The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-07-07
ADiamond Ring
By M. QUAD
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press

Peter Holt had Eeen bura of farmer
folks. He had worked OH ii farm ali
his life and at tie age of forty was
still farmers Hired man. Peter was
not STUPID. but he WAS slew. lie had
little education. but he got around to
things If given time Being 81; W and
good tempered and without argument.
Peter was taken by some folks as
weak in the top story.
One day Peter had to make jour
ney by rail. 1t was his first ride on
the cars, but he made no mistakes.
He gave the conductor his ticket. hung
on to his seat with both hands. and
whenever the train stopped at a sta
tion he stopped with it. 1t tickled
him to find that he could catch on so
easily By and by he had a seat
mate. 1t was sorrowful young man.
who kept one eye on the conductor and
wept with the other. His mother. who
lived in Chicago. was dying. and he
had no money to go to her and receive
her dying blessing
AS the young man continued to
weep he aroused Peters sympathies.
and he finally got around to say so.
Then the young man explained that
there was a way, and one way only.
open for him to reach Chicago before
the spirit of his dear mother took its
fight. He had a diamond ring with
him-one that had been presented to
him by Mr.. Rockefeller for not climb
ing Mount Mckinley and tearing his
clothes. 1t was souvenir that he
hated to part with. but when a young
mans mother is dying what would
you have? He showed the jewel. but
showed it very carefully. 1t was
wrapped in seven folds Of tissue paper.
The diamond itself was not quite as
large as walnut. but those things
cannot always be regulated to within
a carat or two. The value was $500
Under the circumstances he would
part with it for $25. The sacrifice of
$275 showed how he loved his mother
how anxious he was to press her
wrinkled hand for the last time.
Peter Holt had $25 and little more
The money went out of his pocket, and
the ring went in, and for an hour he
trembled for fear the young man
would back out.
AS a farmers hired man Peter was
slammed around any old way. and most
anything was considered good enough
for him. When he returned with that
ring he learned more of human nature
in ten minutes than in all his life be-
fore A special supper was placed be
fore him. and he was told that he
needn't milk the cows that night.
Very soon after breakfast the farm
ers wife began smiling at Peter. She
also used words of f1attery. She also
limited that as he had no use for a
diamond ring he present it to her. II
would be something for her to remem
ber him as long as she lived. Peter
said he'd think it over
The farmer had daughter named
Betsey. That was the reason she
called herself Adele. Peter had tried
to fall in love with her, but she had
Informed him that the gulf between
them was as wide as the Atlantic
ocean. Now she showed disposition
to narrow the gulf to the width OF
the Erie canal.
Next day the farmer took Peter out
to the barn and told him he was such
driver of work that his wages must
be raised. He also said that Peter was
sharper than a razor and that there
wasn't lightning rod man in the
state who could hold a candle to him
He had had forty hired men in his
time. but never one like Peter Holt
Then he wound up by offering Peter
three dollar calf for the $500 ring
Peter asked for six months time il
which to make up his mind There
was Widow Glenn on the next farm
who he had thought to court. When
he began to tell of his love he was
hustled out of doors. AS he was going
the widow flung after him:
"Why, Pete Holt, you don't know
enough to come in when it rains. Do
you think I'm going to the idiot asy
lum for husband?'
A week after the diamond ring was
brought home the widow called tC
Peter over the fence to come down
that evening and pop her some corn
and see what was the matter with one
of her hens. Peter went. His hair
ears and nose were praised: it was
predicted that he would run for Office
some day; it was remarked that his
wife. when he came to get one. would
be a proud woman. Other remarks
were remarked. and poor Peter was
about to declare his love again when
she asked for the ring as a souvenir to
enable the widow to remember that she
was forty years old that day. She
would take it as one of the incest.
sweetest things ever done for her.
Pete didn't leave the ring. He wanted
time to think about it.
Then the owner of the next farm
down the road wanted to hire Peter
away from his employer. He had a
wife and three daughters and all want
ed that ring. None of them got it.
Then it was suggested that he present
1t TO church and let 1t be raffied for
the benefit of the heather. Peter
didn't fall for it. He was still hang
ing on and enjoying the situation when
wire fence man came along and pro-
nounced the diamond nothing but a
niece of glass IT was taken TO town