Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-07-16
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-bearded mentor on the oppo-
site side Of the street car. She smiled
with her whole face-dimpled chin, red
checks, full lips; ever the eyes behind
the convex glasses of her prancenes
twinkled.
''Thank YOU" she said, shutting the
book softly, Il know it. l was merely
g%lancing 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 ofhis
coat, as though it shielded something
which concerned her.
Thecar was one ofthose lit~tle-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 mutfied to the mouthin an old
oil-skin coat, belted at the waist with a
leatherstrap. 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
ever in Castle Garden. Evidently he
cared less for style than for comfort.
what is the fare to Newport"
"Ten cents, please"
y started at the musical voics. and
looked at the mar closely.
"Wh-a-a-t?" l said, mot Ferguson.
of the Gozette??"
"Same party. dear boy, same party"
He laughed in the honest, whole
souled way that l knew so well, rang
the bell of his punch twice, smiled at
the pretty girl, who seemed to eniov
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 a week and
seventeen hours a day! Can't you do
better than this?'
classical occupation, dear bow.
One of the children Of Greek mythology,
you will remember, aspired to drive a
car-his fathers car, but while his route
was a tritle dryer than mine'-
''lt was not necessary to make a guy
of himselfin cow-hide boots. That girl
inside is laughing at you"
Il 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 vounp
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
nallsm into the strect-carservice.
"But seriously now, don't you know
her?"
ono, can not say that Ido," 1 said,
severely.
Chats Virginia."
Hooked again at the girl. She was
as charming a specimen of young
womanhood as is often met with even
in the cultured parts of Kentucky.
The infantile checks and dimpled chin
toned down the severity of her eye
glasses, and from the brown plume in
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-bred women.
Eyes, sir. that's Virginia. You have
laughed at my verses to herthree years,
and if we drop all the passengers before
the end of the route is reached 1 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
yours, 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.
Eyes, sir, it is rough" he said,
eighteen hours a day, seven days in
the week, is too many hours for a man
to work; but, thank God, I am done!
This is my last trip. l have something
herc"-he tapped the left side OF
his oif-skin coat, again-"which has
put nc on myfeet. Virginia and | had
several blocks, alone, together, this
morning, and she knows. That's what
we are SO gay about. You remember
chat diamond DOllar2'n ~