Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-10-19
DIAMOND FANNY.
A True stOry--A False step and
The AtOnemeBt--The Power
OrPure, True Love.

More than a dozen years ago, there
came to this city a beautiful woman,
whose glance was enchantment, and
magnetic influence drew around her a
throng Of devOtees. She fitted up a
palatial house and became its mis-
tress. The horn of plenty seemed to
have been emptied at her door.
Among her admirers were numbered
many Of the wealthiest men of the
city, who showered upon her the
costliest jewels. She seemed to have
an Unsuitable greed for diamonds, and
wore gems Of which a princess might
have been proud. Even the buckles
of her shoes were ornamented with.
splendid diamond solitaires. She be-
came known as
DIAMOND FANNIE,
and her life was one prolonged whirl
of excitement-a scene Of sparkling,
gilded shame. At last chance threw
in her way a plain mechanic. For the
first time in years she felt her cheek
burn with bushes under his ardent
gaze. She was ashamed, and she
knew she loved him. That evening
her doors were sealed and the estab.
lishment next day was sold out under
the hammer. Marriage followed in a
short time and she began life anew
She faded from the memory of her old
associates and until recently her fate
was unknown. About a year ago a
negro laundress. who had once been
" Diamond Fannie's" chambermaid.
was employed to do some washing for
a young girl Of the laboring class who
was about TO be married. The build
ing was a tenement, the rooms being
rented to various families who kent
house on a small scale. The negro
stood in a room at the top of the stair
way which led up from the cistern,
holding in her hand a huge pot Of
boiling water, when she heard a step
on the stairway, and turning ex-
claimed Great God, there's " Dia-
mond Fannie" | have not seen her
FOR TEN YEARS"
dropping the kettle in her excitement
The woman's face turned as white as
snow, but she pissed on without a
word, bending under the weight of a
heavy bucket Of water. Her attenuated
form, about which still fingered
a suspicion of the old time
grace, was clad in rags, but
she was scrupulously clean. A little
enquiry was made and it was learned
that her husband was a drunkard, got
on periodical sprees, and who beat,
abused and half starved her aud their
two little ones, She would often be
sitting the cinders with her hands
and tr .asuring the few Goals she found
there. Through all her trouble she
seemed to be perfectly resigned, and
one kind word from him she
lsved was enough to wreath her face
in smiles. All the scorn with which
she was treated by those who knew Of
her former life was borne with the
most Christian like fortitude, as she
recognized it as a part Of
her PUNISHMENT.
She vas atOniDg for her past. Now
she is about to reap her reward. A
new light seems to have come over
the spirit Of her husbands dream. He
has reformed, and the two, with their
sweet little ones, are established in a
coy little home in the northern part
Of the city, as happy as the day is
long. She has regained part of her
oId-time yet fatal beauty, and is an
adOrnment to the home Of the humble
mechanic. She is a model wife, happy
in her duties as such, and who shall
say she is not pure2