Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-01-17
CHAPTER XIV.

Inc it. She flushed with pleasure as,
after a close scrutiny, the old gentleman
declared it to be n very good and valua-
bic ruby.
"Probably 1t belonged originally to a
royal collection" he said, returning it to
Moyra. when you wear that, Miss
Moyra, you can reflect that you have the
equivalent of eight or nine hundred
pounds at your throat"
Moyra turned very pale; her eyes
sought her fathers, for the others had
been attracted round her. The Rector
laughed.
''Then / think Angus got the better Of
some dealer or curio seller, for he is by
no means a millionaire he said lightly.
Perhaps it was sold to him by some
one ignorant Of its valuc.'
"More likely by some one who knew
ne had no right to it, and was anxious
to get it safely out of his hands" Mr..
Fcnton replied.
"How do you know that Angus bought
1t at al1g" Aileen suggested, n Moyra
flashed a grateful glance at her. 1T may
have been one of his mothers jewels.
Probably, knowing AIoyra, he was afraid
she would not accept it if she knew its
real value
Then Billy. who was longing to play
some roundegame by which Prof. Lewis
son could be dislodged from Aileen's side,
suggested that his father should display
some Of his treasures, diamond collecting
being his special hobby. The idea was
eagerly seconded, and, laughing indul-
gently, Mr.. Fenton departed, to return
with a large wooden tray, on which were
many and divers shaped cases.
Every one clustered round, and, pleased
with their interest, Mr.. Fenton unlocked
each case one by one, and displayed the
exquisitely set stones that were in them.
Some OF the gems he had bought uncut,
and had had set according to his own
ideas, but the greater number were his
toric. He showed them a necklace that
had once clasped the fair throat of i'll
fated Marie Antoinette.
The touch Of petulance that had been
on Brides face vanished as she inspected
the diamonds, admiring them with the
open pleasure of a child, and, seeing her
admiration, Mr.. Fenton, whose f~avorite
she was, told Billy to warm some of the
necklaces and let her wear them. Blushing
and laughing, and highly pleased, Bride
submitted to be dressed up. There was a
tiara in her hair, and a diamond lizard
crawled ACROSS the n of ruddy gold,
there were diamonds On her smooth,
rounded white arms, diamonds covered the
front of her white gov and whittier
shoulders, ropes of diamonds hung round
her neck, flashed on her fingers. II out
shone the radiance of hereyes. She looked
at herself with the naive simplicity of q
child.
How lovely they look !" she exclaimed.
I should be afraid to move. Used
you to wear them, Mrs. Felton?'
IA few, now and again." said the
sweetfaced, invalid, looking up at her
smilingly. You are quite a diamond
queen, Bride!"
do you know, I think diamonds such
cruel ~stones.'' Aileen said. They look
so cold and hard"
"They do not suit Miss Bride at ALL
remarked the Professor. .sThey are cold
stones, and they are not in keeping with
her face or expression
..-They look homogeneous in some way
Aileen said. Bride has too much of the
baby kitten in her face to wear dia-
monds.'
.Then I'm very sorry I can't propose
to you, Bride" Billy said, helping the
girl to take off the gtittering burden. BE-
cause. you see, / shall have to find a wife
who viii suit the diamonds"
Does that mean that she is to be
cold and cruel?" his father asked, chuck
ling as Bride protested that she did not
want Billy in any circumstances. "Now
u don't agree with you. I think some
people are admirably fitted to wear dia-
monds. How imperial mamma used to
look In her tiara and necklace! And al
though you, Miss Aileen, abuse my favor
ito gems, l think you would look very
we'll Tin them"
He had no idea on what delicate ground
he was treading. nor did he understand
why Billy should look so confused and
Aileen stammer out an irrelevant reply.
But Mrs. Fenton's quick, expressive
glance went inq~uiringly from one face to
the other.
"Now, Miss Bride. as you admire the
diamonds the most the old gentleman
said, as each case was restored to the
tray. Il will show you where and how /
keep them, and l don't do that to every
one. In fnct, mamma and myself are
the only ones who do know the hiding
place in this house. I think Billy knew
It at Littenlands."
ELIZA lie Two WGut On lOEelutFs Huu 1Dllly
proposed that they should all play map
The Rector, Prof. Lewiston and Mrs.
Fenton were the only ones who did not
Join In the game, and when Bride re-
turned, flushed and smiling with the i'm
portance of her secret. she sat very con-
tentedly beside Mrs. Fenton, where they
were Joined by the professor, while the
ether two talked politics.
The card party was a very noisy one,
and in a short time Aileen, who was not
very interested, was hopelessly beaten,
and drew out Of the game. A few min
utes later Billy had also lost all his
counters and Joined her. She was in a
very gracious humor that evening, and,
having devoted all dinner time and an
hour afterwards to higher culture, as
Terry designated conversation with Lew
tsnon, she considered she might unbend
for Billy's edification. So they discuss
cd pantomfmes at Caterhan-not in re-
lation with those of ancient Greece
and the merits of various burlesque ac-
Itressss, and became very friendly and al
most confidential under cover Of the hub
hub OF the card table.
Flow solemn Bride looks" Aileen said
suddenly. II wonder how much Of his
conversation she understands n
ssHe admires her tremendously, /
9hink,' Billy remarked.
Aileen looked at him in amazament.
81 spoke of her to me after dinner,
and seemed greatly taken with her. He
aid her 1o~veliness was Incredible, and
sheEwas 80 ~innocently unconscious that
che was anything out Of the common"
"Of course he admires her looks