The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-03-15
THE DIAMOND BREAsTpIN.

proud and,extravagant VIE. Inc tone In
which he said this, showed that her re-
quest had startled him. III know it will.
But what are two hundred dollars for a
diamond pin?" Mrs. Blakely's voice was
half contemptuous. "Mary Edgar's dia-
monds cost over thousand dollars"
"Just one thousand dollars more til an
her husband could afford to pay for them,"
said Mr.. Blakely.
"IIe's the best judge of that, presume"
rctortcd his wife.
"But that doesn't signify. / cannot,
Annie"
"What do you 10 with all your money,
pray"
The young wife turned sharply upon
her husband, and her words and tone stung
him into rather harsh reply. Rut this
only aroused her anger .and made her
moro unreasonably persistent.
80, very well" said her too yielding
husband at last, ego to Canfeld's to-mor-
row and got the pin. Tell him to send in
the account on the first of January and it
will bo paid.
Mrs. Blakely was in earnest. There
was not one of her fashionable acquan-
tanco but had diamond ring or brcastpin,
and until she was tho owner of one or both,
she could no longer hold up her head in
society. Her husband was receiving teller
in bank, at n salary of fifteon hundred
dollars per annum, when he was married,
which was about q year before, and he still
occupied the same post at the same income.
For q young man in his position, he had
not married wisely. The handsome face
and captivating manner of dashing belle
bcwildered his fancy. IIe proposed in
haste, was promptly accepted, and led to
tho marriage altar, not true woman, to
be transformed into true wife, but weak,
capricious, vain creature, incapable Of gen.
uine love, and TO selfish and narrow mind
cd to feel the influence Of honorable prln.
ciplcs.
An extravagant love of dress and orno.
ment, characterized her from the beginning,
and she would hearken TO none Of her hus.
bands gently offered remonstranccs.-
Nearly half his income sho spent during
the first year of their marriage in dress
and jcwclry.
The demand for two hundred dollar
breistpin, coming on young Blakely as it
did, at time when he had just made the
unpleasant discovery of a deficit in lis in
come, when compared with his expenses,
Of several hundred dollals, sadly disherrtcn
ed him. But he was not brave euough to
meet the cxigcncy, and, therefore, yielded
to demand that should have been met
by an unfinching refusal.
The first Of January found Blakcly short
of funds by considerably mo,o than the
price Of the diamond pin. Caufeld's bill
came in, and was settled. 1t would not
do for him TO hold back in the mater of
payment, for the jewcler was an acquain
tance of more than one Of the directors of
the bank, ard questions might be asked.
and infcrenccs Grawn preiudicial to his
standing. In an evil hour, and distress
Of mind and strong temptation, the young
man made & false entry, which enabled
him 10 abstract two hundred dollars from
the funds Of tho bank.
This was only tho beginning of series
Of defalcations, which ran through many
years before the exposure came, which al
ways {, llows such crime. 1t was easier
now TO supply the extravagant demands Of
his wife, whose annual wardrobe, and Jew
clry, for which sho had that passion which
is Characteristic of weak minds, almost
reached the full amount of his salary.
But the end came at last. One ovcn-
ing, seven years from ole day Of their
marriage, Mr.. and Mrs. Bakely were n.
bout leaving for the opera, when the bell
was rung violently. Mr.. Blakely started
ard turned pale with a sudden PRESENT.,
ment Of evil.
"What is the matterl" asked his wife,
who saw the singular change in his coun-
tenance.
Mr.. Blakcly did not answer. but stood
listning at the door. Mems voices were
now heard, and the tread Ct heavy feet a.
long the passage. There was start and
and hurried movement 10y Mr.. Blakely;
then he stood still as If rivited to the spot.
"Who arc theyY What is the meaning
Of tbis" asked Ms. Blakely in alarm
At the same moment two men cnetrcd the
room.
"You arc arrested" said ono Of them,
"on charge Of defalcation."
Mrs. Blakely shriekcd, but her husband
stood still and sta,ute.like, his face of an
ashcn hue.
"Gcorge! George! This is falsc,"cx.
claimed Mrs. Blackcly, recovering herself"
You could not stoop to crimew
1t is true" he answered, in low and
despairing voice. Then laying one Of his
fingers on the diamond pin that glstencd
in her bosom, ho added, speaking to her
alone
"You gained that at tho price Of your
husbands dishonor! You demanded il
Il demonstrated, and said | could not
afford so costly an ornament. You repeat
ed your demand, and /, weak fool that l
was, permitted the contraction OF a debt
that could only be concealed 10y dishonest
means. l thought when married you,
that / had obtained q wife whose virtures
might help me upward to Heaven, but
you have proved only tempting friend,
dragging me daily nearer and nearer to the
brink ofdestruction over Which now fall
to hopeless ruin. have robbed the bank,
but it was for you'll"
Then turning to the officer be said, in