Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-01

made to the magistrate, as he passed
in, re-awakened an expectation in my
breast which made ME doubly watch
full.
Providence was intervening in our
favor, and / was not surprised to see
him presently reissue with the nurse, |
whom he drew into the shadow of the
trees, where they had a short confer
enee If she returned alone into the
tent after this conference should
know that the matter was at an end
and that the doctor had decided to
maintain his authority against that OF
the magistrate, But SHE remained out
side and the magistrate was invited to
joine their council; when they again
left the shadow of the trees 1t was to
approach the tent.
The magistrate, who was in the
rear, could not have more than passed
the opening, but thought him far
enough inside not to detect any move
ment on my part, so took advantage
of the situation to worm myself out OF
my corner and across the ledge to
where the tent made shadow in the
moonlight.
Croucfintg close, and laying my ear
against the canvas. listened.
The nurse was speaking in a gently
persuasive tone. imagined her kneel-
| ing by the head Of the patient and
| breathing words into his ear. These
we're what heard:
| You love diamonds. have often
noticed that. you look so long at the
ring on your hand. That is why I
have left 1T stay there, though at
times have feared 1t would drop off
and roll away over the adobe down
the mountain-side. Was / right?"
eyes, yes" The words came with
difficulty, but they were clear enough.
''It's of small value. I like it be-
cause"
He appeared to be too weak to
| finish.
A pause, during which she seemed
to edge nearer to him.
eve all have some pet keepsake"
said she "But 1 should never have
supposed this stone Of yours an mex
pensive one. But I forget that you
are the owner of a very large and re-
markalble diamond, a diamond that Is
spoken of sometimes in the papers.
OF course, If you have gem like that,
this one must appear very small and
valueless to you.'
yes, this is nothing, nothing" And
he appeared to turn away his head.
"Mr. Fairbrother! Pardon me, but
I want to tell you something about
that big diamond OF yours. You have
been i'll and have not been able to
read your letters, so do not know that
your wife has had some trouble with
that diamond. People have said that
1t is not real stone, but a wel1-exe-
cuted imitation. May write to her
that this is q mistake, that 1t Is all
you have ever claimed for it-that Is
am unusually large diamond Of the
first water?"
l listened in arnazement. Surely
this was an insidious way to get al
the truth,-a woman's way, but who
! would say it as not a wise one, the
wisest, perhaps, hich could be taken
> under the circumstances? What would
his reply be? Would it show that he
, was as ignorant of his wife's death as
= was generally believed, both by those
about him here and those who knew
him well in New York? Or would the
question convey nothing further t.
him than the doubt-in itself an in
, sult-of the genuineness Of that grea
stone which had been his pride?
:. A murmur-that was all 1t could b.
; called-broke from his fever-dried lip
: and died away in an inarticulate gasp
!, Then, suddenly, Sharply, a cry brok'
heard him say:
mo imitation! no imitation! 1t wa
sun! glory! No other like it. I
I lit the air! 1t blazed, it burned!
,, see it now! Sec"
There the passion succumbed, tn
! strength failed; another murmur, an
7 other. and the great void Of nigh
which stretched over-I might almos
say under us-Was no more quiet o
y seemingly impenetrable than the 81
ence Of that moon-enveloped tent.
! Would he speak again? I did no
, think SO. Would she even try to max
e him? / did not think this, either. Blu
u I did not know that woman.
l Softly her voice rose again. Their
{ was dominating insistence in he
y tones, gentle as they were; the IL
u sistence Of healthy mind which seek
q to control weakened one.
=. "You do not know of any limitation
L then? It was the real stone you CAV
y her. You are sure Of It; you would b
n ready to swear to 1t it-say Just ye
a or no." she finished in gentle urg
- ency.
" Evidently he was sinking again int
Inconsistencies, and she was Jul
holding him back long enough for til
n necessary word.
K 1t came slowly and with draggir
Ut information, but there was no mista
ing the ring of truth with which I
spoke.
n eyes," said he.
When I heard the doctors voice ar
1t. felt a movement in the canvas again
n, which l leaned, took the warnir
OF and stole back hurriedly to my qual
OF ers.
was scarcely settled, when ii
same group Of three I had befo
he watched silhouetted Itself aga
I'M against the moonlight. There w