The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-06-27
ADiamond Ring
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1910. By Associated LIT
erary Press.


Peter Holt had been born Of farmer
folks. he had worked On farm all
his life and at the age Of forty was
stu a farmers hired man. Peter was
not stupid, but he was slow. lie had
little education, but he got around to
things II given time. Belng slow and
good tempered and without argument,
Peter was taken BY some folks as
weak IN the top story.
One day Peter bad 10 make jour
ney BY rail II was his FIRST ride on
the cars, but he made no mistakes
He gave the conductor his ticket hung
on TO bis seat with both hands. and
whenever the train stopped at a sta
ton lie stopped with It. It tickled
him to find that he could catch on so
easily. BY and by he had seat
mate. II 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 be
had no money to 80 to her and receive
her dying blessing
AS the young man continued 70
weep be aroused Peters sympathles
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
tho spirit Of his dear mother took its
flight. He had a diamond ring With
hlrn~one that had been presented to
him BY Mr. Rockefeller for not climb
ing Mount Mckinley and tearing hts
clothes. It was souvenir that he
hated to part with, but when a young
mans mother Is dying what would
you haveg He showed the jewel. but
showed it very carefully It 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
d carat or two. Tho value was $500
Under the circumstances he would
part with It for SIS. The sacrifice Of
&275 showed how he loved bis mother
how anxious he was to press her
wrlnkled hand for the last time
Peter Holt Ind s25 and q little more.
The money went out Of his pocket and
the ring went in. and for an hour be
trembled for fear the young man
would back out
As farmers hired man Peter was
slammed around any old way, and most
anything was considered good enough
Tor 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
er's wife began smiling at Peter She
also used words Of hattery. She also
limited that as he had no uae for 9
diamond ring he present it to her. It
would be something for her to remem-
Der him as long as she lived. Peter
said he'd think It over.
The farmer had a daughter named
Betsey. That was the reason she
called herself Adele Peter had tried
TO fan ii love with her. but she had
Informed him that the gulf between
them was as wide as the Atlantic
ocean. Now she showed disposition
10 narrow the gulf to the width o.
the Erie canal
Next day the farmer took Peter out
10 the barn and told him he was such
q driver Of work that his wages mus
be raised. He also said that Peter was
sharper than d razor and that there
wasn't a lightning rod man In the
state who could hold a candle TO him
He had had forty hired men IN hts
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 ID make mp bis mind, There
was a widow Glenn on the next farm
who he had thought to court Wher
he began to tell Of his love be wal
hustled out Of doors AS be was COINS
the widow flung after him:
aWhy, Pete Holt. you don't knov
enough to come In when it rains. DI
you think I'm going to the idiot asp
Luna for a hushandf'
4 week after the diamond ring wa
brought home the widow called t
peter over the fence to come dow
that evening and pop her some corr
and sac what was the matter with on
81 her hens. Peter went. His hair
ears and nose were praised; it wa
predicted that be would run for Ollie
some day: it was remarked that III
wife when he came to get one. wonh'
Id / proud woman Other remark
were remarked. and poor Peter wa
sbont 10 declare his love again whel
She asked for the ring as souvenir +
enable the widow 70 remember that sh
was forty years old that day sh
would take It as one Of the incest
sweetest things ever done for hei
Pete didn't leave the ring He wantel
time to think about fl
Then the owner Of the next farn
dewn the road wanted to hire Pete
away from bis employer. BE had
wife and three daughters and al want
&c chat ring. Some af them goE I