American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-11-17
NUMBER Fl.

lIlu y ou liOI ldhC IL lIOlll tHc Cuccs
where you laid it DOWN. he asked witt,
surprise and justly directed suspicion
mo sir-indeed, sir, l hope it is nci
lost. 1t is of countless value to me-
1t was given meby-by-
by sweetheart added lie smiling,
'IIe is now-dead, sir she answer
ed with overaowing eyes.
you do we'll to value it, did not
take it up. Are you sure you left it
there ? ......n ........., ,.~
Yes sir, hoping you would take l.
and keep it, till Ipaid you the money.
well, my child 1 have not got it
but l believe the goldsmith has. Let
us 60 to him. ~
On their arrival at the shop, Mr.
Broochard denied having ever seen IT,.
since she went out, and that he saw her
take it with her, and place it in her
bosom as she left the shop. The young
lady turned pale and was inconceivably
distressed.
Come with me, will find the clasp
for you;' said Col. McHenry, offering
her his arm and leaving the goldsmith's
with her.
Il do hope I shall find it SIR she
said, as they walked. 1t was Roberts
last gift. 1t was given him in Cuba
by rich lady, whose life he saved by
'rescuing her from the water. He was
a sailor sir, and had but little to leave
me, but his memory and my poor clasp.
Oh, sir, if it is lost, | shall never for
give myself for offering to pledge it.
But sir our extremity was very great.
Col. McHenry stopped with her ot's
Justices Office, and briefly and clearly
made his complaint, and in q very few
minutes Mr.. Broochard was brought
into the presence Of the magistratc.-
lie appeared to be in great trcpidation
and was pale as ashes; for he had been
taken suddenly from behind his coant.a
er, without warming, leaving his astbn-r
ishcd assistants in charge OF The, shop.
Col. McIIenry and the young lady be-
ing sworn, dcposcd that they both had
last seen the clasp lying on the show
case, when each went out and left it,
the former further dcposing that he had
not gone three steps from the doors
before he returned, and found it mis-
sing, and no one in the vicinity but the
dcfcndcnt.
The goldsmith then was called up
to be sworn as to his knowledge of the
facts. lie approached the stand where
the magistrate held the Bible, and laid
his hands upon it with a pcrccptablc
trcmor of his whole body; but love Of
money was stronger than the fear Of
the law and he took the oath. IT ap-
pcarcd as if he would sink through the
floor when he took it but the moment
that it was done he recovered his auda-
city. At this moment an officer, who
at the suggestion of Col. McHenry, had
been privately dispatched by the jus
tce with a scarcR-lfarrant to the shop
of the goldsmith, now entered and pla-
cling somcthingin in the magistrate s hand
after briefly whispered to him.
Did you ever sec this gold ornamcn
bcfore?' asked the magistrate, hole
ing up the clNsb before the young Il
dys eyes.
ooh, it is my clasp---it is my clasp
she cried springing forward.
'Ycs--it is tho samc,' Answered the
Colonel.
and did yow ever see it before 2 de-
mandcd the justice stcrnly, holding it
in the direction Of the goldsmith, WHO
had seen it in the first, and was apraI-
led with fear and CONSERVATION. In
stead Of replying, he uttered wild l'y-
stcrical laugh, and fell his length in
convulsions on the floor.
lie was a few weeks aftcrward taken
from prison and tried for perjury; bGr
his rcasoh forsook him, and instead Of
the gallo%s he is now raying in mad
house. Thus was avaric and pqrciino-
ny, and indifference to the suifcrings
Of the poor, punished in this life; the
acts of this selfish man showing to all
how that acquisitivcncss wrongly d.
rcctcd is fatal to its posscssor.
Col. Mcllcnry proved to be bach:
clor; and though little turned of thir-
ty, his heart was alive to all the finer
sonsibilitics Of our nature. lie could
feel for the down troddcn poor, and
sympathiso with the unfortunate. 70
this truth, none could more positively
attest than the young friend of the 'gol.
don clasp, for enc two moons had wan
ed she rcjoiccd il the ouphonic tinc Of
Mrs. COL MclIcnry, surrounded with
all the appearances Of wealth that n
grateful ,hGSrt could enjoy or even