HEARTS OF DIAMONDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3312, 18 November 1878, Page 3

HEARTS OF DIAMONDS.

"If we were only rich,'? Sarah sighed, "I need not do such work as this .!"=•■■•■=

; Lola, Sarah's widowed sister, twelve years older than the seventeen-yeaf beauty,' who wois sewing and sighing, bnly - said, gently, "we are no poorer tp-day ( than we have been for many years, SaraK." ' ' c ' " . ' ' VNoj but,"'faMered Sarah; drooping her blue eyes, "it is my birthday, and I- wouldlike to have something to wear to Aunt Kate's this evening. No matter how much I trouble myself over this dress, it is an old muslin, a£teraU.'" ,--.,., / ...v='

" But it will look very nice." ! ' "Nice!" said the girl, impatiently ; °I want something more than nice? lam tired of turning old dresses, dyeing bonnet- ribbons, patching, darning, and contriving;" H ' { : ''We should be thankful we are hot obliged to work for a living, Sarah. .1 know it, requires close economy to. make our income meet our expenses j but we have the pottage and plenty, to eat and drink, with a margin for neat clothing." ,.,,, "Bat I want drosses, jewellery, a carriage! I want to try what it is being rich." - " Sarah !" Lola said, looking at her sister, " What has Mr Gilbert Lee been saying to you?" ■,■'■■'■/ : ' B • ! The crimson blood tinged Sarah's face and throat, and her lingers trembled over her work. .... ,

'• Tell me !" urged Lola. ; : ?' Nothing. At least, noting inqre than he has said a hundred times before. But he wants to see me 'this afternoon, and — and—"

Sarah paused again, and then said, speaking very rapidly, " I promised Charley he should go with us to jtuhfc Kate's this evening."

; "And you, think this afternoon's interview, will make you regret your promise ?" Lola said, sadly. - iv ' n " I don't know." '■;■,

, Sarah put her work aside abruptly^ and took a seat at her sister's feet. ■ . ,

Lola, did you love

" I don't know, Lola. Frank very, very much ?" "Yes, dear."

" And yet he was poor. He only lef t' you the cottage and garden when he died. Were — were you ever sorry you married a poor man, Lola?" „ \ ,

"Never, Sarah!" was the. firm answer., "No wealth could have made. me as H^.ppy as Frank's love. We were poor, worked hard, and had heavy sorrows when our babies died of scarlet fever, both on the same day, when Frank broke his arm and lost his situation—bitterest of all sorrows, when Frank, too, died ; but I never regretted my marriage for one moment, Sarah. If it were all to live over again, I would marry Frank."

There was a long silence ; then Sarah said, in a low tone, "Gilbert Leo is very rich, Lola. His wife need not turn old dresses/ nor cook dinners." .. , , ," ,

"Gilbert Lee's >vife may be very happy, Sarah. He is a man for whom I We great respect— an. honourable - man, -generous and tender ; but Sarah, liis wife, will not be happy if she does not love him."

The doorbell rang at this moment, and Sarah wont outj returning with a Bmalf packago anda bouquet of 116 wera. :.,'. - ■" " Two presents, Lola ! " she said with a flush on her round cheok. "No name with either, only a card of birthday congratulations. The flowers are from Charley, I am sure. Ho always sends me a bouquet for a party. But this— oh, Lola ! did you ever Beo anything bo superb ?"

For the littlo package, upon being oponed, was found _ to contain a jewel casket, upon whose cushion of deep purple velvet rested * diamond bracelet, throwing forth brilliant rays of light from its clasp of pure goms. Even Lola gave a cry of admiration as Sarah lifted the splendid present and clasped it upon her round; white arm. "Gilbert Lee?" Sarah said, "and hia wife may wear such bracelets with satin and velvet robes. See how it sparkles, Lola! Oh, I never saw anything half so beautiful in mv life!" -

" Ifc is beautiful," Lola answered, with a painful contraction of the heart, as sho watched her young sister's beautiful countenance, radiant with pleasure at her gift. ' "But you are forgetting your flowers, Sarah. Shall I put them into water for you?" "Yob said Sarah, still turning the bracelet on her arm, "if you will, Lola. Oh, i£ I had only one silk dress to wear to-night !" xou mean to accept it then ? You know what that will imply, Sarah— such a costly gift as that. ' 'fThat I must say "Yes" when Gilbert Lee comes this afternoon. I know! I willaay " Yes." lam tired of poverty, atid I mean to ! have some of the delights wealth will bring." . , ; Lola said no more. She was a woman of loving, tender disposition, full of gentle grace and had filled a mother's place to Sarah since her sister was left orphaned. But sho laekod energy and resolution, and long before had yielded the first place to her impulsive active little sister. In tier heart she feared sorely fotSamK'A happiness, but; she liUd rio arguments ready, Mo words to epiribat the young girl's decision. M She left Sattih W finish trimming her white muslin, and ad-

'.'i,-,^X /! ! 'i?

