The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-10-29

ness; take them; aud do what you like
. with them
''.Ope word said Josiah, speaking to
me never forget that those were once
, Aunt Janet's diamonds, which she bought
years ago. They are very precious to
me. II you ever desire to part with
them, or even to moderuisc the setting,
let me know. l will try to scrape mon-
ey together to give the full worth as
they stand now ......#
Poor Aunt Janet. she little knew
what she was doing when she gave me
those DIAMONDS.
$ The doctor was quite right; my ser
} vices were not required very long; an
other seizure took place; and after lin
!. gering few days, my auns died. The
whole of tn, property was left to josiah
i With the reservation that. if he died
without children, the land was to 90 to
my eldest son.
OF course, We kept up no Intercourse
with josiah; but heard quite enough
Of his goings on to show that had formed
a true estimate of his character. a. soon
as he came into bis wealth. he began to
lead a very Wild and dissipated life.
When | plaeed the diamonds in my
husbands's hands, told him that Aunt
Jane. had given me the option of parting
with them, which, if he thought adrisa-
Bile, l should be very happy to do, as
} felt our circumstances would not permit
of my wearing them. lie would not
listen to my proposal; he was not pressed
for money. he said, and in a few years L
mi ght be fully CT titled to wear theIl
All, my love, | am so glad that you
are not going to marry man on that hor-
rid Stock Exchange am sure the
dreadful anxiety have undergone about
Mr.. ffunsly. In those, days he was
without the experience which he now
possesses, and at time when steady
business was very dull, he took to specu-
lating on his own account, and on behalf
of others who were very cunning and
plausible. 1t seemed that he was sue
cessiul at first, aud | used to be quite
surprised at his elation OF spirits One
day he came home sadly downcast; he
had had very heavy losses, chiefly
through the villainy of client, whose
debts my husband was bound to make
good. He feared it would be necessary for
me to part with my diamonds. OF course,
[ was only too glad to think that VIC yei
possessed the means Of setting things to
rights
According to my promise, 1 resolved
at once to write to Josiah, and offer him
the diamonds and we agreed that had
better ascertain their vaine from an ex-
perenced jeweller, aad SO mention the
sum in the letter.
Taking Lucy as an escort, | went off
the next morning to very old established
jewellers at the top of the Strand, where
Mr.. Huntlys family had dealt for many
years.
81 gave the case into the hanIs of
the cheifpartaer OF the firm, who happen
ed to be in the shop, and asked him to
give ME some idea of the market value Of
the stones.
50 suppose, ma'am,' said he, you
are aware that these are not diamonds p
g said, with great warmth, that they
had belonged to an aunt of mine, that
they were bought at IS.
So Excuse me, ma am, he replied
they could not have been sold fer dia-
monds but they are very perfect imita-
tious: at first, was deceived by them
| myself.
! So Why | replied, in Il state of the
greatest excitement, Twas present, years
ago, when they were bought know
they are diamonds =
.' You have asked my opinion, said
the jeseer kindly, 'andI am very sorry to
be obliged to undeceiye you The proof
is very simple: | shall, if you will al
low ne, draw a file over one of these
stones; if the stone remains uninjured,
it is diamond
60 Do it! said l with desperation
but, as | spoke, / felt the man was right
We We're ruiaed-my husband comprom-
ised
Crash went the fle-the stone was
starred | looked for a moment, and
| fantcd
When | came to myself, Lucy was
attending to me
"' Mr.. Josiah she whispered il my
ear
"' He took them that night; | know
he did
The shop people were about US;
bade her DC silent. We regainod our
coach. and returned hutnc. l r.lt .on-
vinced that Josiah had changed the dia-
monds All me, it was very weary aud
sad waiting as that day dragged slowly
on, Mr.. Huntly was so late When he
did come home, he was far calmer than |
had expected,
"' Thank God said he, 1 know tae
worst of it--a thousand pounds will set
things straight. You told me your aunt
gave more than twelve hundred for the
diamonds -
i" But said |, in purtect agony.
"' But what?' he claimed impatient
".
"' Oh, Edward, replied, the sooner
| tell you the better. They are no; dia
monds; they are worth nothing.
g recounted the events of the morn
ing.
:. shall never forget the end of that
day its utter hopelessncss and despair
ay, and the bitter days that followed close
upon it. How to raise that thousand
pounds? Why. selling all We possessed,
at the prices things fetch at = sale, We
knew would not realize one half; aud then
my husband would stand compromised
for the rest, n defau,ter with his name
posted up. remember it was all SO
sad, that | felt | was almost doing wrong
to smile at baby as he laughed aud crow
ed in my arms.
"In the absence Of direct proof, my