The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-11-02
MISCELLAN E0US.
Auut Janet's Diamonds.
IN TWO CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER H.--FOUND ,

In the absence Of direct proof, my
husband thought it was hopeless to do
anything with regard to Josiah but |
was determined TO have Mr. Chapman's
advice in the matter. That gentleman
received me very kindly. | found that
josiah had given him serious offence with
regard to some pecuniary transaction
arising out of my aunts will. He was
greatly astonished when | told him that
the diamonds were false He confessed
that, on after reflection he had been very
much puzzled by Lucy's persistence in her
statement but if he had entert aimed any
suspicious against Josiah, it was of course
nothing beyond the supposition, that Jo-
siah, having asked the girl to meet him,
and fearing the affair had been discover
ed, had endeavored to shift out Of it as
best he might The false diamonds gave
4 totally new color to the transaction
The case would stand thds--Josiah might
have lailen INTO e8t,ayagances before my
aunt death indeed he, Mr.. Chapman,
had received pretty strong proof that such
was the fact, Unwilling to confess his
dclinuuencics he had sought some other
mode OF extrication. Marriage with me
would have given him the immediate COM
nand OF money. That failed. Then the
abstraction Of the diamonds. He knew
that my aunt would wear the diamonds on
the night Of the dinner-party; Lucy is
asked to meet him at the end of the gar
den on that night he takes care that she
has the keys of the press left for time
in her hands; the diamonds are missing
suspicion naturally falls on Lucy. Ten
days have elapsed between the party and
the loss of the diamonds being discovered
the diamonds are altered during that
period and at the very last moment, the
false stones are cleverly deposited in a
place in which nineteen people out of
twenty would never dream of looking for
them. But Ill this supposiion urged, Mr.
Chapman, is worth nothing, unless We can
get hold of Josiah's accomplicc in the of-
fair,
Mr.. Chapman very warmly pledged
himself to assist me, though he could not
hold out any strong hopes of success.
In the first place. said he, we must
ascertain whether your aunt ever pur-
chased any diamonds or not
We found, ON application that the
jewellers books showed that certain dia-
mond ornaments had been sold to my aunt
at the price of II, $40. Moreover the
late foreman, an old man, who had since
become partner, was prepared to swear
to their being diamonds.
" Ia order to ASCERTAIN Josah's cogni-
zanco of the fraud, Mr. Chapman directed
me to write to my cousin and he sketched
out letter which stated that my circum-
stance obliged me TO part with the dia-
Iuonds and according to my promise,
gave him the FIRST offer at the price my
aunt had originally paid.
"To my surprise, josiah sent an an
swer almost by return Of post The letter
was written in his usual hypocritical style
he deporcd the necessity ol my parting
with the diamonds, but he was truly oh
heod to me for not forgetting his request.
q hchcvrd that diamonds had lately
risen IN value and he thought the lairest
plan would be that the diamonds should
be taken 30 hi, jewellers, aud he would
du,eI thcm to give me the highest market
pllcc, u.y own jeW'ler had Of course bet
Ter be consulted
he knows all about it, said Nr.
ChApElu, reading the letter, or b, would
not have made such proposal'
Eu', said ! INPATIENT, how will
this avail a. fhe aucioneer is now in
cur house
- IIove f,ith madam no renl;ed Il