way then that to see the light flash in
the many facets. They did flash, and
in the midst of admiring them the
happy wife would run and give Cecil a
hug and a kiss, as he looked on
amused.
But all things cannot last for ever.
Time was speeding, and he took his
seat at the table. AS he did SO this
thought ran through his brain:
after all, what does it matter? She
no one will ever know"
That was a year ago. In that year
SibyTs diamonds had been much in ev-
idence, and the admiration and envy Of
her bosom friends. There is a pride
which is not vanity such a pride was
Sibyl's.
There had been one little drawback
in this year of happinesS-few skies are
quite cloudless. The sun itself is not
without a spot. Cecil's piece of luck
had been followed by no other pieces;
indeed, the contrary. S~tockbroking is
a game Of speculation; up to-day, down
t1-morrow. Cecil was toe wise, too
cautious, to be a great loser, but he
had had one or two losses which wor-
ried, because, at the time, they Grip
pied him.
He looked anxious and Sibyl learned
the cause. A true wife should be her
husbands confdant and support in
trouble as in joy, and Sibyl was a true
wife, full of sympathy.
One day she sat at work, evidently in
deep reflection. In fact, a great strug-
gle was going on within her. It was a
very, very hard struggle, but the right
side gained the victory.
That evening, as Cecil sat seeming to
read, Sibyl, her pretty face flushed,
came to his side, and, with just a little
swelling at the throat, said:
"Cecy, dear, I want you to take these
back. If you sell them they will help
you in your difficulties. I don't want
them. I feel it is more than absurd
it is wrong for me to have them, while
you are in need of the money you
gave"
Cecil looked up at her, surprised. then
at the case containing the diamonds
she was holding to him; and then he
gave a quick, amused laugh. The next
moment, however, he sprang up, and,
with great emotion, caught her in his
arms.
my dear, good little wife, he ex-
claimed, kissing her. "How brave. I
feel what this must have cost you, my
darling. But no-no, I would not take
chem for the world. Besides, there is
40 need. I shall be right again before
the week is out. Keep them, darling.
Portable property, you know" laugh
Ing.
The difficulty was indeed, ided over,
and on this afternoon, as Sibyl sat at
afternoon tea with her friend, Cecil
was slowly but surely working his way
! up the adder of success.
ooh, yes" laughed Slbyl, in answer,
t'of course I shall wear my diamonds.
You see. Lady Lavington's reception
will be quite a swell affair. It's an
; honor to have got a card, but Cecil is
! rather a favorite with Sir Thomas"
"What a lucky girl you are. How I
should like to be going. Do you keep
| your diamonds here in your hat?"
Eyes, dear, of course"
ST should not. Z should fear their
| being s~tolen,' said Ethe Brant, put
ting down her cup.
"WelI I did suggest to Cecil that
they might be kept at his bankers, but
| he laughed, aging they were scarcely
up to that mark yet"
ct should" rejoined Ethel Brant, ris-
ing to depart. Diamonds are a great
temptation. Well, good bye. Be sure
you enjoy yourself at Lady LAYING
TONS"
When alone Sibyl remembered, her
friend having recalled the diamonds,
that the clasp of the necklet was brok-
en-; also that she wished to have the
pin of the hair ornament made more
secure. So dressing, taking the case,
she had a cab called, and drove to a
jewellers not far from PiccadilIy,
watching the shopman examining the
clasp with the Indifference, Sibyl
thought, of a man to whom jewels of
thousands pounds value were as
naught.
The spirit of curiosity, of inquiry, en-
tered into her: in truth, she mad often
wondered what Cecil had given. He
had never said, eEd she did not like
to ask. She hoped-as she feared-he
had not been too extravagant. What
harm her knowing.
What is the real value of these dia-
! monds?" she asked. in an off-hand
tone.
The shopman turned them, examined
them minutely.
h are beautifully SET" he said
'I should say about three to foul
pounds-possibly FIVE"
Five" calculated Sibyl, actually
pale. ooh, that is impossible. Why
six pounds was given only for thi:
ring" extending her hand.
Probably. Those are good stones
II These diamonds" smiled the shopkeep.
er, "are merely limitations"
Imitation! It was well Siby1 wa.
sitting down, or she would have fallen