The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-08-29
Select STORY.
THE DIAMOND BREAST PIN.

st will cost two hundred dollars,
Anna p said George Blakely to his young,
proud and extravagant wife. The tone
in which he said this, showed that her re-
quest had startled him.
al know it will, but what are two hun.
dred dollars for a diamond pin?" Mrs.
Blakelys remark was half contemptuous.
"Mrs. Harry Edgor's diamonds cost over
one thousand dollars.
Just one thousand more than her hus-
band could afford to pay for them," said
Mr.. Blakely.
Hes the best judge of that, l pre-
sumo" retorted his wife.
But what does that signify. You
cannot, Anna"
What do you do with your money,
pray2"
The young wife turned sharply upon
her husband and her words and tone stung
him into rather harsh reply. But this
only aroused her anger and made her
more unreasonable and persistant.
80 very WE'LL" said her too yielding
husband at last, "go to Cau6eld's to-mor.
row and get the pin. Tell him to send in
the account on the FIRST of January and it
viii be paid.
Mrs. Blakely was in earnest. There
was not one Of her fashionable acquaint-
ances but had diamond ring or breast
pin, and until the owner Of one or both,
she could not hold up her head in society.
Her husband was receiving teller in
bank, at salary Of fifteen hundred dol
lars per annum, when he married, which
was about year before, and he still occu-
pied the same post with the same income.
For young man in his position he had
not married wisely. The handsome face
and captivating manners Of dashing belle
bewildered his fancy. He proposed in
haste, was promptly accepted, and led to
the marriage altar, not true wife, but
weak, capricious creature, incapable of
genuine love, and too selfish and narrow
minded to feel the influence Of honorable
principle.
An extravagant love for dress and orna-
ment characterized her from the begin
ming, and she would hearken to none Of
her husbands gently offered circumstances.
The demand for two hundred dollar
breast pin, coming upon young Blakely, as
IL did, at time when he had just made
the unpleasant discovery of deficit in his
income, whom compared with his expenses,
of several hundred dollars, sadly disheart-
ened him. But he was not brave enough
to meet the exigency, and, therefore,
weakly yielded to demand that should
have been met by an unainching refusal.
The FIRST of January found Blakely
short Of funds by considerable more than
the price tobe paid for the diamond pin.
Can6sld's bill came in and must be set
tied. It would not do for him to back in
the matter Of payment, for the jeweler was
an acquaintance Of more than one Of the
directors of the bank, and questions might
be asked, aud inference drawn prejudicial
to his standing
In an evil hour, under distress Of mind
and strong temptation, the young man
made false entry which enabled him to
abstract two hundred dollars from the
funds Of the bank
This was only the beginning Of series
Of defalcations, which ran through many
years before the exposure came which il
sure to follow such crime. TWAS easier
now to supply the extravagant demands of
his wife, whose annual wardrobe aud Jew
elry, for which she had the passion which
ID characteristic Of weak mind, almost
reached the full amount Of his salary.
But the end came at last. One morn
ing seven years from the day Of the mar
risge, Mr.. and Mrs. Blakely were about
leaving for the opera, when the bell was
rung violently. Mr.. Blnkely started and
turned pale.
Whats the matters" asked his wife,
who saw the singular change in his coun-
tenance.
Mr.. Blakely did not answer, but stood
listening at the door, Meas voices were
now heard, and the heavy tread Of feet
along the passage. There was start,
hurried movement by Blakely; then he
stood still as rivsted 70 the spot.