•nure Her gift, and' bnsied about tbe~terase* ufitil she saw Gilbe*fc*fLee~*coming up" the garden walk; ----- ....... °_-_,— • • -Then Bbc went info the sitlang.-rdditf, where Sarah: #as folding her.' dregs, ffrididrawing her little sister - >.-in ■.. a close ; iembmcej- Bhe •'> whispered* be sure o£r your oTftir heart, Sarah." „■''" iv " w ,;^ /v r}: - !j iSureofherWii Hearib. ;Sarah» tan liglrtlf to \ her mh ■ rootli 1 'to smooth her hair andjslig on another dress. Iri her hand. was fclio Telvet:lined. ; casket,^containing '"thejdianiQnd., bracelet.. f She f.piit it upon Her table, and from the rase near them •rose the perfume of the boiiquet of flowers. It filled theT f rooih with delicious 'fragrance, and Sarah bent over the tase, and 'nestled her cheek against the tender, beantif \W blosBoms. ■ „ r t ..-. ..-.-, .; ,'. .;<.,.:'.:; : lv ..f ' ?'iE»ear Charley !" she whispered. ■ "He knows I love flowers. How thoughtful he is, and how he loves me !"-• r

J3he drew'herself erect vrifch a deep, gapping sigh; * _ It- flashed over her = like the- ! play of lightning, that Charley must become nothing to her when she vfore Gilbert Lee's diamonds. Life^ without Charley! How odd it seemed. For three years Charley had been to her like a big brother, always kiiid, always loving, until within.a fowi months she realised that'; Ghariey was. not her brother, after a)l, but aspired to a, closer place in her heart. And when this truth: broke ;/ \ipon her another followed clo3ely— that Gilbert Lee, .who had made a fortune, in railway -speculations; was wooingjher. y,-. „■■ rw .;-.,, ;■ ., ; ; GDhere were, suirors of whose attentions any girl mightbe .proud : young, : handsoinp,) full of [nature's best gifts of heart and intellect. Tlje young millionaire was devoted and hopefuj, but Sarah know that he ; had r never touched the spot -in her 'heart whereNChnrley had found t a place, three years ago. /, ■'„- ; .' ; > .. Miellowersj, '■^rapping fier,in sweet incense, wore.telling Sar^h all the' secrets of hor heart, when Lola .tapped ,'atVihe door. „ .. . . f Mr Lee is waiting, Sarah/VO • ) ..-.; Never Lad-Sarah, in the bloom, of hbr yojithful beauty,- dooked so dignified and wqmanly as she did when she entered the litjile parlour where; Gilbert "Lee liwaited her. Never had ho so longed to take her to his heart andhome as he did'wheh she answered his Buft wit"h a gently'iJtinhess ttiat was a new beauty, m her manner. ;', " , ', ' r ; jThrowihg "abide "all coquetry, gave him liis refiißal.witli a truthful expression ifr her. blue eyesj.as low ; voice said, y. I should' wrong yoii,, Gilbert, and be :f also to my own; heart, if I married -you." ?• You do not 1 love me?" f > ; !' >

f Not as yptff^fo shoiild love ybii."' . Then seeing his look of pain and niortification, she added bravely, " Had I known you sodner, my answer might Have been different ; bxit,before we met, I had .given , away all my love,*!,-.-"""". ?':,.'.. : ' ' .;...' '". .';' \"

, filiank' you forltelling me that," lie ansybred earnestly. "I; shall -respect your confidence."

1 l< He was gone before Sarah remembered the bracelet.: * -.-- .• :- ■ •■■'■■ -.-■••

111I 1 1 must send it," she told; Lola, when her s sieter came to her again. Then, looking into, the gentle^ sweet face, she; whispered,' UI I j think I was true to my ownheart,' Lola." ' - r ' Not long after, a white-robed little figwre, injthe old muslin,; frilled ami .fluted, until it | was a marvel of crisp, snowy prettiness, came 'fluttering into the parlour, for the finishing touches of Lola's deft fingers. Upon the bosom of the white dress : was' a dustier of Charley's floweraj and there were more twisted in the nut-brown cuvlsi ' • . i;? . I; ,

