The Heard-Shaped Garnet 

Eva Young 

   Watching her Aunt Margaret wave to her from outside the train window, Cassidy found herself breathless with the anticipation of her holiday. She excitedly gazed outward of the train, watching the familiar, sweet countryside of Ironton, MO gradually fade into the hustle and bustle of Chicago. As she exited the train, the sound of lively swing replaced the withering banjo she so often heard in Ironton. She walked through the station, having never seen so many people before. Unfazed, she swiveled through the busy-minded crowd and onto the street to hail a taxi.

   But before that she stepped into a nearby cabaret, the surrounding air transitioning from brisk to pleasantly moderate as the honking of cars ceases into the vitality of Swing jazz, the movements rising and falling with the music. Cassidy noticed how steps and music are influenced by the sudden accents the musicians may add to the music, creating a relationship between the dancers, their steps, and the flow of the music. She approached an affable average-height man sitting alone, well-dressed and appearing standoffish while surreptitiously hoping to partake in an existential conversation. His hair was askew and his radiant face peered up at Cassidy from the crystallized glass of whiskey he just set down on the table. 

   “Afternoon, sir, care if I sit down?” Cassidy politely inquired. 

   “Please,” said the man smoking a cigarette. “First time here?” the man asked pleasantly, smoothly lighting the tip. 

   “Yes, I’ve never been to Chicago before. I came from Ironton, Missouri and this is my first time being in a city,” said Cassidy. “It’s so interesting, I’ve been here barely an hour and I’m having a marvelous time,”

   “Welcome to the Windy City, my dear! I’m from Lake Forest and I haven’t spent too much time in the country, but I am nevertheless intrigued by what goes on there,” the man responded. “I’m Albert Scotch, and what might your name be?” 

   “Cassidy Grant, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Scotch,” said Cassidy taking a puff on the cigarette he offered her. 

   He requited her fascination and curiosity. Being accustomed to the weekend soirées, the exuberance of mansions, late nights in Chicago going to jazz clubs, Albert was taken with Cassidy’s naivité to the ways of the metropolis. To meet and be in proximity of someone who is experiencing the vitality of the Jazz Age for the first time is an astronomical kaleidoscope of satisfaction. Upon learning he belonged to the Lake Forest Scotch’s, one of the most powerful Midwestern families, Cassidy’s eyebrows knit as she was intrigued how someone as opulent as he could be so down-to-earth and kind. 

    “Is it true you hail from a line of medieval Scottish kings?” Cassidy inquired. “I feel as though I heard from somewhere that you are descendants of Malcolm III,” 

   “While true, it does sound tacky,” said Albert. “What’s life like in the countryside?”

   “First let me say that you do not strike me as the dynast that you are,” said Cassidy. “I do not have much to divulge about Ironton, other than it’s mostly cornfields and it’s the seat of the county. Now I must get to my hotel, but I sure hope I’ll see you again before I go back to Missouri,” 

   “That would be most wonderful,” said Albert. “There’s a masquerade ball tomorrow night being thrown at the Felton residence. Would you care to join me?” 

   “Absolutely, old sport,” said Cassidy. “I am glad I brought a fancy party dress,”

   “Swell,” said Albert. 

   “Would you like to have lunch in the city beforehand? I’m staying at the Blackstone Hotel.” 

   “The pleasure would be mine, and yours, I hope-I.”

   “It is.”

----

   While luncheoning at Cassidy’s hotel, they discovered to their utmost delight, both realized that when they read novels, they put into context elements of their lives by envisioning the characters as people from their lives. The book that occupied the most space in their conversation was The Beautiful and Damned, as Cassidy had just finished reading it and it was Albert’s favorite. 

    At a quarter to sundown, he hailed a limousine to take them to the mansion of Millicent Felton. Albert adorned a tuxedo, while Cassidy bore a pink gown, neither too flashy nor modest, with the addition of a bedazzled neckline. Getting to Lake Forest from Chicago was no picnic, a conundrum of which he took frequent advantage. Driving through the budding moonlight, Cassidy was curious about witnessing the dynamic between the Scotch’s and the Felton’s in real life. 

    “May I ask why you felt so inclined to adventure with me in the city?”

