Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1884 — THE HAUNTED JEWELS. [ARTICLE]

THE HAUNTED JEWELS.

BY SABA B. ROSE.

•No,” said old Grandma De Varney, in a voice which reminded one of a Spiteful cat; “no girl shall ever own my diamonds who will not own the name I gave her—Mehitable Augusta, dux aristocratic, high-sounding name it is, too.” “But, grandma, who could expect any girl nowadays to own up to such a ridiculous, old-fashioned name as that? I won’t, any way—not for a thousand diamond sets!” “Nobody wants you to; nobody wants you to. You never should have them Any way, if you should call yourself by as many names as Queen Victoria; it’s too late in the day, my girl. ’’ “Who, then, shall you give them to, grandma ? Marcia ?” “Do you take me for a fool, Mehitat>le Augusta De Varney? If I should Sive them to that simple sister of yours, on’t I know that it would be you that would wear them?” “Then, I suppose, they will belong to red-headed, cross-eyed Mehitable Sisley, who sheds hypocritical tears when she/hears that you are sick. But what does she care whether you live or die ? and I don’t know as I should, if you would not even see my face.” “She cares as much as you, my dear. Your joy when I have a bad spell shows itself in your evil countenance." “Ha, ha,” laughed Gusta De Varney, *Tm not a hypocrite, any way. I must I hate hypocrisy.” “There’s a great many things you hate in this world, Mehitable Augusta; .there’s one comfort, any way, I shall lieave my diamonds to Mehitable Sisley L—you shall never possess them.” F “As if I cared who you left them to. I When you are dead I shall just take ’ tiie diamonds, and Miss Mehitable will he none the wiser. ” “Mehitable Augusta De Varney!” cried the old woman, in a frenzy, and raising herself among the white pillows *8 far as she was able, “if you dare to 4o such a thing, I’ll ruin your whole future for you. I’ll make you wish you had dealt honestly by that poor girl.” “But, grandma, you forget,” said Gusta, in a low, provoking tone, “you will be dead then, and cannot help yourself.” The aged woman almost sprang from 4er bed in her anger, as she shrieked: “I will help myself; I will haunt you, Mehitable Augusta De Varney, if you 4are lay hands on my diamonds after I tin dead.”

Gusta tossed her headand laughed la a scornful, sneering way; but before *he could again speajttjhejfloqr opened, *nd Marcia, her, ( young«r , sister, enured, saying, in d tone: “What! quarreftag 1 Ogam with grandma, Gusta, and shfe no: very low! How can you have the heart to do so ?” “I have no heart, you know, sis; anthing but a calico gizzard,” laughed ■Gusta. u'.’ . i “I don’t know about that, Gusta; ;you have very strong affections, and itaay have to suffer by them as much <p* more than you are causing grandma ta suffer now. ” “Don’t preach, I beg,” cried the Iheartless girl. “Here, hand me my ibat; I’ll get out of this as quick as possible.” After the careless,and ungrateful <Qusta had gone, Marcia, who was a kind-hearted girl, sat in the vacant seat and soothed her grandmother down to something like calmness; but Marcia knew that, tpite of all her ministrations, the old lady cared nothing for her, rating her Car lower in her affections than she did fee impudent Gusta, whom she declared twenty times a day she hated; but she went on with her duty as willingly as if she had been the best beloved of her grandmother’s heart. Everybody said that the fiery old lady and her granddaughter Gusta were exactly alike; but, if one should mention the fact to either of them, she would fly into a passion instantly and •deny it with the greatest vehemence. Old Mrs. De Varney had been a very iugh-Bpirited as wall as wealthy woman, and her really fine diamonds had been 4he pride of her heart, and she had kept them through every 'reverse of fortune for the little motherless granddaughter she loved so well,, and who sore her name; butas ner idol grew , <jlder it was shattered, for Augusta necame willful and very unkind to the poor old lady, and refused utterly to bear the name of Mehitable, which she hated. This was a great blow to the proud old lady, and she determined that if Gusta would not bear her name tfhe should not wear her diamods. Marcia the old lady hated. She had ■to spirit, Mrs. De Varney said. But «be had another granddaughter, the <xhild of her only daughter, whom she M repudiated, because she had disgraced herself by marrying a poor man. Mrs. De Varney was then wealthy, but ■site was now poor, but this made no 4ifferenoe. She would not forgive the Orphan child of her only daughter •enough to see her. But although Mrs. De Varney would not look upon her Ihoe, she now intended her diamonds lifer her, because she said she hated Gusta, and if Marcia owned them, Gusta would be sure to wear them. Maircia had listened to many exciting talks upon the subject, but felt little 4oubt but that Gusta would eventually

own them; but she often said it was only right if Mehitable Sisley should get them, for grandma had done so much for Gusta and had never even seen her daughter’s child. But this idea was a terrific thorn in the side of the proud and amb.tious Gusta. Marcia sat by her grandmother’s side long after she was sleeping peacefully, silently sewing upon some embroidery intended for her sister’s wardrobe. Suddenly there was a terrible shudder ran over the form lying so silently among the pillows, and Marcia sprang to her feet to see the old lady in the agonies of death. She rang a bell quickly, and gave the order: “Send for father instantly, and tell Gusta to come quickly. ” But before any one could reach her bedside, the old lady, without regaining consciousness, had passed into the land of shadows. It was but a week after their grandmother’s death, when Marcia saw Gusta one day trying the effect of her grandmother’s diamonds. “Gusta,” said Marcia, “when are you going to send our cousin her diamonds ?" “They are not hers,” replied Gusta, looking with wide opened eyes at Marcia. “Gran’ma gave them to me the very last day she lived.” Marcia looked a little incredulous, and said: “Why, Gusta, I thought you were quarreling with gran’ma that day!”

