Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-01-21
DOROTHY'y DIAMONDS.
By HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

By HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
You can't be III earnest, Dotty ! said
Ralph 1mray.
But ] am in earnest protested Dor
o'hy his wife. why shouldn't be in
earnest.
Mr.. lmray laid down the pen with
which lie had been following u LONG
column of figures. lie was bank &C
cunntant, and sometimes eked ont his
small salary by bringing home the
books of neighboring firms to post after
his regular days work was over.
He looked intently ut Dorothy. Nor
was she by any means Il disagreesble
object to behold. as she sat by the sLad,
ed lamp, stitching away at piece of
yellow China Silk which emphasized
her purple black masses of silky hair
an,! the jetty light Of her long lashed
eyes.
Some people to judge by appearances,
are born kitchen, maids; others are
princesses. And Dorothy Imray, albeit
her father was master carpenter and
her husband ii bank clerk, was one OF
natures aristocrats-slim, taper fin
gered and n-thruated, with a deli
cate complexion and a profile that re-
minded one of Roman cameo.
why shouldn't you be Ia earnest p
repeated Ralph. Because. Dotty, there
Is a fitness in all things. A poor man S
wife has 10 business to wear diamonds.
Mrs. Clifford wears them! ! petulant-
" retorted Dorothy. and Job Cliff
ford doesn't get any higher salary than
You do .
'Bnt her iather Is man of means,
Dotty.'
And Luella Dixon has the lovelicst
lace bar! She showed it to me yeSter
day
Dixon and / differ materially in our
financial ideas observed Imray, shrug.
glng his shoulders. If a man owes
|, for one, don't regard it as a
very smart thing for his wife to be
Haunting around in costly jewels.
Come, Dot, give up the idea, Twenty
years from now | may be able to give
you diamonds.'
Dorothy ppute,.. She .sewed away
with little, swift Jerks Of the needle.
Twenty years from (, ow and i shall
be al old woman, she uttered
Mr. .mray laughed.
Ill risk that said he. No, Dotty,
if my wife were to come out in pair Of
diamond ear rings, my employers would
be quite justified in scrutinizng my ac.
counts. The topaz ornaments l gave
YOU at our wedding were COOL enough
Tor you then. Why can't you be con
tented WITH them now .
Dorothy answered not a word. The
needle seemed like sclmetar in the
the rosered lips We're tight
ly compressed and Ralph resumed his
pen with sigh.
Dottv had got into soclety' lately,
and the little home had never recovered
Its pleasant old time aspect again.
Mrs. Job Clifford and Luella Dixon
were her models now, instead OF kind
Aunt Ehoda and The rector's pretty
wife. ...
The next day Mrs. Dixon called,
dressed in IA fantastic combination SUIT
with ii Fret ch hat, and real lace scalf
twisted loosely around her neck.
well, Dorothy she began, What
did he say p -. .. ... ~.
Mrs. lmrays pretty face g!oomed
over: .....
just what | expected said she. OF
course he won't give me the diamonds.
l might have known that beforehand.
Don't he discouraged, dear, SAID
Mrs. Dixon, with furtive glance. i
can suggest plan. Are we quite
alone
Dorothy looked surprised.
Yes said she. Bridget has gone to
market, and there is no one else on this
floor
Mrs. Dixon drew her chair close to
Dorothy's sofa.
Listen " she whispered. How much
money have you ?
Twenty dollars of my own,' Dorothy
answered, and forty that Ralph left to
pay the agent our rent. That's sixty.
And there's fifteen that Aunt Rhoda
sent me to match her old brocaded silk
with
Seventy five said Mrs. Dixon, ex-
ul1ingIy. Dorothy, you shall have
your diamonds
Its lmpossible!' ! breathed Dorothy.
But it is possible, and I'll tell you how.
Come closer, dear not Il soul must
know Of this. Dixon has helped ship
ping merchant on the docks to get his