   “I am grateful for when I have the chance to get out of the house. My family is a nightmare. My father always pesters me with the same question and it evolves depending on what life stage I am in. In high school, it was ‘are you getting the marks you need to get into Princeton?’ and at age 25 it’s ‘now you must think about settling down’,” said Albert. 

   “I’m 23, and I have a beau back home who hasn’t shown me that he deserves me,” Cassidy responded. “He’s tall, handsome, and gentle, and I suppose that is all you can really ask for. But it isn’t love, at least not for me,” 

   “Few men are worthy enough of a woman like you who possesses such an intellectual caliber,” said Albert. 

   “Thank you,” said Cassidy. 

   As the limousine edged closer to a line of mansions overlooking Lake Michigan, Cassidy thought of how fondly the patriarchs dreamed of uniting their dynasties. When news of Frederick and Millicent’s engagement came about, high society was so abuzz about the two most powerful Midwestern families that even the most isolated and impoverished farmers in North Dakota knew about the upcoming wedding. Cassidy’s first outing with the tycoon Peter Von Warner of whom is courting her back home marveled in comparison to an ordinary gettogether for the Scotch family. 

    Cassidy’s confidence allowed her to fit into the contemporary high society present at the castellated Felton Manor like a glove. Howard Scotch, Albert’s father greatly enjoyed her company. Dorothy, his wife could sense Cassidy had some degree of scorn for their ostentatiousness and thus was unimpressed since she reckoned Albert did not speak so highly of the clan outside of their quarters. Cassidy did not need to be explicit about her rural upbringing to give Dorothy more reason to be contemptuous of her. 

   “Good evening, Albert!” piped up an enthusiastic voice in front of him and Cassidy. “It’s nice to meet you I’m Charlotte, Albert and Frederick’s sister,” 

   “It’s wonderful to make your acquaintance tonight, my name is Cassidy Grant,” said Cassidy. 

   “I hope you’ve been enjoying the party,” said Charlotte. “We’re having another one tomorrow night, but at our house, will you be around?” 

   “Yes for I am here in Illinois for the next two days,” said Cassidy. 

   “Splendid!” Charlotte exclaimed. 

    Eventually, Cassidy was introduced to Millicent Felton. She lived a fabricated reality in which she was under the illusion that made her think the people around her genuinely worshipped her. Despite the embroidered gold gown, it was what she wore around her neck that stuck out to Cassidy most. A fit of scarlet passion lay delicately upon her chest as though the weight of such an intense stone did not drag her down. It seemed to carry Lake Forest within such a deep glossy surface. With tiny diamonds encrusting the edges, the gargantuan gemstone is constructed into the shape of a heart which absorbed the worship with which Millicent thought she solicited. The only graciousness Millicent surveyed to anyone outside her inner circle was the diamonds that encircled her neck. 

   “Jealous?” Millicent asked. “Do not tarry with your compliments,” 

   “It’s lovely,” Cassidy said. 

   “Frederick gifted it to me as a token of our love,” said Millicent. 

   “Would you care to know the story behind it?” Frederick asked. 

   “Sure,” said Cassidy. 

   “The Heart-Shaped Garnet goes back to our primitive ancestor, Malcolm III, who was gifted it upon his coronation. For centuries it has been passed down from generation to generation to the eldest son to give to his wife, and now it is my turn,” said Frederick. 

   “Congratulations brother,” Albert swooped in. He soon managed to muster the courage to inquire the following as the vast orchestra began to play their fine tunes. “Cassie, may I have this dance?” 

She said yes, and they began to waltz with the other pairs. The relevance of the snottiness seemed to fade with the beauty of dovetailing different instruments of distinct sections of the band. Taking in the palatial ambiance added an air of charm to Cassidy’s evaluation of the space as she and Albert spun about the room. The party began to fade and as they departed into the frigid air, having forgotten how crisp the nightly temperature was wished each other farewell, both looking forward to seeing each other one last time before Cassidy returned to Chicago. 

