nfathomed caves of ocean bear;'

'Orient pearls at random strung;'

'Fold, little trembler, thy fluttering wing,
Freely partake of love's fathomless spring;
So hallowed thy presence, the spirit within
Hath whispered, "The angels protect thee from sin."'"

The speaker ceased, with his glance hovering caressingly over the
little trembler with fluttering wing, that is, the big-waisted man.
The company sat in listening expectancy; and the big-waisted man,
whose eyes had long ago sought refuge in the fire, lifted them and
said, satirically, "Go on," at the same time trying to buy his way out
with a smile.

"It's your turn," quickly responded the jewel's owner, with something
droll in his manner that made the company laugh at the other's
expense. The big-waisted man kindled, then smiled again, and said:

"Was that emblem of modest loveliness give' to you symbolically, or
did you present it to yourself?"

"I took it for a debt," replied the wearer, bowing joyously.

"Ah!" said the other. "Well, I s'pose it was either that or her
furniture?"

"Thanks, yes." There was a pause, and then the pearl's owner spoke on.
"Strange fact. That was years ago. And yet"--he fondled his gem with
thumb and finger and tender glance--"you're the first man I've met to
whom I could sincerely and symbolically present it, and you don't want
it. I'm sorry."

"I see," said the big-waisted man, glaring at him.

"So do I," responded the pearl's owner. A smile went round, and the
company sat looking into the fire. Outside the wind growled and
scolded, shook and slapped the house, and thrashed it with the rain. A
man sitting against the chimney said:

"If this storm keeps on six hours longer I reduce my estimate of the
cotton-crop sixty-five thousand bales." But no one responded; and as
the importance died out of his face he dropped his gaze into the fire
with a pretence of deep meditation. Presently another, a good-looking
young fellow, said:

"Well, gents, I never cared much for jewelry. But I like a nice
scarf-pin; it's nobby. And I like a handsome seal-ring." He drew one
from a rather chubby finger, and passed it to his next neighbor,
following it with his eyes, and adding: "That's said to be a real
intaglio. But--now, one thing I don't like, that's to see a lady wear
a quantity of diamond rings outside of her glove, and heavy gold
chains, and"--He was interrupted. A long man, with legs stiffened out
to the fire, li