Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-24
MISS WHITELAkE'S DIAMONDS.
[From AIple,oa,s JonrnaI.l

From 1gple,oa's JopTnall
AT the time of the remarkable occurrences
about 10 be related 1 resided with nv uncle
man son BuTehe, esq, OF Fairfield. had gone
20 that pace TO engage in the practice OF Jaw.
and cheeTfully accepted an invitation to make
his house my home.
My uncle's family consisted of himself and
wife, one son, Giles, and young lady, Mi~
Hattie Whiteiske, who was an orphan ward
Giles was near my own age, and proved to be
very eO1genial companion. In personal ap-
pearance be was quite prepOssessing, being ia 7,
wel-formed, graceful in manner, and hand-
some in face His mental qualities were in az
cord With the attTa yeness Of his person and
We passed many pleasant hours together.
Miss Whitel4ke was a bIIe-eved. golden
haired beauty, whom set down at first Il yht as
charming person. \ more mature aclu4inC-
ance confirmed my Impressions. and it Il easy
10 Imagine what happened. tell desperately
IN love with her before We had known each
Sther month. soon declared nay love, and
had the ineNpressible Joy OF learning that il was
returned. There was one liz Ie dra wback, 10 "
ever, 10 my bliss Hattie often expressed A GER
tain want Ci trust in humanity that was annov-
ing IN one OF her age; and coupled with it was
dismal fashion of looking too much on the b Al
side OF affairs. These unfortunate traits were
INST formed by Occurrences in her early expe-
rlence among strangers, which are unnecessary
70 relate IL Is Sufficient for US 70 know that
they existed; and l may add that had good
cause to remember them for many a dav
My uncle favored our love-Inak!ng and so
Hattie and were gagged to be married, and
became OF lawful age, which would ne in A little
more than year from that time.
Inc year rolled smoothly and quietly away.
no event OF any special consequence marked its
passage, excepting that as Hsttie's twentv-frst
oirthGay approached, there was a busrle OF
PREPARATION to celebrate the event by a grand
entertainment to her friends.
She desired TO have, for this occasion, some
lew jewels, and l accompanied her to Clear
port, our nearest city. to look up the coveted
articles. Her choice fell on some magnificent
sliamOuis-a ND
of unique pattern and exquisite workmanship.
The purchase was delayed. however, because
their cost WAS greater than the amount she had
expected to expend, and, although she was
quite rich enough to afford them, il was thought
best by both of Us to consult with her guardian
again before deciding. SO we went back with
out the diamonds.
After due consultation, che concluded to take
them, and, as my uncle would have occasion to
80 to Clearport on other business before they
would be needed, he was commissioned to get
them.
was absent from home most OF the time in
teryeniDg before ne birthday, and, on nv re-
turn, found that nay uncle had been TO Clear
port and brought home the diamonds
The birthday festival passed Of much such
things usually 90. Nothing occurred that re-
quires mention in this narrative. \ few days
afterwArd. however, a series OF troubles COM
menced OF the most extraordinary and perplex-
ing character. Hattie left home 10 be absent a
month in the county, and, having little use for
her jewels, and besides not thinking IL quite
safe TO have such valuables about her when out
of town, she gave them into my care until her
return. / immediately locked them up IN my
ofhce-safe. The next day mad a sudden call to
business IN ClearpO-t, and was absent about
three weeks. On my return l surprised to
ind Hattie at hofae again. She had become
tired OF the country sooner than she had expect
ed. A few evenings after, We had invitations to
fashionable gathering, and Hattie wished 10
wear her diamonds. / went TO my safe to get
them, ard, to my ineSpressiole astonishment
J here was no sign Of the slightest disturbance
in the safe. The lock was IN perfect order, and,
b. ing of the combination" or dial kind, could
not have been picked. The only known way to
get IL open was by turning the dial to certain
numbers in q definite order. had told no one
how had set 1t when ! left home, and there
was scarcely one chance in a million that any
body had guessed it.
was sure that no one outside OF my uncle's
family had known OF my having the diamonds,
and yet, whoever had Committed the burglary,
appeared to have them alone in view, for there
were bther valuabies in the safe which we're
lett ul ouched. These valuabes were bonds
belonging IL several eli, nts who had intrusted
them 20 me for safe keeping, and we're pay able
to 1.-THE bearer" This fact increased the nys-
terry. Jewels which might be easily identified
bad been taken, and money LETT behind which
would have been infinitely less like to lead to
the detection of the thief.
HAD the diamonds been my own, the loss would
have been bad enough; under the then existing
circumstances, IT vas a thousand times worse.
My sltuatlon was horrible. Nobody had seen
me put them in the safe, amt, even ad that
been the case, had no proof OF not having
taken them out again myself. had no taonght
sls
pect me of such Infamous rascality as having
anything to do with their disappearance. hui
you may image my dreadful embarrassment AZ
the lose when 1 could account for 1t in no way
at ALL when my story would be entitled to be.
lief only on account Of my hitherto 9 bod charac
ter.
The most positive indication Of my limo ,euc
which could have possibly given, ", ud hav
been TO ut once replace the dian lsd or in II {
making good the loss; but aas. my entire pos
sessions were not suftcif Mt to pay more tina.
half their value, II that.
All the family were, o. course, greatly aston
ished 1T what had happened, but H attic took Il
very coolly, and, seeing my anxiety, beggs,
me not to worry about the misfortune, an,
did all che could to force the precept. The mat
ter was talked over and over, however, unit
e novelty and wonder wore away, and then /
rested.
A week or more had elapsed AFTER discover
ng the robbery, when I was again eallei q
Cieal port where remained several DAYS. o,
my return, . new development awaited me
This y rs second occurrence, as mysterious a
the fnt, and - hopelessly inexplicabie
On the day after came home from Cl,arpor
r fsssnd sse d.aHo..ds. And where did find them
think you? Why, in exactly the same plac.
from which they had 80 mysterioasly disappear