The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-01-09
THE DIAMOND CUTTER.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


"He an lmpostor," said Mrs. Bagley, !
"that's what he is! 1t don't take no
second sight to- find that OUT"
"He's notl' said Miss Dodd. "Do
you think there is no truth in physiog-
nomy2"
''It's an old dodge" said Mrs. Bagley,
quivering with indignation, until every
fold in her fat double chin shook amain.
''I've often read Of it in the papers, and
should think, Martha Dodd, that you
were old enough"
"Not so old as you bel" bristled Miss
Dodd. eff you come to that, there's
eight good year between us yet, Jane
Bagley."
"WelI, WELL" said Mrs. Bagley, re-
treating before this ell-organized at
tack, "that amt nothin' to signifyl"
''No," said Miss Dodd, magnani-
mously. cage is neither here nor there
What mean is that he's got a good face"
$50 much of it rs amt covered by that
mop of hcathenish beard" SAID Mrs.
Baglcy.
"And the garden needed half days
work awful bad, and fifty cents and
meal O. victuals won't break neither of
-us, " went on Miss Dodd.
"Oh, if you've mind to put it that
way" said her sister.
And so the matter was settled.
"Givc it to him on the barn door STEP"
Mrs. Baglcy urged. "In tin platter.
And let him stir his coffee with stick.
! won't risk Grandmother Dodd's fiddle
stemmcd spoons with no tramps. And
tell him not to he all day catin' it,
times money, when you're payin' for
it, Baglcy used TO say"
Miss Dodd, however, piled liberal
ration Of cold fricassecd chicken, cucum-
Der pickles, home baked bread and sweet
yellow butter on the tin pie-dish, and
sweetcned the coffee literally before she
carried it out to the old man with the
Objectionable beard, the dusty shoes and
the wcllworn clothing, who was humbly
waiting in the shadow Of the old apple
tree by the barn.
''He looks just exactly like one-o'-
them old picters Of apostles in the fam
lily Bible said Miss Dodd, as she
came back with the empty platter and
"My goodness me, Martha," said she,
! dunno what is!"
al didn't mean it that way" said Miss
Dodd. "But he has mild eye, and he
thanked me as pleasant as basket Of
chips. And just look at the way he's
pullin' them frost bitten lima beans out
of the ground!"
al hope he won't carry our best spade
and rake away with him." sighed Miss
Bagley.
''Guess there's no danger Of that"
cheerfully spoke Miss Dodd. "Hc's q
diamond cutter"
"What?" said Mrs. Baglcy.
"By trade" said Miss Dodd. "That's
what he told me, anyhow. 1t was pretty
hard work to understand what he said,
but made out somehow"
"Where does he carry his diamonds2"
gasped Mars. Bagley.
ala. he don't cut diamonds for him.
SELF" said Miss Dodd, laughing. "That's
what he does in his native country-or
what he did until big diamond syudi-
zs5atE in -Lana1~-~v'T-f T-f,rrfrg, ana threw six
thousand diamond cutters out of work
IN Poland and Belgium and them furrin'
parts"
"Bless mel" said Mrs. Bagley.
"And he come to this country because
he heard, poor creetur'! that everybody
made fortunes here, went on Miss Dodd,
making maelstrom of silver white soap.
suds in the big tin dishpan, and i'm
mersing the knives and forks therein
with gentle clatter. "And now he's
got to his last crust and his last pepnv.
and there won't no one listen to his story.
And he's had dogs set on him for a
tramp, and been threatened with con-
stables and no end of trouble. I did
feel sorry for him."
''Did you, auuty2 That is lust like
you, you dear!" cried sweet voice.
$50 do Il"
Miss Dodd staggered beneath The I'M.
expected hug and kiss of round checked
eighteen year-old glrl, who had come
breezlly into the sink-room, filnging her
hat and sacquc this way and that.
"Child,' said she, "what do YOU
know about it?"
"Oh I've been interviewing the grand J
old man out thereW cried Mary Moore,
pIhng her strap of books on the shelf, /
Tor che was the district school teacher,
md had just returned from her work.
He says he IS Belgian, and he looks
ss if he'd just stepped out of picture
rsme. I'd like to paint his picture i'll
lad time. See how hard ho is work
ng" leaning her elbows on the window
NIL and staring out, like vignette
ramed in scarlet-runner leaves
q dare say he knows we're all lookin'
aryly observed Mrs. Bagley. |,
'A diamond CUTTER" thoughtfuliy ut.
cred Mary. doesn't it sound roman
ic2"
81 s'pose, said Mrs. Bagley, &" it's as
asy story to invent as any other"
But the majority was undoubtedly
gainst her, and when the night fell ina
risk thundershower, and Mary went
ut TO the barn with lantern to invite
ne poor old foreigner to share their SUP.
er and occupy seven-foot -squa re bed.
pom at the end of an unused wing of
ne farmhouse, Mrs. Bagey was com {
elled reluctantly to accord her consent.