----

    The next evening arrived and brought with it, unknown to the guests of the engagement party upon arrival, a nasty surprise waiting inside one of the lanterns. For now, the naive attendees circulated into the atrium of the Scotch Estate as though it were any other night because to them it truly was an ordinary evening of celebration. The waltzes wore on in bliss, the party roared with the usual refined excitement. Cassidy and Albert were touring the library when suddenly a suspicious smell of smoke caught their attention. It snuck up on the harmony of the evening, as to indicate a horrid practical joke. The flames began to engulf the mansion, as the rich guests began their pursuit to flee, the fire taking those who did not escape one by one. They left the room and looked downstairs for a loophole within the fire. 

   “Where’s Mom and Dad?!” Charlotte asked, the bottom half of her dress tarnished as she was bursting into the refined hallway they were standing in hysterics. 

   “I haven’t the slightest idea,” said Cassidy. “But we need to get the hell out of here!” 

   “They ran up to the second floor, to retrieve the garnet, but I don’t know where in the corridor they went!” Charlotte exclaimed. 

   “Cassidy, Charlotte, there’s a window right here!” Albert exclaimed. “It does not seem like a high fall there’s a wide pipeline we can slide down!” 

   “Quick! Grab the burning rail and smash it into the window,” Charlotte commanded Cassidy. 

    As though she were cavalry within a phalanx, Cassidy charged forward smashing the rustic window open with all her might, dragging Albert and Charlotte along as they fled the chaotic scene, not being able to catch their breath until they reached the ground. Umber spitted out in conjunction with the grand escape. When they touched the grass, they coughed into the hollow Earth as they looked upward at the sublime roaring fire.

   Cassidy retreats into Albert’s arms as they watch the mansion engulfed by the flames, devouring the Scotch’s whole. The Scotch’s had fallen, the airheaded Millicent alongside them meeting their tragic fate because they cared more about saving the garnet than saving themselves. To them, living a simple life was dire, they feared what would happen if they did not recover the garnet, or if they did succeed, having to sell it in order to restore the manor. Dreaming of how it would provide the illusion that it was the 1800s again. It takes quite a deal of superficiality to die for one’s status. Their wealthy compatriots would go on dishonestly to say in the Chicago Tribune that the noble family did not perish in vain. The seemingly indestructible nature of the Scotch Dynasty, their mass sums of money, and their claim to fame as the descendants of medieval royalty became a pile of ashes amongst the annihilated ruins upon the daybreak. The scarlet gemstone, an emissary as the heart of the Scotch’s was suspected lost in the inferno had assumed its full form that night. 

    “I had no idea there was an eclipse tonight,” said Charlotte, watching the moon replicate the Heart-Shaped Garnet as the darkness swarms the composition of the nighttime watching the devastating estate crumble to the ground with the Scotch’s and Millicent inside. 

   “Whoa,” said Cassidy. “Now what?” 

   “We go to Missouri,” said Albert.  “I’m due for some time away from the city, and I can’t wait to meet Peter and tell him how much he’s missing out on. Because you, old sport, are amazing and it would be a real shame to marry someone who does not have your best interest at heart. I reckon it is not a far walk to the train station from here.” 

   The trio greeted the fresh air in their stroll as though it were estranged from them. They absorbed the frigid air with all their might, even being able to see their own breath. As they were awaiting the train, the starlight in its abundance shines clear on the harrowing dark night. Exhausted, they relished escaping the fire relatively unscathed. Albert, Cassidy, and Charlotte settled into their seats, watching the roaring village of Lake Forest in its urbanity fade into the sweet, familiar countryside. Edging towards the vast obscurity of the rural terrain, and further away from the disastrous scene, the blood was wiped off of the moon’s surface as a waxing crescent begins to emerge. 

   “Were you wearing that jacket before?” Charlotte asked. 

   “It feels unusually heavy, I grabbed it on my way out of the house, but I’m starting to wonder if it was mine, Frederick had a similar one,” Albert remarked, removing it and dropping it on the seat. He examined the pockets, caressing a series of smooth rough edges with a glossy texture in the groove of his thumb. His grey eyes dilating, a perplexed expression surfaced along his face as he gradually pulled out the heart-shaped garnet. 

   “What are you going to do with the garnet?” Cassidy asked. 

   “To hell with it, one day we’ll restore Lake Forest to what it was before the ridiculously wealthy hoarded the fortune,” said Albert looking out hopefully at the night sky. “But for now, I look forward to experiencing the vitality of the country.” 

   “I prefer jazz,” said Cassidy. 
 

   The End