The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-02-27
OUR STORY TELLER
THE GREAT DIAMOND,
BY P. HENRY BOYLE.

The news had gone forth to the world |
that the diamonds lay around almost as
thick as sands upon the sea-shore, and |
that making fortunes was only a ques- |
tion of weeks or days. Naturally then
the land was soon thronged by wealth |
seekers coming from nearly every quar-
ter of the globe.
There aslittle of attractiveness in the
broad stretch of country save its reputed
riches. So barren was it, the degraded
native derided it as refusing to afford
him the little he asked for mere exist
ence, and even the jackal- that prowler
of desert wastes-shunned its desolation
as the haunt of death.
But when it was told that beneath its
scant soil lay boundiess treasures, every
thing changed. Where silence had
probably reigned from eternity, was
heard the hum of industry. The sound
of the pick and shovel, the creaking of
windlasses, the rattle of iron-all major
chords in the great song of labor-broke
tue stiffness of the solitude, erecting
another altar TO the god of wealth.
Among the new comers were to be
found every class. The broken merchant
was there; the mechanic, workless at
home; the laborer, tired of reverend
ing drudgery; the rogue and sharper,
keen-scented of virgin soul for fresh
rascalities; the profligate, the hopeless,
the desperate-all made part of the
throng, led by their own special reasons,
be they what they may.
And the most went to work with a
will. The way in which lots were staked
of, and pits, yards deep, dug, seemed
more like magic than the result of sturdy
arms and greedy eyes. Nor was the
earth ungenerous. Gems-some of them
fortune in themselves, were found
and hundreds had the blissful realiza-
tion Of their best hopes.
But there were more, Fortunes step
children, who were just as hapless.
Toiled they never so hard from morning
till night. few or none of the glittering
pebbles met their restless gaze. They
could hear the joyful sudden shout of
success from the miners beside, before
and behind them, but the glorious
triumph Of toll rewarded, never came to
them.
1t was not difficult 10 select these un.
fortunates from their fellows. There
was a more striking unkemptness OF
face and figure about them. The
features were contracted and gloomy,
and in keen eyes shone q concentration
of earnestness which at times had the
horrible gleam of desperation.
It was plain their souls had become
sick with hope deferred. One by one
tie castles built were fallen to ruin.
None can know how sweet their dreams
had been, or what they lost. And as the
long days passed, with success more dis
tant than ever, it was not strange thai
envious glances were often cast towards
their comrades "inds," or that they
listened to their glowing prospects with
unwilling ears.
The natural result of morose thought
is loneliness. The misanthrope is al
ways solitary. So gradually these play
things of good luck drew within them
selves Tired of the unequal contes
with fortune, they gave up the struggle
The taverns of the "diggings" saw
them oftener than their claims" Ant
when it happened that miners hu
was broken open and robbed, or broke
was found with his throat cut, publi
opinion-though it never amounted t.
law-was ever ready to place the deed
to their credit.
But strange thing had happened. 4
young and fair-faced stranger, hailin
from none knew where, had occupied al
abandoned pit, and his luck was marvel
GUS. One of the largest and fines
stones known in the history of the plac
had fallen to his lot. True, he allowe
none to see it, but group of idlers ha
come suddenly upon him one evenin
while pacing the bank of the little rivel
whence the settlement drew its waite
supply, and observed him hurriedly col
ceal it in tine broad belt he wore aroun
his waist.
1T was.as large as an APPLE" the
said, "and flashed like the sum"
Such thing could not happen and /
without attendant excitement. Minel
are a sociable set, and any thing Liz
selfishness is always unpopular. o
dinarily they take pleasure or sympath
in each others good or bad fortun
When this youth, therefore, held bae
from the rest, nor told them of his win
fall, there was ill feeling harbored,
not expressed. More than one pair
eyes watched him savagely, as
searched the soil that might hold son
precious jewel in its embrace-and pc
haps it was only his youth or gent
bearing that prevented unkind wor
and unkinder acts.
The days work over, he used to
alone to the river. There he RENAME
either pacing its low banks, or sittil
listlessly among the bushes, till late
the night. The others noticed this al
interpreted his seclusion harshly. Opi
ion would have it that he deemed
sociati0n with his fellows as benea
him.
But the big diamond was never out
the public mind. None could tell b,
the notion first arose but more than Q
Of the fierce men who had been soul
by disappointment, watched him duri
these lonely jaunts, with strange fe
ings. The world of fancied wealth |
man held in that leathern strap-ne'
for a moment off his person, or out
his sight-seemed to make them mad
Lounging around the drinking saloc
or brokers' shops, they at last talked
nothing else. Stories were told of b
bold men in the Indies, with fortun
blow, had taken such treasures from
finders, and gone to Europe topass th
lives amid plenty and pleasure. Str
was laid on the fact that seldom
never search was made for those that
the deed. And when the speakers
lated these things, there was an omin
lowering of voices that certainly me
no good.
One bright spring morning
strangers slight, youthful form
missed among the men, and it
noticed his claim was empty thro