Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-10

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| NO" he peremptorily put in, yet
with a certain hesitancy which seemed
to speak of doubts he hardly acknowl-
edged to himself, Il will not marry
you If must expose you to privation
or to the genteel poverty hate.
love you more than you realize, and
wish to make your life happy one.
can not give you all you have been
accustomed to in your rich uncle's
| house, but IL matters prosper with
| me, If the chance have built on sue
| ceeds-and 1t will fail or succeed to-
night-you will have those comforts
which love will heighten into luxuries
and-and-"
| He was becoming incoherent again,
and this time with his eyes fixed else
where than on my face. Following
his gaze, discovered what had dis
tracted his attention. The lady with
the diamond was approaching us on
her way to the alcove. She was &C.
companied by two gentlemen, both
strangers to me, and her head, sparkl-
ing with brilliants, was turning from
one to the other with an indolent
grace. was not surprised that the
man at my side quiyered and made a
start as If to rise. She was gor-
geous image. In comparison with her
imposing figure in its trailing robe of
rich pink velvet, my diminutive frame
in its sea-green gown must have
looked as faded and colorless as a
half-obliterated pastel
"A striking woman" remarked as
saw he was not likely to resume the
conversation which her presence had
interrupted. "And what a diamond"
The glance he cast me was peculiar.
| did you notice it particularly" he
asked.
Astonfshed, for there was something
very uneasy in his manner so that
half expected to see him rise and Join
| the group he was 80 eagerly watching
without waiting for my lips to frame
a response, quickly replied:
1T would be difficult not to notice
what one would naturally expect to
see only on the breast Of a queen. But
perhaps she is queen. 1 should
judge so from the homage which fol-
lows her"
His eyes sought mine. There was
|
did not understand
What can you know about dia-
monds?" he presently demanded.
Nothing but their glitter, and glitter
is not all,-the gem she wears may be
a very tawdry one"
I flushed with humiliation. He was
a dealer In gems-that was his bust
ness-and the check which he had put
upon my enthusiasm certainly made
me conscious of my own presumption.
Yet l was not disposed to taNe back
my words. had had a better oppor-
tunity than himself for seeing this re-
markable jewel, and, with the per-
versity of somewhat ruffled mood, l
burst forth, as soon as the color had
subsidized from my cheeks:
mo, no! 1t is glorious, magnificent.
never saw its like. l doubt If YOU
ever have, for all your daily acquaint-
ance with jewels. Its value must be
enormous. Who Is she? You seem to
know her"
1t was direct question, but l re-
ceived no reply. Mr.. Durand's eyes
had followed the lady, who had ling
cred somewhat Internationally on the
top step. and they did not return to
me till she had vanished with her
companions behind the long plush cur
talns which partly yelled the entrance.
BY this time he had forgotten my
words, if he had ever heard them, and
it was with the forced animation Of
one whose thoughts are elsewhere
that he finally returned to the old
plea:
When would l marry him? If he
could offer me home in a month
and he would know by tomorrow if he
could do so-Would l come to him
then? He would not say in week;
that was perhaps too soon; but in a
month? Would not promise to be
his in month?
| What l answered I scarcely recall.
His eyes had stolen back to the alcoye
and mine had followed them. The
gentlemen who had accompanied the
lady inside were coming out again.
but others were advancing to take
their places, and soon she was en-
gagged in holding a regular court in
this favored retreat.
Why should this interest me? Why
should l notice her or look that way
at all! Because Mr.. Durand did? Pos
SAUAy. i 1eueluUeC LuaC LOT all MS ar
dent loye-making, felt little piqued
that he should divide his attentions in
this way. Perhaps thought that for
this evening, at least. he might have
been blind to mere coquette's fas.
cinations.
was thus doubly engaged in listen
ing to my lovers words and In watch.
ing the various gentlemen who went
up and down the steps, when a for
mer partner advanced and reminded
me that had promised him a waltz.
| Loath to leave Mr.. Durand, yet seeing
no way of excusing myself to Mr.. Fox,
cast an appealing glance at the
former and was greatly chagrined to
find him already on his feet.
Enjoy your Dance" he cried; ~
have word to say to Mrs. Fair
brother" and was gone before my
new partner had taken me on his arm.
| Was Mrs. Fairbrother the lady with
the diamond? Yes; as turned to
enter the parlor with my partner, l
| caught a glimpse of Mr.. Durand's tall