Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-01-28
NUMBER 16.


customer. lady of fashion and disnnctiOp, sDd
us il was not usual for people Of quality to re-
sort to city trndesmen, he was anxious ~ show
her lsdyshp that the work entrusted 70 bis
care could be AZ well executed ~ 10 BOpd
street Or ST. James ~, ,.
A diamond necklace (old fashioned stylr)
was to be changed intu earrings and bTaeelatS
after the particular pattern produced. The
master ieweler told his workmen that though
he had confidence in his honesty, vet the stone
| being Of 10 great valup, he should require hitn
TO return Ills work every evening TO be placed
in the vault to prevent chance OflosS by fire,
house robbery or other casuality-indesd, in
the case of any other srtifccr than StaDwood,
he would have had the work done under his
own inspection. Perhaps the confidence re-
posed was not SO very great. as gems Of great
value are not easily disposed Of by workner,
and would be stopped by pawn6rokers and
money-lendtrs.
A d-aught Of the pattern was placed in STAN
woods hands, together with the jewel case
which he opened to inspect the contents.
"Arc you sick = cried the employer, seeing
his workman trcnlble and turn pale.
Charles made excuse, pleading sudden gid
dinrsS, promising 10 bring back the precious
AZ ticlCS on the evening, before the shop closed,
departed.
The necklace was the same he had lost -
Her "ady," the lady OF fashion and distnc-
! ton, lie made no doubt was his old customer
j her coming into the city in quest Of o jeweler
confirmed his suspicion. Among new work.
men, new tradesnen who worked for dltfer-
ent class Of customers, she doubtless felt GER
/ tain Of cvading detection and, some years had
pussed, the diamonds rcmodelled into fresh Or
namcnts und reset would surely escape rei
Il H. Ill Ill
to return to his employer and obtain the
name Of the lady, but alter some hesitation,
thought it advisable not to raise suspicion.--
| lie remembered previous castigation, and re-
solved 10 act with caution, and make; what he
was entitled to, the most Of his position.
Changing his ordinary daily dress for ap-
parel Of better description, lie proceeded west
ward with the nec6lace in bis pocket. With
some difficulty he procured an interview with
the noblvman, without stating the object Of
his visit. lie was ushtred into the well.re-
mcmbrrc1 library, associated In his memory
with every thought and feeling which the for
mcr interview gave birth to; it looked the
same us though he had Seen it but yesterday.
Yet how changed WAS he The noble owner
had slightly altcred-ti,ne had not stood still
six summers had lett their impress.
Mutioning lis visitor to take q chair, he
awaited in silence his communication, with
expectation of claim for relief or charitable
donation.
MY lord, you don't recognize me-" said
Charles, without accepting the Proffered seat.
The peer rather impaticntly intimated ig-
norance Of his person.
Poverty and suffering had no doubt done
their work, as Stanwood confessed, yet he was
the same party who had complained to his
lordship, six years since, Of the loss Of dia-
nlOnd necklace.
The peer said he remembered the circuua-
stance well--the person Of the jeweler was in
deed changed. II he came to express contri-
tion he for his part, could afford to pardon
the slandrr, especially as the crime had worked
its own punishment.
"I have come, my lord" said Charles, stern
ly, "to save the real criminal from punish.
ment"
"llow, sir-what mean your" exclaimed
! the peer.
Stanwood related exactly how the necklace
had fallen ngain into his possession. The no.
bleman changed color, stammercd, begged to
have the article in his possession five minutes
that he might take it up stairs, and resolve thu
honid doubts which his story had raised.
StanwoOd declared that it should not 60 out
Of his possession, save Into the hands of =
magistrate
"Wat awhile" cried the nobIeman. hur.
| liedly, MS he rushed from the room.
In quarter of an hour he returned. pale in
the face, and with disturbed eye, aud seating
himself near Stanwood. said he understood
him to say that he had not testified iccOgnitioh
Of the necklace in the presence of his employer
or any one clSe-the secret was still in his
own breast.
Charles replied that what he had stated was
the fact he had acted more tenderly than he
had been acted by.
EAT what amount Of money!" said the peer.
tapping the elbow Of the chair, as though his
fingers were striking the keys of piano, "do
you estimate the loss Of your character. STA
ton, timer
Stanwood burst into tears. lie had lost
every thing, he said that money could never
replace or restore the friends Of his youth
the idolizrd being to whom he was betrothed
and il he thought Of less important objects.
a business which in few years would have
realized fortune.
The noblemaI dashed aside tear as he
turned to his writing desk. He wrote IN or
der on his banker for ten Thousand pounds.
aud handed it to Charles. There were not.
he said. at present, sufficient assets, but if he
presented the order two days hence it would
ne uuy HOnOTcu. ii TIC ueclneu t01t sum SUI
icient, all he required in return was, that he
should complete the task Of his city employer,
and bury the secret forever His restoration
to competence might be easily ascribed to
other sources than the real one. Charles com
piled with the conditions, and left the houses .
changed and happier man.
Two months saw StanwOOd once more him.
self; in handsome mansion, with n snowy
nag, fingers cleansed and purified from stains
and marks Of tool edges, and pOssessor in bank
Of ten thousand pounds. In such good trim
he must needs satisfy a lingering, longing cu-
riosity to visit the neighbOrhood Of the paSl-
dock, which he had seen Clara enter, accom-
panied by her 0gej companion. BY inquiry
he learned that the secluded mansion, hidden
by plantations from the public road, was ten:
antcd by an old gentleman and his niece. from
the East Indies, and al q matter Of course.
with all East Indians. reputed immensely rich,
They were at fashionable bathing place -.
the coast To this resort posted Charles Stnns
wood, full Of hope and wild expectation. q,
the discovery that the lady was stil hsr ewas
mistress He contrived to meet and rldsslaE.
ly past her carriage, to determins N ~ 1sre.
recognized. She started, as th1sfA sstsuEE
with the face, and be rode on. To n.
in the evening", ct public IlbEsEy q lkSkIoss.' =
able promenade, wheN the wssihsf'Wsn &R0r.
able. On behO:dingA . ae1n1ld time the apuae4g
itiOn, thelady fainasdS aDawas eoaSsgea haag
bV her uncle: ss.i4tatra ~ M. u 49, >.