“Well. I was not. She had just told me she thought she was going to die, and that I was to have the diamonds. ” “But she had said so many times they were to be Mehitable’s that I would send them to her, if I were you. ” “If you were me you would not. I am going to wear them to finish the captivation of that rich Capt. Wilyoung, who is so devoted to me.” “Gusta De Varney, you are not going to that ball, with our grandmother just dead.” “What’s the diff?” said Gusta, lightly. “I am not going to lose all my chances because she is dead.” “But I told Capt. Wilyoung not to call for us on that account. ” “But I have met him since, and I told him it would not make the least difference. ” “Gusta De Varney, you have no heart, and I was going to say—decency.” “I know it, and if it does not trouble me what business is it of other people’s V” Marcia said no more, but that night, when her sister’s admirer called for her, Marcia was obliged to entertain him for a moment, as her sister was not ready. “So you will not attend?” he asked. “No,” she replied coldly, “not so soon after grandmother’s death.” She did not notice the look of approval in his face, but she wondered how he could admire one so heartless as her sister;. in a moment more the servant came into the room and said in a low tone: “Your sister, would like your assistance, Miss Marcia.” Marcia arose, and, excusing herself, went to Gusta’s Side.

“Marcia, I can’t fasten these tormented things, and whenever I touch them they feel like burning coals. ” “I would not wear them with that muslin dress, they are entirely out of place. ” “Nonsense, clasp them on for me quickly.” Marcia did as she was told and then brought a light Shetland shawl for her sister, who departed in a few moments for Mrs. Chase’s grand entertainment. Gusta was expecting the looks of astonishment which were cast upon her as she entered the great parlors, for grandma’s diamonds could not be equaled in the town, and had been worn but a few times in the last twenty years. She felt very proud and complaisant, and was delighted at the whispers and glances in her direction, and her triumph was at its height when, with Capt. Wilyoung, she took her place to dance. There was a peculiar look upon his face when he said: “I beg your pardon, Miss De Varney, but what very uncommon ornaments yours are?” “Very uncommon indeed,” lisped Gusta in delight; “there are none in Bossville like them. ”

“I should think not,” said he, gravely. Gusta fancied the handsome Captain was not as attentive as usual this evening, and she was half piqued with him when he joined a group of young ladies after the dance was finished. “Gusta De Varney, what ails you ?” asked Mamie Graves, one of Gusta’s particular friends. “Your faoe is perfectly livid, and that jewelry,T declare, Gusta, I would take it off.” “Indeed!” said Gusta, greatly displeased. “And pray, what fault have you to find with it?” “Why they look exactly like something from a charnel house.” “Why, Mamie Graves, I did not think your jealousy would lead you as far as that.”’ “Jealousy! Look in the glass, and see if my words are not truq. Everybody is remarking upon them. The independent Gusta went to the dressing-room with a smile on her face, but one glance in the long mirror catised her blood to chill in her veins and her face to turn, if possible, paler than before; for in the heart of each gleaming stone shone out a flaming death’s head, and so conspicuous was it that every one could see the evil-look-ing object even across the large parlors. “For mercy’s sake, Mamie,” said Gusta to her friend, who had accompanied her, “help me to take off these dreadful things quick!” “Why,” exclaimed her friend in astonishment, “you knew How they looked, didn’t you ?” “It is some of Marcia’s work!” cried Gusta, perfectly infuriated at the display she had made of herself. “They must be painted on. ” And then she attempted to unclasp one of the heaw bracelets, and her soft fingers touched one of the glistening stones. “Oh!” she cried, in an agony, “the awful thing has burned my fingers to the bone!” “The girl ’ has gone orazy," said Mamie, utterly astonished. “I will go for Mrs. Chase.”

When Mamie had gone for the hostess, Gusta, with a terribly grewsome feeling, glanced around her, and there, in the large mirror opposite, plainly depicted, was the tace and form of her Grandmother De Varney, gazing with an evil smile at her perplexed granddaughter. In an instant the last words her grandmother had ever said to her came into her mind, and with the cry, “My God, she is haunting me!” the unhappy gill fell in a dead faint upon the door, and there Mve. Chase and Mamie Graves found her a few minutes later. Restoratives were applied, and when Miss De Varney came to her senses, Capt. Wilyoung was summoned, and the frightened girl returned to her home. Her parting with her escort was as cool as politeness would allow, upon hia part. When Marcia removed the jewels from about her sister's neck and arms, no trace of the horrible death’s head was to be seen; but Gusta was sufficiently frightened, the jewels were sent to the rightful owner early the next morning; the heartless girl never wished to see them again. Capt. Wilyoung’s attentions ceased from that evening. Whether he was disgusted with the heartless gill’s behavior, or had at first admired Marcia most, certain it was that, six months later, Marcia became Mrs. Capt. Wilyoung, and her sister, angry though she was, felt that she was amply rewarded for her cruelty to Grandma De Varney.