Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-11-26
DIAMONDS IN THE GUTTER.

a. lllL bsIAs
A little girl sat on n doorstep. watch
ing the rain-drops rs they splashed in
the puddlcs, stopping 10 count them in
her misery, for she had nothing TO DO.
nothing 10 think Of, and nothing 10
hope for.
Her clothes were shabby. her arms
were scarcely more than skin and bone
and her large wistiul eyes seemed big
enough 10 swallow up the rest OF her
face. Poverty was stamped on every
childish feature, and their beauty had
been driven away by that harsh fcnd,
starvation.
The door behind her opened, aud n
man with n red beard came ont, nearly
stumbled over her. and gave her u
curse instead of an apology; then he
went his way down the watcry pave
ment, stepping into every puddle he
came across, rs il he were in too great
q rage 10 see them.
Lotiio Smith watched him, and said
TO herself:
MY! how he'll spoil his shoe
leathcr!'
Then he passed ont OF sight, and she
drew her tattered shawl round her with
"a shiycr. for the street seemed TO have
grown darker and colder than it was
before.
Presently n window behind her
opened, and something flashed down
ike n falling star on 10 the pavement.
In M instant Lottic jumped w and
secured the prize, holding it up to the
light OF the lamp-post in her dirty
fingers.
1t vas n diamond ring.
Sic had never seen such a thing In
her life. and she thought the beautiful
jewel flashing %radiantly in the gas-light
was n star fallen from its place in the
sky.
Poor 'ickle tar" she said, wiping
IL with the corner Of her shawl, ''me
can't take 'ou back just yet, but me
goin aiorc long, doctor says, anu then
me take 'ou with me-"
Holding it tight in her little bony
fingers, she dragged her tired feet
down one dirty street after another;
but there was u new light in her eyes,
rs if a small hope had risen up in the
darkness because Of tho II in her
hand.
Another gentleman came 10 the door,
step on which she had been sitting,
and being admitted after n resounding
knock, made his way un~announced to
the drawing-room.
''Sir Felix has been here again.
Marion" he said angrily. Don't deny
ii, for he told me so himself"
Il sha'n't deny it, because it is true"
and Marion Dearslcy rose slowly from
the sofa. III you wish me to say Not
nj home 10 every nan but yourself, |
must tell YOU that / can't do it,"
do you ever do anything TO please
mc?" in bitter resentment.
Yes, but | sha'n't for the future,
now that | know"
You know what?' looking at her in
surprise.
''Iha; tho flowers l give you are
passed on 10 someone else"
Whoever told you that tells n gross
falschood!' and his dark eyes dashed
lire.
lie is quito rs truthful, | fancy. rs
Mr.. Harold B~attiscombc."
Where's my ring?" his eyes sud-
denly falling on her left hand.
"Ah. whereof her checks flushing.
al suppose the next will be given TO
Laura D!ckson?"
Time 10 talk about the next when
I've found out about the first" his
brows drawing together. marion,
tell me the truth. Have you, or have
you not, given the ring TO Whitaker"
81 am not in the habit Of making
presents TO gentlemen"
No cyasions. If you please. You
bad the ring on Your finger when Sir
Felix was herc?"
Certainly. and he had the good
taste 10 say l liked you the best be-
canse You could give me such jolly dia-
monds."
And you y encourage such a snob
as that
Il don't encourage him." drawing
up her long neck.
"Then where is the ring?'
She laughed uneasily and looked
toward the window.
Il was desperately angry, because l
had just heard Of the roses"
There was nothing 10 hear" ho in.
tcrrupted hastily. but I'd tell you
all about it, only 1t would not interest
you now"
why not now?" in vague alarm.
because If you give away my ring.
1t is n sign that you want TO get rid OF
the giyer," his face set and stern.
Goodbye. Marion; iii never bother
you again." taking up his hat.
.'Wait a moment. II threw it out
of the window"
A contemptuous smile curled his
m~oustache.
"A likely story; diamonds are not
generally thrown in n g~u,tcr!'
III you won't believe me, 60" and
she pointed 10 the door, but directly it
had closed behind him. she threw her.
self down on the sofa. and burst into n
passion Of tears. '1Oh, Harold. Harold.
conc back!'
But tho days passed IN and Harold
never came back. anu the pride which
separated oach t-or: the ether secmed
to raise an impossible barrier between
them. As soon AS she had grown q
little calmer, sho sent out some SER
wants to look for the ring. but not q
trace OF it was to be seen, although in
consequence of tho badness of tho
weather. tho policeman avcrrcd that no
m had passed by for the last half
hour.
Not long after this. Miss Dcarsiey was
engaged TO act in some tdbleau1- UipaRts
at the house Of n Mrs. Mackenzie. In
one scene Harold Battiscombc had TO
kneci ut her feet rs an arden: lover.
with her left hand pressed to his lips,
whilst she turned away in apparent
agitation. Tho agitation was not
fcigncd. for when she felt her hand
once moro in his. and saw by the r
preston OF his face that no had neither
forgiven nor forgotten. shc trcmblcd
SO violently that she nearly spoiled her
part.
II tho ring had only been In its place
she fancicd that he would have como
pac4 70 ncr. A s:ckening feeling CT
despair crcpt over her. the lights
seemed 10 bo going out. and she fell
forward into his arms.
When she opened her eyes again,
sho found herself on tho sofa in y little
bondolr. md lie was knocling by her
aldo with n scent bottle Ia his hand.