St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-08-14
THE DIAMOND DOLLAR.
Which. Illustrated the Ups and
Downs of Journalism.

Downs of Journalism.
"Worst thing in the world for weak
eyes, young woman"
The young woman looked up from
the magazine in her lap and smiled at
her gray-bcarlcd mentor on the oppo-
site side of the street car. She smiled
with her whole face-dimpled chin. red
checks, full lips; even the eyes behind
the convex glasses of her priscenez
twinklcd.
Thank you," she said, shutting the
book softly, Il know it. was merely
glancing at the pictures
Then she turned her amused glance
toward the front part of the car, and
met the eyes of the driver staring
Straight ut her. His face lighted up
when her glance met his, and with his
rough glove he patted the left side of his
coat. rs though it shielded something
which concerned her.
The Car WAS one of those lit;le-wheeled
boxes locally known rs the Pound
Gap Bobtails,' which ply between
Cincinnati and its Kentucky suburb,
Newport. The driver, sole autocrat,
dividing his time among the mules, the
. passengers and the small bows who
everywhere mark bobtail cars for their
own, was inuflled to the mouth in an old
oil-skin coat, belted at the waist with a
leather strap His cap was pulled down
10 shield his face from the rain. into
the teeth of which no was forced to
drive, and when he entered the car to
collect the fares his heavy cowhide
boots completed groteSque picture,
which would have attracted attention
even IN Castle Garden. Evidently he
cared less for sty:, than for comfort.
''What is the fare to Newport"
Ten cents, please"
started at the musical voice, and
looked at the man closely.
"Wh-a-a-t?" | said, mot Ferguson,
of the Gazetteer
''Same party. dear boy. same party"
He laughed in the honest. whole
souled way that knew SO well, rang
the bell of his punch twice. smiled at
the pretty girl. who seemed to enjoy
my surprise, and then clattered out to
his place at the brake, where present
ly '"incd him.
''This is rough. Ferguson, deuced
rouyh-twelve dollars week and
seventeen hours a day! Can't you do
better than this?"
Classical occupation, dear boy.
One oft the children of Greek mythology.
you will remember, aspired to drive. a,
car-his fathers ear. butwhile his route
was a triile dryer than minen-
''lt was not necessary to make guy
of himselfin cow-hidc boots. That Girl
inside is laughing ut you"
Il know it. She always does when
she rides with me-" EEE
He looked through the glass door of
the car, and again patted the side of
his coat when he met the Young
woman's eyes. The gesture seemed to
please her.
Another case of the maiden and the
coachman,' remarked Ferguson. as he
slowed up TO take on passenger.
Evidently he had lost none of his high
spirits since he had drifted out of Jour
nallSm into the Strect-car service.
But seriously now, don't you know
hcr?''
NO. | can not say that Ido," said,
severely.
That's Virginia"
looked again at the girl. She was
aS charming specimen of young
womanhood rs is often met with even
in the cultured parts of Kentucky.
The infantlle cheeks and dimpled chin
toned down the severity of her eve
glasses. and from the brown plume i'm
her hat to the narrow toe of her shoe
She was what is popularity known as
stylish" Du Maurier might have
copied her pose for that of one of his
high-hrcd women
-1cs. sir. that's Virginia. You have
laughed at nv verses TO her three wears.
and if we drop all the passengers before
the end of the route is reached | will
take You inside and present you. She
knows you by name already. l have
talked with her about YOU a hundred
times. She likes that little story of
N"ars, The Cruise of the Mermaid,
Immensely, and always looks up your
column the first thing in the Clarion"
Then he seemed to drift into another
line of thought
Yes, sir. it is rough" he said,
",'lghteen hours day, seven days in
Tia week. is too many hours for a man
10 work: but, thank God. l am done!
hts is my last trip. have something
here he tapped the left side OF
a. o'i->Aln coat, again-''which has
pat me on my feet. Virginia and had
several blocks. alone. together. this
morning. and She knows. That's what
w are so gay about. You remember
/ It Diamond Dollar?'''
Did l remember its 1t was that
diamond Dollar" that cost Ferguson
his desk on the Ga-e,te. Not more
than two months ago he was as dapper.
wcll-drcSsed and apparently successful