The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-01-12
The Diamond Breast-Pin.


lied him.
"Iknow il will but what are two hundred
dollars for diamond pinr Mrs Blakely's
remark was half contemptuous. Harry Ed
gar's diamonds cost over one thousand dol
lars.
"Just one thousand more than her hus.
band could afford to pay for them," said Mr..
Blakely.
"He's the best Judge of that, presume,
retorted his wife "
But that doesn't signify. You cannot,
Anna
'What do you do with your money, pray?'
The young wife turned sharply upon her
husband and her words and tone stung him
into rather harsh reply. But this only
aroused her anger and made her more un-
reasonably and persistent.
% very well, said her, too the yielding hus-
band at last, go TO Canfeld's tomorrow and
get the pin. Tell him to send in the account
on the first of January and it will be paid
Mrs. Blakely was i'll earliest. There was
not one of her fashionable acquaintances
but had diamond ring or breastpin, and
until the owrer of one or both, she could not
hold up her head in society.
Her husband was receiving teller in a
bank, al a salary of fifteen hundred dollars
per annum, when he married, which was
about a year before, and he still occupied
the same post with the same income. For
a young man in his position he had not
married wisely. The handsome face and
captivating manners of 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 creature, incapable OF gen.
uine love, and too selfish and narrow mind.
ed 10 feel the influence of honorable princi-
| pie.
An extravagant love for dress and orna.
ment characterized her from the beginning,
and she would hearken to none of her hus.
bands gently offered remonstrances. Near
ly half his income she spent during the
first year of their marriage, in dress and
jewelry.
The demand for Two hundred dollar
breastpin, coming upon young Blakely, at
it did, at time when he had just made the
unpleasant discovery ofa deficit in his in.
come, when compared with his expenses, o.
several hundred dollars, sadly disheartened
him. But he was not brave enough to NEE
the exigency. and, therefore, weakly yield
ed TO demand that should have been me
by an unfinchng refusal.
The FIRST of January found Blakely shor
OF funds by considerably more than the
+ price 10 be paid for the diamond pin. Can
fields bill come in, and must be settled
1t would not do for him to back In the mat
ter of payment, for the jeweler was an &C.
quaintance of more than one Of the director,
of the bank, and questions might be asked
and inierences drawn prejudicial to hi
standing.
and strong temptation, the young man made
false entry which enabled him, TO abstrac
two hundred dollars from The funds of tn,
bank.
This was only the beginning of series O
, defalcations, which ran through many year
before the exposure came which is sure I,
such crime IT was easier now 10 suppl
the extravagant demands of his wife, who's
annual wardrobe and bills for jewelry, 10
,, which she had the passion, which is char
acteristic of weak minds, almost reache
the full amount of his salary.
But the end came at last One morning
, seven years from the dan Of the marriage
Mr.. and Mrs. Blakely were about leavin
for the opera, when the bell was rung vic
lently. MIR. Blakely started and turned pal
with sudden presentment OF evil.
:, What is the matterp asked his wife, VIII
:. saw the singularchange in his countenance
!, MIR Blakely did not answer, but stoo
listening al the door. Mems voices wer
now heard, and the tread of heavy fee
along the passage. There was start,
hurried movement by Blakely; then h
! slood still as rivited to the spot.
Who are they what is the meaning {
this?' asked Mrs. Blake.y in alarm.-A
the same moment two men entered tn
room.
. You are arrested said one of them, %
r charge of defalcation.'
;. Mrs. Blakely shrieked, but her husban
+ stood still and statute-like, his face of a
n ashen hue. rs.
4 George, George This is false, said Mr.
9 Blakely, recovering herself you certainl
!. could not stoop low enoughto commit crime
o 1t is true,' he answered, in low an
despairing voice. Then laying one of hi
fingers on the diamond pin that glttered o
her bosom, he added, speaking TO her alon'
!, You gained that at the price of your hui
bands dishonor! You demanded it. Ire
monstrated, and said | could not afford s
costly an ornament You repeated your de