The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-18
About a Daughter and a Diamond
BPeaStpin -DenOUment Of Mystery.

A very respectable family in this
city, living on street, have
been somewhat eXercisen of late by the
denouemento of an affair, the circumstan-
ces of which are slightly tinged with a
dash of the romantic. The head of the
family it may be well enough to state,
was formerly produce merchant, some
years since retired from business. He
had an only daughter named ".Bella,"
who was the pride and hope other fond
parents. Some three years and a half
ago or a little preceding the outbreak
of the rebellion, Bella was then on
visit to relatives in Georgia, and be
came acquainted with a chiyilric son Of
the sunny south, named Robert Smith
Robert was in his prime, and Bella was
impossible young and lovely. Ac-
quaintance soon ripened into friend
ship, and friendship into a still more
tender passion. The lovers became
betrothed Bella returned to St Louis
in June, 1861. The name of Robert
Smith was frequently mentioned by
her, but further than this she never
breathed the secret of her love. She
carried on a secret correspondence
through the rebel mail, which was car
ried forward quite secretly, and conceal
ed from her father he being a strong
Union man. About a year ago, Bella
returned from an afternoon visit, and
told her parents that she had lost her
diamond breast pin, which was valued
at $1,000 The loss was advertised in
the city papers, but no clue was obtain
ed of the lost gem. The police were
also notified. Time passed on, and
couple of weeks ago the old gentleman
made arrangements for taking a jour
ney East. Among his valuable papers
he had a number of 5-20's, which he !
concluded to deposit for safe keeping
during his contemplated absence from
the city. On making an inventory of
his valuables he found, to his 4great
chagrin and surprise that six of his
$40 bonds, amounting to $1,000 were
missing.
A thorough search was made, and
the missing bonds failed to turn up.
As he was positive that the bonds were
contained In a certain drawer, where
none but the members of his family
could have access, he did not mention
his loss, preferring to wait for the rev.
Citations that time might bring about
The trip East was postponed. One day
last week, having occasion to purchase
some more 500 bonds from a broker
in the city, Judge of his surprise when
he found that the bonds sold him by
the broker were the identical ones that
he had lost
On further inquiry from the broker
and from the parties from whom the
former purchased the bonds, he was
astonished TO find that his own daugh
ter Bella had some weeks previous sold /
the bonds for gold Bella, on being |
confronted by her father, confessed the |
soft impeachment" She did not hes /
itate to confess the deed and her pur-
pose in doing so. She confessed that !
She had not only sold the bonds, but /
that she had pawned the diamond /.
breast-pin for gold, and sent the pro
ceeds by rebel mail to her friend, Rob
ert Smith, to relieve him and his aged /
mother from want The kind father, /
on hearing the above statement, did
not chIde his erring daughter and said
not a word in rebuke lie overlooked
the little depression in appreciation Of
a motive-perhaps a passion that could
better be controlled 10y kind and loving
treatment than by harsh measures lie
forgaye his daughter, but for the pur-
pose of preventing further correspon-
dsnce with Bob, he keeps a proper sur /
yeilanoe over her actions, and requires
her not to leave the dwelling, but to get
ready for a trip with the family East,
to some watering place,in ordeE TO spend
the summer. Meantime the compan-
ions OF Bella are surprised at her abb
sence from her accustomed places of
visit. and wonder what can be the rea-
son for her seclusion. Of course we
are not going to tell them.-'& Louis
Unisa.