Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-23
THE DIAMOND BREAsTPIN.
BY T. s. ARTHUR

travagant wife. The tone in which he said this
showed that her request had startled him.
=. know it will. But what are two hundred
dollars tor diamond pin ''' Mrs Blakely's
voice was half contemPtuous. "Mary Edgar's
diamonds cost over a thousand dollars"
Just one thousand dollars more than her
husband could afford to pay for them" said
Mr. Blskely.
He's the best Judge of that, presume, I"
retorted his wife. % But that doesn't signify
You can afford to purchase this diamond pin. >
cannot, Anna"
husband. and her words and tone stung him
into - rather harsh reply. But this only
aroused her anger, and made her more unrea-
sonably persistent.
20, very well,' said her too yielding hus-
baAAsat last, go to Camheld's tomorrow and
" the pin. Tell him to send in his account
Nma first of January, and it viii be paid -
Mrs. Blakely was in earnest. There was
NOT sene OF her fashionable aequaintances but
hsd diamond ring or breastpin, and until
sne was the owner OF one or both, she could no
lspger hold up her head in society. Her hus-
band was receiving teller in bank, at a salary
OF fifteen hundred dollars per annum, when he
married, which was about year before, and
he still occupied the same post, and at the same
income. For young man in his position. be
had not married wisely. The handsome face
and captivating manner Of a dashing belle be-
wildered his fancy. He proposed in haste, was
promptly accepted, and led to the marriage
altar not true woman to be transformed into
true wife, but a weak capricious vain crea-
ture, incapable of genuine love, and too selfish
and narrow thOughted to feel the influence of
honorable principle.
GsAn extravagant love Of dress and ornament
characterized her from the beginning and she
would hearken to none of her husband's gently
offered remonstranees. Nearly half of his in
ceme sne spent during the first year Of their
marriage, In dress and jewelry.
Tbs demand for a two hundred dollar breast
pln, conn ms upon young BIaksly. as it did, at
4Oe Tnen be had just made the unpleasant
dlscoyerybf deficit in his income when COM
pared rfth his expenses, Of several hundred
dalisr4 sAdis diShearteaed him. But he was
nxofys erough to meet the exigency, and,
f4Hsfofe, ,reakly yielded to a demand that
sp1n have been met by unflinching refusal.
sLns nrst OF January found Blakely short of
ftnds by sconsiderably more than the price to
oeRald fsr the diamond pin. Camfeld's bill
eaneinya and must be settled. 1t would not do
tor' hfm 20 hoih back in the matter of payment,
ieftne sJeSeler was an acquaintance Of more
tsAn- one OF the directors Of the bank and uues-
tsons might be asked, and differences drawn
pre3udieial to his standing. In an evil hour
under distress of mind and strong temptation,
the yeung man made a false entry, which ena-
nied him 10 extract two hundred dollars from
the funds Of the bank.
That was only the beginning of a series of
1etAieations, which ran through many years,
before the exposure came which always follows
sucn course Of crime. 1t was easier now to
supply the extravagant demands Of his wife
~eese annual wardrobe, and bills for ieweIry
fer which she had thai passion which is charac-
teaStc OF weak minds, almost reached the full
amount of his salary.
ebut the end came at last. One morning
seven years from the day Of their marriage
Mr: and Mrs. Blakely were about leaving for
the opera, when their bell was rupg violently
Ary Blakely started and turned pale with a
sudden presentiment of evil.
u''What is the matter, asked his WIFE who
saw the singular change in his countenance
MT Blakely did not answer, but stood listen
ing toward the door. Mems voices were now
heard, and the tread of heavy feet along the
passage. There was a start and a hurried
movement by BlakeIy; then he stood still, as if
rIyeted To the spot
:. Who are they What is the meaning of
tnis asked Mrs. Blakely in alarm. At the
moment two men entered the room
You are arrested, said one Of them, " on
charge of defalcatiOn' -
Mrs. Blakely shrieked, but her husband
stood still and statue like, his face of an ashen
hue
George. George, This is falseu' exclaims ed
mrs Blakely, recovering herself. You could
not stOop to crime -
as 1t is true, he answered in a low, sad. des
pairing voice Then laying one OF his fingers
on the diamond pin that glittered on her bo-
som, he added, speaking to her ear alone
- lou gained that at the price of your bus
osnd hlshonor. You demanded It, | re-
nonstrated. and said l could not afford so cost
Iyen ornament. YOu repeated YOUR demand
and l, weak fool that l was, permitted the CON.
traction Of debt that could only be cancelled
by dishonest means. thought when mar
rIed you, that had obtained a wife whose yir
tues might help me upward on the way to
heaven, but you have proved only a tempting
mend, dragging me daily neaTe: and nearer the
hopeless ruin have robbed the bank, but it
was for You ~
Then turning to the officers, be said, in a
calm voice:
am at your service"
Inc words OF her husband had stunned Mrs
blakely Ire she recovered herself, he was
gone She never saw him afterwards. That
night he passed to bis account before A higher
tribunal than an earthly one, and she was left
IN poverty and disgrace
~, ne story Is one Of every day life. George
D,akely Is the representative of a cla,s Not
AL OF inem rob banks, or defraud their employ
Dat all OF them, to support idle, extraya-
ssnt wives IN costly establishments-costly in
comparison with their means-spend more than
tAsh earnings or profits, and fail in the end to
pay their just obligations
"A modern young lady, fashionably educated.
anu WIN modern notions of style, fashion and
donesuc equipments, is altogether too costly an
article for young man of small means or a
moderate salary. Diamond pins, rich silks and
Isces rosewood furniture, SIX, seven, eight or
nine hundred dollar houses, operas, balls, fash
lonaoie parties, Saratoga and Newport, and
success In business, are altogether ont of the
question. If young men would unite the latter
ana natrimony, they must look into another
circle ior wives. girl who is indie pendent
enough 10 earn her own living as a teacher or
WIN tne needle, Is wife worth a score of such
b9tternles OF fashion; and rising young man.
who has only his industry TO rest upon for sue,
cess IN HE, Is fool to marry any other Use
ial industry Is always honorable, and difference
Oi sex makes no difference in this particular.
A DOUBLE DIVORCE,
The Bucyrus Journal is RESPONSIBLE f,r ,ho
following, That paper is remarkabIv r;eh ';o ~