The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-07-16
.What do YOU say 10 tho diamonds"

monds." she said, meditatively, rs
though weighing the question i'll her
NINA. Yes. papa said might wear
diamonds after l was married. But
might not your mother object"
Not when she knows whom they are
for, and ut any rate she is going to leave
them to me in her will"
"Oh and you expect that the news OF
our marriage win kill her.
1T ought rather to give her new
lease of life. But you shall have the
diamonds all the same. Will you try
them on now
why, have you got them with you?'
Certainly; l always carry them in
this pocket"
How careless! You might lose them.
NO; the pocket buttons up-see! and
turning back the flap of my coat | showed
her how al was made secure.
But what if robbers were to att+,ck
you"
Then | should talk to them with
this" 1 rejoined, taking my revolver
from another pocket and holding it up.
oh. that's 4 Derrilyer. They have
those in America. WHAT Il pretty one.
Let me look at it.
No" said |. replacing it in my pocket;
''it has a hair trigger and every barrel
is loaded You shall look at something
much prettier and not dangerous at all
Here, sit down on this stump and take
off your hat and I'll put them on for
you."
The stump of which spoke stood at
the end of the path we had been follow
ing. and within few rods of the brink
of precipicous gorge, which entered
the side of the steep mountain spur
nearly 1T right angles. Across this gorge
(Which. though seventy to one hundred
feet i'll depth, was scarcely more than
half as wide at the top wooden bridge
had formerly been thrown; but age or
accident had broken it down until only
u single horizontal beam remained. span
ming the chasm from side to side. and
supported by three or four upright and
transverse braces The beam itself was
scarcely nine inches in width, and the
whole structure was dizzy thing to
look at. My nerves were trained to
steadiness by good deal of gymnastic
experience, but it would have needed Il
strong inducement to get ME across tina;
beam Oh foot.
Kate sat down on the stump rs direct
ed, but her manner had become languid
and Indifferent; the brightness and spar
kle of her late mood were gone. AS she
looked up at me her level eyebrows were
slightly contracted and the corners of
her mouth dropped. Her hands were
folded listlessly in her lap. She was
dressed in some soft white material
through which was visible the warm
CLEAN of her arms and shoulders; the
skirt was caught up in such a way rs to
allow freedom in walking: she wore
broad brimmed white hat over her black
hair. yellow sash confined her waist
and her hands were bare. | united the
ribbon of her hat, she permitting me to
do so without resistance; and then
kneeling before my | unbuttoned the
diamonds from her pocket and laid
them. in their case, upon her lap.
Now, dear, shall put them on you
or will you do it YOURSELF
She opened the case and the gems
flashed in the checkered sunshine that
filtered down between the leaves of the
trees. The sight seemed 10 rouse her
somewhat; IA faint spot of color showed
in either cheek. and she drew in a long
breath.
They are splendid!' she said. IL
never saw anything like them. No.
your mother would need to die before
giving up these"
"They won't look their best until you
have put them on. Gomez
"Oh. I'm afraid. What if
afraid of WHAT
'What if some ono were to come and
see
Nonsense. my darling. There's nc
one within half a mile of us: and if there
were they would only see a lovely girl
looking her loveliest."
How nicely you talk to me! Well.
then-you put them on me. won't
touch them myself"
The parure consisted of necklace
and a pair of earrings. lifted them.
flashing, from the case; clasped the neck
lace around her throat. she sitting mo-
tionless, and hung the earrings in her