The Washington critic., 1885-07-02
DIAMOND EAR RINGS.

noitering, and turned away with groan.
To live in the basement "ilat' was bad
enough. To have tapestry Brussels car
pets when Mrs. Kinsley had moquet was
worse; but TO have only coral earrings
now. when the tenant of the floor above
displayed diamonds was the latest and
most cruel blow of fate.
A latch-key turned in the street door.
There was step in the passage without.
Wills CHEEKY voice rang out, "Dora,
dearl'
And then in minute-"Why, what's
up? Are you ill?
For the wife offs year lifted her head
from the soia-cushion and turned toward
him pair of suspiciously red eyes,
"N9-o?' gulping down the sob that
would rise. "But-b-ut she's got them?"
Poor, big, good-natured, mystifed VIII
just stood and stared.
81 saw themv'
"You did, eh?"
"Ye-yesr'
"And now" deliberately, twill you be
good enough to tell me who is She and
what has she got2''
Dora swallowed another invisible pill
rs she rose.
81 mean Mrs. Kinsley. She has got dia-
mond earrings"
viii burst into a boyish laugh; then,
seeing it was very serious matter with
his wife, sympathetically sobered up.
good little girl You don't mean to say
you'd cry for pair of earrings w
Mrs. Mayrelrs pretty olive face bright
ened not at all at the pleasant raillery.
Much good will It do me ~ she de-
clared sullenly, and intently regardful of
the toe of her slipper. Will edged over
to the sofa, sat down beside her, stole an
arm around her.
"Dora !"
"Well ?"
You don't look half so pretty when
you're cross"
Silence.
Will began to ask himself if he hadn't
made tremendous mistake about twelve
monthsago. Then he banishcd the thought
as disloyal. She was little selfish, per-
haps vain, at times discontcnted, but he
loved her very dearly, and no other girl
would have suited him half so well.
Dora, pet he said, .gravely, you'd
have diamonds if i could give them to
you; indeed you would, dear. But you
make ends meet, now that hard times are
upon us. You know that?"
She nodded.
But when half an hour later he went
back to the office he left behind him still
very detected little lady.
He was not quite so gay as usual that
afternoon. He didn't Joke so audaciously
into lifting whistle. The man who had
the desk next his observed the change.
Whats the racket, Mayrell?'
VIII started.
so, nothingp' and he laughed and
shrugged his shoulders.
with calm directness, and the fa-
miliarity born of long friendship. "Out
with it!h
viii turned to him.
"You' We helped me out ofa good many
tight places l admit but you can't do it
this time"
Andrews, q sandy-hared and chubby
faced little scotchman, cooked his head
on one side like an inqnisitivc sparrow.
"Maybe not, but try me-"
VIII laughed with an air of embarrass-
ment.
ut seems a foolish thing to worry so
about" apologetically. "Well, as you
Dora wants diamond earrings, and | could
quite as easily purchase for her the
Worlds Fair with the Great Eastern
thrown in Now you know"
Andrews rubbed his chin and nodded.
Yes, ] know" dryly. 81 know women,
at least know one woman, and ! guess
they are all pretty much alike. I'm en-
'"Nol" cried Will.
Fact. Got to get rich first. Domestic
happiness indefinitely postponed. Just
bought the ring" fumbGing in his vest
pocket. "You may look at it and get an
idea for your wife's solitaires."
Don't joke, Dan. I'm little sore on
the subject of my poverty"
81 am not joking. replied Dan, snap
ping spring with his finger; "what do
you think of that?" And he handed him
n little blue velvet case. Wilps eyes
wdened.
"Phew! how did you manage on $50 a
month? It's n beauty"
Andrews chuckled.
"You like it?"
81 should say so. How would stones
like that do for ear-rings?"
"Oh let up, Dan. Where's the use of
talking about it? That's carat, amt it?'
Right you are. But you can get the
same if you wish"
sob, some installment scheme sup
pose"
Andrews restored the ring to its case
and the case to his pocket.
"Not exactly"
And he forthwith proceeded to explain
That night Mayrell said to his wife;
"Ill try and manage it, Dot
What? Not the ear-rings?"
"Yes."
80, you darlingW
And the very next day he brought them
| up.
Didn't they sparkle ON their bed of
snowy velvet though? And weren't they
beauties? Actually larger than Mrs. Kin
| sley's too
hIm glad you like them, Dora"
Like them"
And her eyes were brighter than the
| gems.
And maybe she didn't rejoice in them
| and keep them wrapped in chamois skin
| when not in use. And perhaps she didn't
| return Mrs. Kinsley's visit. If you think
she wore poke bonnet or veil you're
| mistaken
And for one whole month home was a
| paradise of serenity for VIII Mayrell.
| But one day, going out in hurry, Dora
| hastily put in her earrings. She could
| not have fastened them securely, for on
| her return she found herself minus one
| OF her grief distraction, who could
write? Straightway downtown went she
| and advertised in all the dailies. But she
| did not give her real name and address
She must not let VIII know till it had
| been recovered. He would feel so badly
| about it. No, no, she would conceal the
| fact of her loss from him till she could tell
| him of her repossession in the same
| breath She offered Sl5 reward and came