The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-01-14

HEARTS AND DIAMONDS.
BY HILDA NEWMAN.
CHAPTER. I.

shy chances into Johns face. MAY
I wear it for little while?" she asked.
& Though they were in the park, John
risked public opinion, and taking the
little hand in his, held it tightly for a
minute. "You shall have it for good
some day, and 20 better ones," he said,
confidently. Meanwhile wear it as
long as you like, that is, till my old dad
comes to town, which will not be for
some time yet"
1T was very good Of him to give it
to YOU"
eyes, because he priced it, and al
ways wore it himself. But I wanted
no reward for passing an ordinary
exam. that heaps of other fellows get
through as matter of course; besides,
I don't care for jewelry. I'd just as
soon have had a mug engraved with
"A present for good boy shall only
wear it to please him, and you shall
wear it to please me-"
Elsa hardly heard what he said
she was deep in thought and spoke
dreamily. II think it is the cruelest
thing in fate-to have expensive tastes
and no means to crafty Them
''That's something that can be con-
.quered," said John, cheerfully; 'there's
always second best, you know"
''Ah, if I could only realize it-but
I can't" Elsa answered, despondently
'''And here is a case in point: Mrs.
Ponder gave me an awful brooch on my
(birthday-bogus jewels mounted in
brass. Il never give mean present,
she said, and anyone would take this
to be worth at least e 49, I thanked
her, but I have never had the courage
to wear it. Had only been able to sec
it with her eyes should have been de-
lighted with it."
"She meant WELL" said John, softly.
20, John, she ought not to have had
me so we'll educated-we have not Il
taste in common. She would have been
happier with her niece, the grocer's
daughter"
"You must take more exercise, Elsa !:
that typewriting is too muck for you -
mo, it is not that; besides have the
daily walk, and I'm better away
from home. Then I must have some
money Of my own-I can't come to Mrs.
Ponder for it, feeling as I do-and l
pay her as much as can, and try to
make things last, but o! I am so tired of
1t ALI"
Johns healthy mind could not gauge
these fits of dependence. He saw no
sreason for them. Why could not Elsa
work On sanguinely towards the future
las he did? She must have little faith in
him.
He gently pointed this out to her, but
she only shook her head, and leaned
back, closing her eyes. They sat in 81
lence for awhile until the mood passed !;
then Elsa rose, slowly drawing her
shabby little glove over the beautiful
ring.
John rose and drew her arm through
mis-, in his bourgeois fashion. ut is
rather impossible, when you come to
think of it," he said, laughing, ito wear
"a big diamond when you're hard up. I
couldn't stand the temptation, you
know. I'm glad you've got it,"
Mrs. Ponder prided herself on being
very outsooken, but hers was the can
dor of vulgarity that spares no ones
feelings, least of all those of dependents
She also demanded, and could digest,
an unstinted amount of praise, and, as
long as this was bestowed, was fairly
aamiable person to live with. If Els;,
could have borne with this most irri-
Eating of foibles she would have had a
comfortable home; for, though Mrs.
Ponder mourned over her want of ten.
'0erness and sympathy, she cherished
u secret pride. in Elsa's beauty and nice
manners, which she attributed to her
own influence in the girls training.
But Elsa had not the tact of hypocrisy
that helps so many waits to claim lux
urious lives; she had the Impotence OF
antellect, and the stress of uncongenia1
'companionship told on her and caused
constant chickering's.
When John called late one afternoon
to reclaim his ring, he found Mrs. Pom.
Ger much aggrieved. An alteration
had taken place in the morning in ref
erence to some chintz draperies she hal
chosen that did not meet with Elsa's an.
proval.
'She's not home yet," snapped Mrs
Ponder, in answer to his diffident in.
quiry, land the longer she stays away
the better. She grumbles at this-she
grumbles~ at that-she says she'll loci:
her door, because want her to have
q pretty, clean room-and I'm not tc
jnterfere with her things. Her things!
! Why, she hadn't a rag to her back when
I took her in! Look what I've don,
for her! The paltry sum she insists
on giving me doesn't pay for he1
breakfast. But I don't mind that
che hasn't bit of sense, and sh>
won't listen-that's what aEnoys me-
h John endeavored unsuccessfully Il
Il stem the wrathful recital OF woes. Ii
/. his desire to soothe her he said exactl,
the wrong things. 'tAll girls are til,
.ssme, suppose; they like to be indie
pendent. I shouldn't worry about it
II Z were you; perhaps she's right, yo'
zee. And of course she knows all shs
owes you @>~ ..ss,.- &, ~