Charley glanced at them as he came in j but ho looked grave and preoccupied.; Never, in three years of courting, had he approached Sarah with such a solemn a"\ Lola, guessing what was coining, was stealing , away, but Charley put his hand on her arm. ,-. ''Stay ! "he said, in a grave voice; "Thavo no| secret from you. You knew long ago what 1 meant to ask Sa^-ah, for you begged* me to ;wait until she was older. ■ She is „ seventeon to-night, and she must know her own heart. Sarah "—his voice thrilled with infinite tenderness as he_spoke the name — "I love you. Wili you be my wife ? " ;h Sarah, somewhat awed by his gravemanner, put her. little hand in ihis,: without any other answer than a vivid blush and downcast eyes. ■_ , \ ' : ! ' '/ : , \,". '•'.'. ''' *.'".. ' ' V" 7 - In' a moment the bid Charley— tad jant, sunny Charley— was there againi :!; :! "v "You do love? Oh, Sarah, I have been so wretched! Gilbert Lee was here to-day, and you were wearirig the flowers; .<I saw him sending them to you." ■■..-.■ T ; '' His flowers ? I thought they were yours!" ;•■■;.■ " No— l r didn't send flowers. I have a confesssiori : to: make, Sarah, if you will hear it." • :. ■'.

The three sat down cosily, as if there were no parties in prospect ij and Charley, holding Sarah's hand fast in his own, said : ■

1 " You have never heard me speak about my father, but to-night I must tell you something of him. When I was a mere boy, not more than five years old, the gold fever in took fast hold of his imagination and he was one of the first gold-seekers who sailed from Liverpool; to dig wealth from the ground, and 'wash it from the waters of California, For a little time my mother heard from him,, but the intervals between the letters grew longer , and longer, till after five years of watching and waiting, she ceased to hear at alii : . I was but 12 years old when tny mother died. My, trade, Harold Green, ttfok me "into his otinfatnily, and educated me with his boyß. He was not a rich man, and I knew that I must depend upon my own exertions for support, as soon as I was old enough to work, Still, he insisted on my attending school until I was eighteen, and then gave me a year's tuition at University College, in London, before I started into the world for myself. I was clerk in an office near my home until three years ago, when, through a.friehd of my -iincle, I was offered a position 'in" the batik of this tqvvn. Then I met you,. Sarah, a little girl, but the sweetest and mqsb winsome little girl in tho world. Your sister's kind hospitality to the Btranger, the poor clerk, enabled me* to see you often. To love y>u fondly followed very soon. But I was poor and yon had often told me how bitter and galling poverty was to you. I had no wealth to lay at your feet, and you were but a mere child, so I spoke no works of love, bound you by no promise, hoping to win gold to offer you before you.were much older. " What a terrible mercenary you must have thought mo ?" said Sarah, laughing. " Then," Charley said, "• Gilbert Loc camo. He was very rich, bought the grandest house in the neighbourhood, and added to its attractions by a lavish outlay of money. He waß young, too, and handsome, with a winning tongue and gentle courtesy of manner. Ho saw you, Sarah, and ho loved you. I did not dnro to ask you to clasp hands with poverty, when there was wealth waiting for your acceptance. 1 waited, and to-day 1 know Gilbert had a private interview with you. I came to-night, nerved to hear tho worst, and find you love mo, Sarah! You will bo my wife, though Gilbert Leo offers you his superb homo!; . Wait, littlo one; my story is hot finished. Yesterday I heard from my uncle of .my, father's death in San Francisco., The greed for gold, the love of money, for moneys sake, hardened him againso home, wife and child. To pile dollar upon dollar, to add to his hoard, ho changed his name, and allowed his. own- family to mourn him asdead. Not until death came to tear him from his treasures, did ho resumo his own name and make a will, by which, (now, Sarah, don't scream) ho {cafes mo, his only son, heir to a hundred thousand pounds!" Tho announcement mode by the oncedespised lover caused tho utmost surpriso, which was, in no wise lessoned later on.

Sarah did not scream, bub hor lips' grew pale. \ "It is all ours, Sarah— yours, mine, and Lola's. I hare no sister excopt Lola, you know; and my love for her will inoroaseif she will please order you a wedding-dress as spuedily as possible,, and then oorno to our home to keep her scapegrace brothor in order. But;, Sarah, though t did hot send you tho flowers, I. did send you a birthday gift— a bracelet! Will you, wear itr to-night r '' You !" cried Sarah. «< OK! If you' know hoir nearly I returned it to Gilbert Lee. It is inn, package directed io him, with anoto of thanks declining his gift, at this xnomont," y* But it fi^urcßMl^iunt Ttato's party, and Otily » few wfim lat^V \^ fa brilUant jots

orVjight'to beautify 'Sarayßwedditig dress/ when she became Gltdriey'sawife, havin* chosen between diamond and heart, Did found herself in posiesßion of both.'