Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-02-07

SSe>~~D
down:
Bu, one unsettiug star
Hangs DER the pillows widest frown--
The light ship on the bar.
Even 80 around morning life
May opening roses cling,
And in the heart in joyous strife
Imprisoned warblers sing,
And not clond may upward roll
To dim the crystal sky
Yet DER some watch-tower Of the Soul
May danger signals fly.
Mss PxoTaEsOs EAR.RISG.
When old Sam Protbero, the mil
lionaire, in fiji OF unaccustomed ten
dcrness, gave his daughter the hand
soonest pair OF diamond ear rings that
money could buy, he took the oppor-
tunity to caution her for the fiftiefh
time against holding communication
with her brother John. OF late years,
since his son had gone hopelessly to
the bad, the old man had been a very
harsh parent to his long-suffering
daughter. partly owing to grief and
disappointment, and partly because
he resented the womanly sympathy
which she fdt for her scrapegrace
brother. Old Sam Protbero was an
ill-tempered, cunning, suspicious old
man, and the unremitting precsu-
tions he took to prevent the poor girl
from rendering assistance TO her
l.HA xtf mil q M
annoyance to her. Not only did he
keep her as much as possible by his
side, but he made her account to him
for every farthing she spent. lest the
reprobate should profit by his sisters
affectionate and generous disposition.
Lille under these conditions, and es-
pecially as the old mans temper was
irritable and exactiDg TO the last de-
gree, was IA very trying ordeal, and
the ceaseless opportunities of her
brother did not tend To make her loi
more agreeable.
Ellen Proihero prudently locked
her diamonds up. and said nothing
about them to her brother nj their
solemn interviews. In spite Of her
fathers vigilence she had from time
to time assisted the young man. both
in money and by giving him triflinr
articles of jewelry TO pledge. and
though she would willingly have sac
riticed her diamond ear rings for the
same unhallowed purpose. she dared
not run the risk of discovery by part.
ing with such valuable ornaments
But her prudent reticence proved fu-
tile, owing indirectly to her fathers
vulgar love of ostenfation. He per-
mltted heroine evening To go to a ball
In charge Of chaperone, on whose
discretion he implicitly relied. and
nothing would please him but that
she must wear her new earrings.
Don't you think, father, they
would look too grands" she urged.
with forboding that they would be
safer IN her room up stairs.
"OfcOurse they would look grand, y
snapped the old man; that Is why ]
want you 10 wear en- didn't give
'em to you TO hide away. like PEG.
pie 10 see that ] can afford 10 give my
gal diamonds that will make their
eyes water"
Whenever old Sam Prothero was
very much in earnest he lapsed into
the version which had clung 10 him
since the days whom he commenced
life with the proverbial whcelbarrow
His daughter saw that he was not tu
be- ga,nsaid, and therefore wore her
diamonds for the first time to crafty
his wishes.
Unfortunately events turned ou,
precisely AS she feared. Her.brolher.
who always insisted upon being in-
formed OF her engagements, sent IN
word while the ball was in progress
that he was awaiting her in the public
garden at the back Of the house. The
poor girl stole out TO speak to him,
and fnurd him alas! more than halfin.
toxicated. He wanted money Of course
--i.is needs In this respect being in.
satiable. Ellen's truthful assertion
that she was not at that moment able
10 assist him. met with scornful in
cfedulity. and the fatal glitter Of dia.
monds attracted his attention. He
seized hold Of one OF the earrings,
Ealf In rude jest and half Ia spite,
and. before she could prevent him he
had dragged It roughly from her ear.
Hsving once got II In his possession,
he stubbornly refused to part with il,
and the upshot was that the unfortu-
nate girl was obliged TO return to the
house without IL. and To slip the re.
naming earring In her pocket To
avoid attracting attention TO her loss.
Next morning her fathers first
question was about the earrings
whether they had caused a sensation,
and who had admired them. His
daughter answered these inquiries
with sinking heart. not daring for
the life Of her to reveal her misfor.
tune. yet knowing full well that he
must find Il out sooner or later.
When that time came there would be
. dreadful scene. for her father would
never believe her II she were to pre-
tend she had mislaid the earring, and
would by dint Of bullying or cross
questioning. get a. the trath.
The storm burst even sooner than
she feared. The old man seemed TO
have received q hint from the dis.
Greet chaperone. who had probably
noticed. without saying anything To
the girl. that she hac not worn her
earrings the latter part of the even.
ing. No doubt her father, putting
two and two together. had arrived al
. pretty true conception Of what had
happened; but il was not his nature
TO be outspoken; he preferred to at
tain his object by tortuous methods.