The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-25
SEEKING A DIAMOND.

| VI Cilo bloSI CIlIlltlSIi1SIlC VI lllOu0Iu COL
lectors.
Far be IL from us to convey the i'm.
preston that he went around with q
pencil and a pocketbook bulging full of
papers In behalf Of yas companies and
cheap coal associations. On the con
trary, he desplsed trade and all its
plebelan concomitants, He kept gen-
ealoglcal tree, and prided himself Oh
being distantly related to some one or
other who had come over in the May
| flower, and having cousin who had
once known Longfellow, the poet. He
read, studied high art and devoted HIM
self to the dream-world Of the ideal.
His floors we're carpeted with tiger
skins, dimly splendid Eastern draperies
hung Oh his walls and shut out what
little sunshine filtered through the
medieval glass Of his stained windows.
He delighted in mouldy folios, rare edl-
tiOns grinning Chinese idols and masses of
charmingly ugly Eastern lacquer-work.
But the taste which had the st1 ongest
possession of his soul, and which drag
ged most persistently at his purse
strings, was one for precious stones.
"1f it hadn't been for that, l should
have been rich man long ago." sighed
Mr.. Pinto. "Of course / can't indulge
in it, as 1 should like-no man could,
unless he had the income Of a duke.
But I can aspire-I can aspirel'
And as N1r. Peter Pinto had inherit
ed a snug little fortune from his father,
and fallen heir TO the united savings Of
several maiden aunts, he was enabled
to prosecute his caprice in no contem-
ptible degree. He owned al Eastern
opal, a black pearl, pair Of unap-
proachably-tinted topazes, several peculi-
arly-shaped turquoises and an agate
with u human face distinctly massed in
it's outlines. lie kept his treasures
locked in velvet-lined cases within the
safe, aa4e and a1SdS Sprowied around the jewellery
stores, pawn-shops and secondhand re-
positories with perseverance worthy
of Bruce's spider. And when he became
meditative and inclined TO he confiden-
tial he would say:
81 think if once could gain possess
sion Of this White Heart Diamond, L
should be quite-quite happyl'
But the White Heart Diamond had
to all appearances been withdrawn from
circulation. 1t was known only by ru-
NOR. 1t had retired somewhere into
conventional seclusiOn, and, with
unparalleled modesty, declined to reap
pear.
That there had once been a White
Heart Diamond was proved by the coll
versation Of grizzly-headed old lapidar-
les, who had grown crooked by long
sitting over magnifying glasses, and the
| tales of retired jewelers. who had made
their fortunes long ago.
From all accounts, it was stone Of
medium size, but rare color and t1re-a
stone which was yeritable General
George Washington among diamonds
| a stone whose renOwn had even reached
foreign parts, and achieved the dignity
Of an especial article in the Iapidaries'
Journal of Vienna.
And to Mr.. Peter Pinte the White
Heart Diamond represented the Roc's
Egg of Aladdin's Palacel
Until one day an old workman III
precious stones beckoned him into the
den where he was cutting sapphires with
a whirling little wheel, which sung
like a mechanical bumblebee at its
work.
"I've heard Of it," said he.
"Of-" grasped Mr.. Pinto.
| "Of the White Heart Dlalnondp' said
the workman.
"Nop' shouted the collector, breath
lessly.
CAS- true as you live," nodded the
old man. 81 always knowed 1t was III the
Jorgensen family. Couldn't ha' got
out of it, don't you seer But never
found out afore yesterday as there was
an old lady-Miss Mehitable Jorgensen
"a second-cousin Of old Jan JOrgensen's IS
daughter, livin' up in the Catskills.
There was some Old-fashioned sleeve.
buttons come in to be mended yester-
day with y. j. on 'em. Bless your
hearti l could have told old JAMS
twisted initials anywhere. Didn't have
no monograms In them days, you know,
Niece left 'em. A pretty girl, with
red cheeks. Pm to send 'em back 10y
mail when they're DONE"
Mr.. Pinto drew a long breath.
.'I'n 60 to the Catskills at once," said
he.
"Fair and softly, fair and softlyp
said old Caleb Grinder. 1.-The White
Heart Diamond was always shy game
Mind you don't frighten itl'
81 shall know how to behave" said
Mr.. Pinto, with dignity. "rhe address
Grinder, II you pleasel''
And SO, clad like unto the inevitable
sketclling tourists who infest all the
, WilderneSSeS within nunufeu miles Ol
New Y York Mr.. Peter Pinto put money
in his purse and started for the cottage
Iii the Catskills resolved 10 approach
the subject with the most cautious
winds and turnings Of dip lomatic skill
Miss Jorgensen was tall, crooked
woman Of fifty, with scant iron-gray
3 hair, u forbidding yisage, and eyes a:
: sharp and keen as those OF hawk.
Hatty, her neice-Mehitable, Junior
as the old lady called her--.was PLUMP
and pink-cheeked, with hair Of rea
poets gold, and laugh like the chirI
! Of q blackbird.
2 '.Oh, yes,'' said Hetty, with the ut
: most frankness, ''aunty will be glad t.
take boarder, Only, please, you ma!
transact oil the business with me. AUNT
belongs to a fine old family--l'm onl!