The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-10
THE DIAMOND DOLLAR.
Which Illustrated the Ups and
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-bearded mentor on the oppo-
site side of the street car. She smiled
with her whole face-dimpled chin, red
cheeks, full lips; even the eyes behind
the convex glasses of her frtmcenez
twinkled.
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 at her. His face lighted up
when her glance met his, and with his
rough glove he patted the left side of his
coat, as though it shielded something
which concerned her.
The car was one of those little-wheeled
boxes locally known as 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 boys who
everywhere mark bobtail cars for their
own, was muffied to the mouth in an old
oil-skin coat, belted at the waist with Il
leather strap. His cap was pulled down
to shield his face from the rain, into
the teeth of which he was forced to
drive, and when he entered the car to
collect the fares his heavy cowhide
boots completed a grotesque picture,
which would have attracted attention
even in Castle Garden. Evidently he
cared less for style 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 Gazette?"
''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 joined him.
"'This is rough, Ferguson, deuced
rough-twelve dollars week and
seventeen hours day! Can't you do
better than this?"
Classical occupation, dear boy.
One of the children of Greek mythology,
you will remember, aspired to drive a
car-his father car, but while his route
was trifle dryer than minen--
at was not necessary to make a guy
of himselfin cow-hide boots. That girl
inside is laughing at YOU"
81 know it. She always does when
she rides with me-"
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 a passenger.
Evidently he had lost none of his high
spirits since he had drifted out of jour.
nalism into the street-car service.
"But seriously now, don't you know
her?"
mo, can not say that 1 do" said,
severely.
That's Virginia
looked again at the girl. She wa,
as charming specimen of young
womanhood as is often met with even
in the cultured parts of Kentucky
The infantile cheeks and dimpled chin
toned down the severity of her eve.
glasses, and from the brown plume in
her hat to the narrow toe of her shoe
she was what is popularity known a:
stylish" Du Maurier might have
copied her pose for that of one of his
high-bred women.
Eyes, sir. that's Virginia. You have
laughed at my verses to her three years
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. have
talked with her about you a hundred
times. She likes that little story o
yours, The Cruise of the Mermaid,
immensely, and always looks up you
column the first thing in the Clarion. ,
Then he seemed to drift into another
line of thought.
eyes, sir, it is rough" he said
eighteen hours a day, seven days il
the week, is too many hours for a mar
to work; but, thank God, | am done
This is my last trip. | have something
here''-he tapped the left side o
his oil-skin coat, again-''which ha
put me on my feet. Virginia and hat
several blocks, alone, together, thi
morning, and she knows. That's wha
we are so gay about. You remembe
that Diamond Dolarp'"
Did remember itp 1t was tina