The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-12-08
A FATAL BARGAIN.


Mrs. Harcourt had just come down
into her bondoir.
Warm and perfumcd. and full of soft
cmpurpled light where the sunshine
came through curtains OF violet satin,
IL seemed very bower of rest 10 the
worn, sad-looking woman sitting there
In her faded brown dress, last years
bonnet, and gloves darned and mend
ed with innumerable tiny stitches.
Mrs. Harcourt walked In. putting up
her eye-glass. for the room was semi
darkened. and the lady always affected
fashionable uncertainty of vision.
.sOh!i said Mrs. Harcourt. lowering
the glass, II see. It's Mary Riversw
For these two women. the one SUR
rounded by so many evidences Of
wealth, the other who looked SO out of
place amid such luxury. had been
schoolmates in the halcyon days OF
youth and happiness that seemed so
far away.
II hope am not interrupting you
said the visitor uneasiiy.
''Oh, nor Mrs. Harcourt glanced
up at the enameied dial in pearl and
pink under its glass shade. IL have
an engagement with my dressmaker at
twelve. But i'm the meantime l am
quite at your service"
With an evident effort Mrs. Rivers
produced from under her shabby shawl
"a little packet.
Carrie" she said. unconsciously re-
lapsing into the familiar speech of
their school days. 81 am very poor. l
need money sadly. No, Mrs.
Harcourt slightly drew back-''it is
not my intention to beg; have not
yet fallen SO low as that'-with a Bit
ter curve TO her lip-"but have some
Jewels which are not valueless. You
are rich; will you buy themP"
Mrs Harconrt toyed mechanically
with the chain Of her eye-glass, rs
Mary Rivers united the pasteboard
box, revealing set OF opals whose
reddish light glowcd upward like the
fash Of baleful eye. Involuntarily
Mrs. Harcourt moved nearer.
II do not care, rs general thing, to
buy second hand things" said she.
.sBut IL YOU do not ask too exorbtant
"A price, | will perhaps take the opals.
''They are real Oriental stones" said
Mrs. Rivers. "My husbands uncle.
who was Judge of rare jewels,
brought them from Hungary The
original cost was more than fifty
pounds.
Mrs. Harcourt rccoiled coldly.
''But, Of course, you don't expect
anything like the original valueP' said
she.
"No." said Mrs. Rivers sadly. But
| think they are worth at least half
that money. Look at their size and
coloring."
.'Opals are out Of fashion," remark
ed Mrs Harcourt indiifcrcntly. BE
sides, they are said 10 be an unlucky
stone; and really don't particularly
care for them. Perhaps, after all. you
had better try TO dispose Of them else
where"
II must have money! cried Mrs.
Rivers IN despair. "Will you give me
twenty pounds for thcmP'
II do not think they are worth more
than live. y said Mrs. Harcourt slowly;
"butas YOU are an old friend, | don't
mind Offering you ten. Not that | ann
especially anxious for them. | have
all the Jewels need, and II | bought
them nj all. IL would only be out OF
charity for YOU. OF course. you can
do as you please; you are not Obliged
TO sell the opals
"Only ten pounds for these opals!'
repeated Mary Rivers. turning red and
white; iii Is like giving them awayr
Just as you choose, y said Mrs. Har.
court SYSTEMATICALLY looking at hel
watchP "but I'm really afraid ! have
no further time 10 spare you thismorn
ing"
Mary Rivers laid tho box down on al
inlaid table close by.
.They are yoursr' she said hoarsely
"But, oh, Carriel--you have taken
cruel advantage II my necessity
That's all nonsense" retorted Mrs
Harcourt. sharply. Nobody compel
YOU 10 sell your miserable old-fashionl
able trumpcry. give all | can afford
and | really done believe the stone
will he worth the trouble and expcns
I shall be put W In te-sctting them.