The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-08-22

| WIZ "loucu W UOiiOW Iue diamond cross
Tor the night, as hers (thc wouldbe Dor.
roWcr's) was being repaired.
MY young lady caught her breath and
turned pale. Then she glanced toward
me.
"Iti my brothers affianccc," she said
"shc has worn the cross before"
Without the slightest hesitation ]
drew it from my bosom, whittier had
placed it for afc-keeping, and put il
into her hands.
Y You can bring it to me carly in the
morning. That will do equally rs we'll. .
The act was very unbusiness- like, and
| never did similar one. Twas compcn
satcd for the departure from my rccti
tudc, however, by watching the divine
expression of gratitude which trans
formed the young girls face as she re.
ccivcd the jewel
She sent it to the borrower with kind
message.
prepared to go away. With dclicacv
That was as pleasant as it was rare for
me to experience, l was relieved of the
necessity of bundling up the clothing !
had purchased; the maid was directed to
make parcel of it, and to carry it down
to the carriage which was waiting for
me.
| took leave of my fair one with mucl,
difficulty. She embraced me again and
again, and she, too, generously forgot the
advantages l had obtained in the advan-
tagc she felt that had afforded her.
LETT her standing in the center of the
1loor OF the apartment, with her face
buried in her white hands, and with the
wild lights of the fire playing strange
gambols on and about her delicate figure.
Upon reaching the sidewalk again,
found that the coupe had been replaced
by hired carriage; the discretion of the
change was apparent.
During the night which succeeded these
transactions l reflected upon what had
been told me, and made up my mind
that all was not quite as my young lady
! supposed
had discovered, by the way, that her
name was Kingsford, also that her
parents were extremely wealthy, and
that she and her brother were only chill
dren.
Early on the succeeding morning a
gentleman entered my shop and asked
me to purchase diamond cross, which
he thought oldfashioned and out of date,
tie unrolled it from some bits of paper.
and handed it to. me. I recognized it at
a glance as the one had held on the
previous night.
The mirrors are arranged in my show
case in Il way that enables me, by look
ing downward, apparently at what hold
III my hand, to watch the features and
behavior of my customers.
While pretending, therefore, to examine
the cross, quietly and thoroughly scru-
tlnlzcd tho person before me. | detected
enough OF his features to convince me
that he was the brother of Miss Kings
ford.
With my foot I touched two springs,
one OF which instantly caused bolt to
| fasten the door, while the other rang q
| bell which summoned my brother from IL
| rear room.
then put the cross upon the shelf be-
hind me, and asked the young man to
step to the end of the counter where
| there were two chairs.
told him briefly that knew him, and
| that knew of his defalcation.
The effect of these announcements
| upon him was unexpectedly severe and
sudden. His blood flowed back upon his
| heart, and for moment he was para
lyzed. He fell forward in his chair, and
would have slipped upon the floor had |
not caught him. He slowly aroused him.
self, but, by the time he regained his
power of speech, he seemed to have
grown ten years older. His eyes were
large and wandering, lines appeared in
his cheeks, and his head settled down be-
tween his shoulders. l did not think he
was cowardly, but that he was not so
callous and wicked as had supposed.
1fc was totally undonc; he trcmblcd
from his head to his feet, and his knees
shook as if he were shuddcring with the
cold
asked him the name of his confcd-
crate. lie replied that it was Marshall.
"Plcase describe him."
After a moment he rcplicd:
" lie is pretty TALL and he has white
hair and beard and a broad forehead"
"1s nc not pleasing in his manners?
Has he not fine addrcss?"
Yves, he talks like an angel"
What were you about to do with the
money that you hoped to get for that
CROSSE"
II was about to leave town. The af-
fair will be known all over the CITY this
evening. But you will return the cross
to me?"
This inquiry was excited and start
lingly earnest.
l shook my head. He burst into
torrent of prayers and cntreatics, which
| checked as soon as possible. I advised
him to return to his office.
Return to my Officer"
Yes. But leave it just before noon
and go to the Albion, and sit in the par
lor until I send for you.
Until you send for me?"
Yes. And be sure you do not at
tempt to run away meantime. You have
stolen $4,000, have you not?"
"1-I-perhaps."
~ suppose you have converted the
company's bonds. Are the bonds to be
had at a moments notice."
lie gazcd at me for an instant, and
then cried in loud voice that seemed to
come from the very middle of his heart:
They are to be had at a moments no.
| tlce. But who can want thcm!"
II eyes can extort secrets, then a less
obdurate person than l would have
told him all she knew, for his gaze
seemed to penetrate my breast, so intense
was it.
But I was dumb. I had nothing more
to ask. He was subducd by my (sup-
poscd) knowledge and he called me a
strange woman. He begged for the cross
a second time. "For," he said. cit he.
longs to my sister,
NThen you stole it from her." said.
He turned away his head and then , mnt
tered, half to himself:
One becomes capable of great many
things"
He departed moment after. but 7
managed to impress him with the idea
that he must not attempt flight He
promised me humbly that he would obey
| me and fhat he 1uo1,ld l,o fo,,.,d Of IL