Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-01-28
THE JEWELER.

mutations Of fortune New faces, new enter
priScS, new stores, greet his daily observation
After while the old site puts on O new face
hangs out new sign. The former occupant
and his business disappear, no one cares whth-
or. Few care, least Of all the loitcrcr. seeking
amusement in the changing diversity of the
streets. Sometimes an old face reappcarS aftcT
! the lapse Of years. or such an event we have
n strang4 story TO tell.
Many years since, we were acquainted with
n young man who opened n jewelers. shop in
Bond street, London. His name, for obvious
! reasons, we conceal. but he shall be known to
our readers aS Charles StanwOUd. In personal
accomplishments and family connexions he
was superior to the generality of the class who
| follow mechanical professions. Reverse of for
tune caused young StanwOod to be apprcnticcd
to Il jewclcr. lie became, in the course Of time
an experienced judge and sk:lliul setter OF
precious st0ncs and, with promises Of sup
/ port from numerous circle of acquaintance,
! opcEcd- perhaps prcmaturely, for his capital
was uf very triiIing amuunt-a shop, (Or, H.
We should call it this side Of the Atlantic a
Storc,t in the c;t'lihg tiofoHsl linrc Of fashion.
( business thrnvc. The Sh"pbccamc Il favor
I itc r, sort for ladies, who possibly ni.ht have
/ been irt!ucTcCd by the handsome person ard
captivating manners OF the young jcwclcr.-
/ Although Stauwood'4 capital was small - sto X
! tl.rI- II ncccS>ili ShcnntY-XCt. through con:
hettun with his deceased lathrr'S mercantile
iiciId~, he wa~ occasionally entrusted with 'lia-
mnud> ard other pre- CiuuS articles To sell on
con.r!is.i"u, and 80 was enabled to coTnpctr, in
point ot attractive display, with his most
wealthy rivals in trade.
! 1t is not every time lady enters a shop that
she makes "r intends making purchase often
: she r,s lrts 10 the, Iich -bazaars aud -martS 0l
fashion for the sake Of spcnding-not money,
but time. Our Own lounging experience at.
iudcd uccular demonstrations of the practice
but III the case of Young Stanwood, We thought
it carried to an iucnuvcncnt excess plt raj
lied him on cIltri tanning 50 urbanclv, his un-
profitable visitors, and hintcd the mutual at.
( tractivcnc>s Of iiItation BY lis replies, we
it,'t'td ettP acquaintance het l6t light N
business, even in his polite aHd gallant dev"-
ti"n>. The well appointed cqnipagc> which
stood at the door though time were lost vi ith
th, il fair owners proved u ready and etlica-
cibuS mode of advertising, fnllv compromising
for abscice Of purchasers. We placed more
faith il his declaration, as we knew he was
attached t0a Young lady by whom the aiti"c.
ton was returned although it would have put
hcr inexperienced feelings to n severe trial if
She had seen what We were daily witness Of
thc >l.arnu>, cnur;lv. in>iaualng attention of
thc handsome .icwcrr to the youth aud beauty
Wh" crowded lis establishments
= O;c day there a!i.htrd tom n dasling equip
age. twp int.ics whom StanNood rccn.nizrd-
4 onc lrc'cSs, her COMPANION the ir Vi Il rich
tc:..H.JIcr.
ARR minutc Inspection of many articles,
Mn oft caused lin to leave the fair custom
'i it, quest Of j"wrry il a different part OF the
sop, they prepared t. leave. and were usher
,d 10 the carriage by the "bs,quous .iewccr.
There wa, nothing Extraordinary or unusual in
such Il proc. rding; but in replacing, in proper
safety "ir If the tray>. he missed necklace
of diam 'nd>, uf exceedingly great value, hut
which his visitors had not apparently, partic-
ulaily S.Iuiilizcd. The necklace belonged to a
u.,Irl.ait. To whom it had been consigned f ON
Russia, ard who, hcug a personal friend, and
ha,irg hi2h opinion Of StanwoodS integrity,
dc,mcl hi> attractive and fashionable shop the
b. i mat for the sale Of such an article. 1t
was thcl clorc placed in lis charge Tor pur-
chaser.
Br,at!,lc,S with emotions al the sudlcn loss,
the lrwcicr stood lcnning against the counter,
ciIlrayoiig to recall minutcly every cirrum-
s;alcr oi the visit. There was-thcrc could he
M mistake lie had seen the necklace when
display ns the tray-hr missed it on returning
from Tie carriage. Although hchappcnrl to
hc alone. without an assistant, it were impossi.
j be any irlrcdator coG!d have seized the OPP
p"rluhity ofhi> back being turned moment.
a> he had taken the prrcaution, ere handling
the ladies into the carr aEr, Of locking the tray
temporarily under one of the glass cases, and
retaining the key. The glass was unbrokcn,
the bolt duly shut when he returned.
What should he dog Put up with the loss
was out Of the question. The necklace was
worth m"rc than he poSScsscd-the profits OF
business (bryond personal and necessary cX-
pvnlitur,) he had di>burS,d d in attractive but
unSuhstan;ial display, relying on the future for
ample returns. The hi III rank of the parties
placed them above suspicion, their noted wealth
rtEuyrd ordinary motives of temptation. His
daring insolcncc and presumption, as it would
be termed, should he venture an accusation,
mast entail, in all but his own eyes, well ncr-
tied retaliation, and certain ruin to his bu>i.
ness. II his first step were to seek the ladies',
! tn y would, he judged deny the appropriation,
& eshapS, indeed, only one was guiltv) aud
time would he afforded for ctfectnallv conceal
ing or destroying the property. He deemed il
more advisable to seek an interview with the
peer, lay open the state Of affairs. and by
promising secrecy, the matter might doubtless
be arranged without loss.
1t Nas a task requiring more than ordinary
courage, even to state his case, but character,
property, crcdit-all that was valuable-wcrc
at stake. Ncrving resolution to a pitch Of dar
ing, he knocked at the door Of his lordShp's
gloomy but capaciouS mansion. On being
ushcrvd into the library, the peer, who per-
ccivrd his embarrassment, by kindness Of tone
and the urhanity peculiar to his high station,
succeeded in some measure in putting him at
case.
After stammcring awhile. the jewelcr deliv-
cred himself Of the strange, unpleasant tale,
which the noblcman heard with so much com
poSure, that the other began 20 believe his
iordship was aware Of his wile'S pro rnsilcs,
and that the untoward affair would, for him
self, have a happier termination than his fears
ut first suggested. But the belief was illus0-
ry. y strong, burning indignation was sup
pressed under outward calmncsS of demeanOr.
Soon as StanN 0od concluded. the peer rang
the bell, and on a servants entrance, inquired
if her ladyShip had come home. He was an
Swered in the affirmative. Bidding the man
wait. his lordShip wrote haSty note to the
magistrate of Il neighborng police office. which
he was ordered to deliver Immediately, with
out further communication with any party.
~ would have you, sir, take notice." Said
the nobleman, leaving the door Of the library
open, as the man fingered moment in the
hall, that my messenger has had speech with
no one in the houSc-it may be important to
the justice Of your easel"