Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-23
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY,

and that I was not deceived in nv estimation Of
you
You must take it sir she said with inrenu-
Gus earnestness. Il should be distressed to be
longer under pecunary obligation to an entire
stranger. Besides, sir, would like my clasp if
you please
Did you not take it from the case where you
laid it down.; he asked with surprise, and just
ly directed suspicion.
No, sir;-indeed, sir, hope it is not LOST
1t is of countless value to me. 1t was given me
by-by-'
By sweetheart? !? added the gentleman sm-
ling.
He is now dead, SIR she answered with over
flowing eyes,
You do well to value it. did not take tup.
Are you sure you left it there"
Yes, sir; hoping that you would take it and
keep it ill | paid you
'Well, my child, have not got il but
believe the goldsmith has. Let US go and see
him.
On their arrival Mr.. Brochard denied ever
having seen it since she went out, and that he
saw her take it with her and place it in her
bosom as she lett the shop. The young lady
turned deadly pale, and was inconceivably dis
tressed
Come with me; will find the clasp for you
said Col. McHenry, offering her his arm, and
leaving the goldsmth's with her.
& do hope shall find it, sir she said as she
walked; it was RuPerts last dying gift. 1t
was given him in Cuba, by rich lady whose
life he had saved by rescuing her from the wa.
ter. He was a sailor sir, and had little to leave
me but his memory, and my poor clasp. Oh,
sir, if it is lost shall never forgive myself for
Offering to pledge it. But sir, our extremity
was very great
Colonel McI1cnry stopped with her at JUS
tice office, and briefly and clearly made bis
complaint, and in very few minutes Mr.. Bro
chard was brought by an officer into the pres.
ence of a magistrate He appeared to be in
great trepldaon, and was pale as ashes, for he
had been suddenly taken without warming from
behind his counter, leaving his shop in charge
of his astonished assistants. Col. McHenrv
and the young lady being sworn, deposed that
they both had last seen the clasp on the show
case, where each went out and left it, the form
er further deposug that he had not gone ten
steps from the door before he returned and found
it missing, and no one in the vicinity but the de-
fendant.
The goldsmith was then called up to be sworn
as to his knowledge of the facts He approach
ed the stand where the magistrate held the BIZ
BILE, and laid his hands upon it with a perceph.
BILE tremor of his whole body, but the love Of
hetook the oath. 1t appeared as if he would
have sunk through the floor when he did it, bot
the moment it was done he recovered his audac-
ity. At this moment, an officer who, at the sug-
gestion Of Col. McHenry, had been privately
despatched by the justice with search warrant
10 the shop of the goldsmith, now entered and
placed something in the magistrates hands, af-
ter briefly whispering to him.
did you ever see this gold ornament before !?
asked the magistrate, holding up the clasp before
the young girl.
'Oh, it is my casp--it is my clasp = she cried
springIng forward.
Yes, it is the same,' answered Colonel Nc
Henry.
'And did you ever sec it before, sir ? deman-
ed the Justice sernly, holding it in the direction
of the goldsmith, who had seen it at the first
and was appalled, with fear and CONSERVATION.
Instead of replying, he uttered wild hyster
ical laugh and fell his length in convulsions OIL
the floor.
He was, few weeks afterwards taken fror
prison, tried and condemned for perjury bu
his reason torsook him, and instead of the gal
lows, he is now raving IN the mad-house. Thu
was avarice and parsimony, and Indifference tc
the sufferngs of others punished in this life
the acts of this selfish man showing to all hov
that acquisitiveness wrongly directed is fatal
its possesseor.
Whether Col. McHenr was bachelor an
married his young friend Of the clasp" {
whether he did better and adopted her, is nj
known to the writer, otherwise it would afor
him qualification to communicate either of tn
pleasinu facts to the reader.