Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-10-05

gratuate himself at leisure No more
heavy packages 10 drag up and down those
steep bridges, no more supperless nights
aud breakfastless mornings. Sandy had
built no taller castles round that diamond
than he was building now.
Sam Sam !" broke in pitfu voice.
"Ive been looking everywhere for you;
I've lost my diamond"
you've what Z" cried Sam, with an in
credulous stare.
Lost tin that boat, and she's away
now, and III never, never get it back It's
hard. Sandy put his head down on the
iron rail, and groaned aloud in bitter dis
appointment
Sam looked on in silence. He was nat
urally not a hard hearted lad, and for a
minute the impulse was strong to give the
ring back. after all, it's only what he
did himself, he argued "He found it and
kept it, and that's what I'm doing"
He made one or two Intellectual attempts
to console poor miserable Sandy, ..and got
away as speedily as possible into a back
street, whore dwelt acertain German, who
kept a kind Of money lending and general
exchange and barter establishment, for the
benefit of sailors and emigrants. Satur-
day night was far advanced and if he,
Sam, meant TO reap any immediate benefit
from his possession, it was necessary to lose
no time.
He slipped softly in, and addressed him
self to the proprietor
IL picked up something Oh the dock to.
day, and | wad like to ken the worth of it
gin | cared to part with it,
What is it . demanded the man, brief
ly.
It's ring-a diamond one, answered
| IN /. L.. l.
where is it =
Sam slowly unfolded the wrappers, and
laid it with "A sort Of gasp, in the mans
dingy palm. Sam watched it with eager
eyes.
The German looked at the treasure un-
der the gas jet for a moment, and touched
it with his tongue. Then he threw it down
on the counter with short laugh.
Diamond indeed \ bit Of Birming
ham glass -
ITS no - CALCULATED Sam, with dry lips
you're cheating r.
The man knocked it smartly against the
iron scales Alas The unfortunate dia-
mond vanished away into dusty powder
81 But the ring-that's gold ~ cried Sam
in despair 1t was the one last forlorn
hope.
Take it away. No one would give you
"A siXpence for it. -
Sam picked it up without word. When
he got outside, he flung it into the nearest
gutter. Was it for this he had cheated
Sandy, and made himself afraid to meet
him-for thi, Why couldn't he have left
him to find out the miserable cheat for him
self 1t was the very first time he had ev-
er played "A friend shabby trick, and in
wrath and bitterness of spirit Sam vowed
that it should be the last.
The sight Of Saudy's woe begone counte-
nance when they met at the school next
morning also helped to strengthen it. Sam
realized with sinking heart that he would
never he able to explain to him how little
cause for regret he really had. For weeks
and months-even years-he might have
to listen to the lamentations over that loss.
They had the conclusion of the Judas
tragedy that morning. The two lads wan
dcred round the quay afterward almost in
silence, each privately repenting after his
own fashion.
IF | had taken that diamond to the sta
ton, soberly remarked Sandy, breaking
into long pause, Il might have got three
or four pounds for it, instead of just moth
ing. 1t served me right. I'm thinking
maybe there was some allowance to be
made for Judas. After all, riches are an
awful snare. Nobody knows till they get
them
They are" calculated Sam, with great
fervor. There's no depending ON them,
and I'm thinking well be just as well with
out any
"Ah, but you never had diamond - re
torted Sandy, with a sudden burst of sor-
row for his lost treasure.
"No, | never had, was Sans truthful
answer And Sandy little guessed how his
friend acquired such a personal knowledge
Of the deceitfuness of all riches s-The
QUirer