The Wilmingtonian., 1885-07-11
THE STORY TELLER.
Diamonds in The Gutter.


misery, for she had nothing to do nothing
to think of, and nothing to hope for
Her clothes were shabby, her arms were
scarcely more than skin and bone and her
large wistful eyes seemed big enough to
swallow up the rest of her face. Poverty
was stamped on every childish feature, aud
their beauty had been driven away by
hatharsh fiend, starvation.
The door behind her opened, and man
came out nearly stumbled over her, and
gave her curse instead of an apology;
then he went his way down the watery
pavement, stepping into every puddle he
came across as if he were in too great
rage to see them.
Lotte Smith watched him and said to
herself:
"My! how he'll spoil his shoe leatherW
Then he passed out of sight, and she drew
her tattered shawl round her with shiver,
for the straet seemed to have grown darker
and colder than it was before.
Presently window behind her opened,
and something flashed down like falling
star on to the pavement.
In an instant Lottie jumped up and Sc
cured the prize, holding it up to the light
Of the lamp-post in her dirty fingers.
1t was diamond ring.
She had never seen such thing in her
life, and she thought the beautiful jewel
flashing radiantly in the gas-light was a
star fallen from its place in the sky.
''Poor tickle tar" she said, wiping it
with the corner of her shawl, "me can't
take 'ou back just yet, but me gon' afore
long, doctor says, and then me take 'ou
with me-"
Holding it tight in her little bony fingers,
she dragged her tired feet down one dirty
street after another; but there was new
now light in her eyes, as ifa small hope had
risen up in the darkness because of the star
in heI hand.
Another gentleman came to the doorstep
ON which she had been sitting and being
admitted after resounding knock, made
his way unannounced to the drawing-room
"Sir Felix has been here again, Marion"
he said angrily. "Don't deny it, for he told
me so himself
81 shan't deny it, because it is true," and
Marion Dearsley rose slowly from the
sofa. 'If you wish me to say Not at
home to every man but yourself, l must
tell you that Ic an It do it.'
"Do you ever do anything to please meP"
in bitter resentment
''Yes, but l shan't for the future, now
that | know"
"You know WHAT" looking at her i'll sur
prise.
"That the flowers gave you are passed
on to some one else."
"Whoeyer told you that tells a gross
falsehoodl' aud his eyes flashed fire.
"He is quite as truthful, fancy, as Mr.
Harold Battiscombe."
'fWheres my ring?" his eyes suddenly
falling on her left hand.
"Ah, where?" her cheeks flushing. 81
suppose the next will be given to Laura
Dickson?"
"Time TO talk about the next when I've
found cut about the first" his brows draw
ing together "Marlon tell me the truth
Have you, or have you not, given the ring
to Whttaker?'
81 am not in the habit of making presents
to gentlemen"
mo evasions, if you please. You had
the ring on your finger when Sir Felix was
here?"
Certainly, and he had the good taste
to say l liked you the best because you could
give me such jolly diamonds"
Sand you can encourage such snob as
that?"
81 don't encourage him." drawing up
her long neck.
"Then where is the ring?"
She laughed uneasily and looked toward
the window.
81 was desperately angry, because had
just heard Of the roses"
''There was nothing to hear" he inter
rupted hastily. "But I'll tell you all about
it, only it would not interest you now"
"Why not now?' in vague alarm.
"Because if you give away my ring, il
is sign that you want to get rid of the
giver," his face set and stern. "Goodbye;
Marion; I'll never bother you again." taking
up his hat.
''Wait moment II threw it out Of
the window"
contemptuous smile curled his mus.
tache.
"a likely story: diamonds are not gen
orally thrown in gutterp'
''If you won't believe me, CO." and she
pointed to the door, but directly it had
closed behind him, she thew herself down
on the sofa, and burst into passion ol
tears. "oh, Harold, Harold, come back. u
But the days passed on and Harold never
came back, and the pride which separated
each from the other, seemed to raise al
impossible barrier between them. As soor
as she had grown little calmer she sent
out some servants to look for the ring
but no trace of it was to be seen, although
in consequence of the weather, the police
man averred that no one had passed by
for the last half hour.
Not long after this, Miss Dearsley wa,
engaged to act in some tdJleaU Digants Al
the house of a Mrs. Mackenzie. In on,
scene Harold Battiscombe had to knee
at her feet as an ardent lover, with bel
left hand pressed to his lips. whilst she
turned away in apparent agitation. The
agitation was not feigned, for when she
felt her hand once more in his, and saw
by the expression in his face that he hat
neither forgiven nor forgotten, she trem
bled so violently that she nearly spoiled he