Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-01-28
HEARTS AND DIAMONDS.
BY H1nDA NEWMAN.
CHAPTER. I.

Though they were in the park, John
rislied public opinion, and taking the
little hand in his, held it tightly for a
minute. "You shall have it for good
some day, and 90 better Ones" he said,
confidently. Meanwhile wear it as
long as you like, that is, till my old dad
zones to town, which will not be for
some time yet"
ut was very good of him to give 1t
to you"
Eyes, because he priced 1t, and al
ways wore it himself. But 1 wanted
no reward for passing an ordinary
exam. that heaps of other fellows get
through as matter of course; besides,
don't care for jewelry. I'd just as
soon have had a mug engraved with
a present for a 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
drcamily. 81 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 1 could only realize it-but
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. 4 never give mean present,
she said, and anyone would take this
TO be worth at least 94O.' l thanked
her, but 1 have never had the courage
to wear it. Had 1 only been able to sec
it with her eyes should have been de-
lighted with it,"
"She meant we'll" said John, softly.
20, John, she ought not to have had
me so we'll cducated-we have not u
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 much for YOU"
'No, 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 can't come to Mrs.
Ponder for it, feeling as T do-ard l
pay her as much as I can, and try to
make things last, but OF lam so tired Of
it ALL"
Johns healthy mind could not gauge
these fits of dependence. He saw no
reason for them. Why could not Elsa
work on sanguinely towards the future
MS 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"
You, dear john" she said, impul-
yively, 81 don't need this to remind me-
of you, because it is only the thought of
you and your perfect trustand patience
That makes my life endurable. But I
10 think it lovely, and it will be pleas
ure to wear it, though 1 expect shall
often think of the things it could buy,
John rose and drew her arm through
his, in his bourgeois fashion. at is,
father impossible, when you come to
think of it," he said, laughing, "to wear
bip diamond when you're hard up. [
couldn't stand the temptation, you
know. I'm glad you've got it"
Mrs. Ponder prided herself on being
very outsroken, 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
amiable person to live with. If Elsa
could have borne with this most irri-
tating OF foibles she would have had 4
comfortable home; for, though Mrs.
Ponder mourned over her want of ten
6erness and sympathy, she cherished
d secret pride in Elsa's beauty and nice
manners, which she attributed to her
swn 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 impatience OF
intellect, and the stress Of uncongenial
oompanionship told on her and caused
constant chickering's.
When John called late one afternoon
10 reclaim his ring, he found Mrs. Pom
der much aggrieved. An alteration
had taken place in the morning in ref
erence to some chintz draperies She had
chosen that did not meet with Elsa's aP-
proval.
"she's not home yet" snapped Mrs
Ponder, in answer to his dilfident in
quiry, sand the longer she stays away
the better. She grumbles at this-sha
grumbles at that-she says she'll lock
her door, because 1 want her to have
a pretty, clean room-and I'm not to
interfere with her things. Her things!
Why, she hadn't rag to her back when
/ took her ini Look what I've done
for herl The paltry sum she insists
On giving me doesn't pay for her
breakfast. But 1 don't mind that;
she hasn't bit of sense, and she
won't listeh-that's what annoys me-"
John endeavored unsuccessfully to
stem the wrathful recital OF woes. III
his desire to soothe her he said exactly
the wrong things. "All girls are the
same, suppose; they like to be i-lde-
pendent. 1 shouldn't worry about it,
il were you; perhaps she's right, you
see. And of course she knows all She
owes you"
"she doesn't-that's just what she
doesn't" exclaimed Mrs. Ponder,
angrily. Suddenly she lowered her
voice in mysterious whisper. No one
knows the truth-no one would have
done what did" +
John shrank vaguely from these I'M
sought condolences; there was some
thing dishonest about listening when
Elsa was not present to deny or defend