Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-01-14

thcre not queer one eXtant about an 0ld
uncle Of ours and precious stone ?"
Our grand.unce--ycs. Did you never
hear about Stephen Carr, our fathers uncle,
and how oddly bis fortune disappeared ?"
" Long ago when | was very little
child, | suppose, for my remembrance Of
the affair is vague and uncertarsas posi-.
bic. There was something about voyage
to Europe aud lost jewel, but recollect
nothing definite. want you TO tell me all
about it. Begin, please. Come, now, I'm
all ready to listen. Once upon a time"
Well" said Patience, gazing at the
Goals, as though trying to read there the
commencement Of her narrative, " you must
remember that our fathers family was far
from being very arislocratic one, at least
on our grandlather's side, for there is no
better blood in New York State than that
Of our grandmother. She was a Miss Van
Lorten."
" You remind me Of that woman in Hard
Times, whose mother was Fowler
Go on"
." l will not, unless you promise not to
interrupt me. Where was II Oh, yes
Our grandfather had an only brother, an
old batchelor, who was by trade not ex-
actly jeweler but a diamond-broker--I
think they call such a persona man who
buys and sells precious stones. He used to
20 abroad once or twice a year for the pur-
pose Of visiting pawnbrokers' establishments
aud secondhand dealers, in search Of gems
that might be cheapiy purchased, as well
as for the usual transaction Of his business
He was a grave, taciturn man, and never
discussed his affairs with any one, not even
with our grandfather, to whom he was
much attached. His picture used to hang
10 the old Carr mansion eayy-browed,
close-lipped, stern.looking face, with moth
ing genial or communicative about it.
Now, as regards the curious part Of
the story, remember | only speak from
hearsay. | tell the tale as it came to me
from the lips Of our grandmother when |
was quite child and the old family SER
wants also were fond of discussing this
rather mysterious family legend but since
our grandmother death aud the breaking
up Of the old establishment (all Of which
happened when | was about nine years old
have heard scarcely anything about it, ex-
cept few words which my father once let
fall on the subject Bat heard the story
so often in my childhood that it made a
deep impression on my memory.
One ycar-about forty years ago, |
should think somewhere between 1880 and
'3j-my grand-uncle set out upon his an.
nua pilgrimage to Europe. He took with
him all his disposable funds, varying by
report from twenty to forty thousand dol
lars, but probably nearer the former sum
than the latter. Before he sailed he signi-
fed to our grandfather his intention Of
making somewhat extended tour, and also
gave him to understand that he contem-
plated making purchase Of unusual impor-
tance and magnitude. If he had only been
little more explicit much trouble might
have been saved, but it was never his way
to talk much about bis affairs with any
one.
"He sailed in the spring and reached
the Old World in safety. have seen some
of the letters he wrote during that last
journey-all brief, curt epistles, telling lit
tie but the state of his health, the place
from whence he was writing, and the prob.
able date Of his departure for another point
Inc last country to which he went was
Holland. He stayed some time in Amster
dam, and went to Rotterdam, where he re-
mained several weeks but, as usual, his
letters contained no intelligence respecting
his business transactions. At length WORD
was received Of his approaching return. He
took passage direct from Rotterdam in O
sailing vessel, but he was not destined tc
reach his home alive. The cholera broke
out on board of the ship before she had
been out Of sight Of land and Stephen
Carr was one of its earliest victims. 1t
was supposed that the yirulence Of the
disorder aud its speedy termination pre-
vented him from making known anything
respecting his property. He was accus.
toned always to travel with his precious
merchandise carefully concealed in nooki
and corners among the baggage and OIL
this last voyage his purchases must hav,
been of unusual value and were eithe
stolen or so carefully concealed that the
were never discovered. Nor have they eve
, been found from that day to this"
How was it known that he had bough
anything of importance p
Grandfather went to Holland expressl
to trace out some indication Of the where
abouts Of his brothers missing fortune. II
; found that the whole of the large amount 0
: money which Stephen Carr had take
abroad with him had been drawn cut o.
one day about week before he sailed 70
! home. He also discovered that he had ha
dealings with a man named Nicholas Leer
Ien, dealer in bric-a-brac and jewery
! who had shop on the Boompjes but thi
! Leerjen, on being interrogatcd, sturdily de
MED that any transaction Of importanc
c had ever taken place between himself an
b Mr.. Carr, who had bought from him, h
averred, nothing but an antique silye
F.. salyer, which he described minutely an
!, as such salyer had been found among tn
: effects Of the deceased, there seemed n
reason to doubt the Dutchman's word. s.
$ after spending some weeks in fruitless il
t quiries and investigations, our grandiathe
. was forced to return home no wiser and n
y richer than when he had set out.
;. Now comes the strangest part OF thi
: strange story. A short time after CRANE
r fathers return home, which was very speeC
y lily accomplished, the vessel he came in b'
o ing an American clipper and the winds Il
t. vorable all the way, he was awakened OF
n night by my grandmother, who declare
Il that she heard some one breaking into th
:. house. My grandfather listened, and WI
soon convinced that her suspicious wei
u correct so he threw on dressing Cow
Ie loaded his pistol, and softly unbarriu
g his door slipped stealthily out into II
y passage. He heard footsteps proceedir
% up the stairs to an upper room whiC
e had been his brothers. He followed vii
h noiseless tread, and on reaching the do,
d of that apartment he saw, by the fail
N glimmcr Of dark lantern, man on h
st knees before Stephen Carr's trunk (whlt
Ie still contained all the articles that had be'
k brought from abroad), and engaged in for
l.. ing the lock. Some sound which he mat
C. attracted the attention Of the robber, wi
fl sprang up and rush' d upon him; but OF
le grandfather, who was not easily thrown
ID bis guard, presented his pistol full at b
id advancing assaiant fired, aud the man f
le to the ground
"Was he killed outright2'
II Unfortunately, yesi the bullet hi
ht passed through his head. say untort