The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-01
LOSSES OF JEWELS.


During the Indian mu6ny, and after
the destruction of some of the rich
palaces and temples, the soldiers picked
up many valuable articles, useless to
themselves, and which they frequently
threw away again, as troublesome to
carry or gladly cold to any one who
would give them few rupees in ex-
change. Among these acquisitions was
large, very roughly cut diamond, which
had been one of the eyes of gor-
geously- painted idol, enshrine3 in one of
tho temples that had been destroyed. A
soldier picked it out of its socket, and,
as Ii was rough, dull-looking stone, he
thought very little of it, and was just
going to throw it away, when an officer
who stood by offered him two or three
rupees for it. He also put but small
store by his purchase of the lusterless
stone and it was only from its position
as the eye of an idol that he judged that
it might possibly be of greater value
than seemed likely from its outward APP
pearance. Some time afterward he
showed it to native ieweler, who
offered to buy it from him at consider
able increase on the price he had given
for it; but he was going to England,
aud thought it wiser to take the stone
with him, and have it properly cut by a
6rst-class lapidsry. This was done, and
very fine stone resulted, which the Jew
eieY, at the most moderate calculation,
valued at 9500. The officer had it set in
ring. and wore it for several years quite
safely but one day, CHANGING to be in
London, he went into a shop to buy q
pair of gloves, and looking at the ring
on his little finger, he observed that the
setting was empty, the diamond gone.
He examined his glove, his pockets, the
floor of the shop ; no trace of the stone
was to be seen, and 30 he gave it up as
lost. However, he mentioned the mat.
ter at his club, and told the club master
to post up notice Offering G10 reward
to any one who should find the diamond
A day or two afterward the stone was
brought to him. 1t had been found by
one OF the housemaids in darkish pass
age that led to the billiard-room The
reward was gladly paid, and the diamond
taken to the jewelers., to be once more
firmiy replaced in the ring.
Again some years passed. The officer
had been back to India, and WIS on fur
Tough in England, and had gone to Scot
land 10 shoot with friends who had
taken q moor In the Highlands. One
hot August day he had been out for sew
erai hours grouse-shcoting. He was
still walking, when a covey of birds rose
a little way off. He raised his gun to
take aim, when his eye Glanced to fall
on his ring, and he saw that the setting
was once more empty. Stopping to look
at 1T, the birds got away, and he laid
down the gun on the heather beside him
and carefully examined the place where
he stood with very feeble hope of find
ing the glittering stone. Nothing was
co be seen of it and when he recollect-
ed the many miles he had traversed that
day, and the nature of the ground he
had been on, he abandoned al idea of
ever again recovering his diamond. He
stopped for his gun, and the thought
flashed into his mind "I'll turn out
the chorge-the thing is just possible |"
He did 80 /; drew the wad, and then
shook out the contents of the barrel,
shot, powder, ond-the diamond 1t
mad slipped unnoticed into the muzzle
when he was loading, al, but for the
lucky chance that had caused him to
rcmath its absence from the ring, it
would have been fred away the next
moment. Possibly it might have hit a
bird, gone back in the game bag, and
caused ~ much aDazement TO the cook,
on 70 the individual who found it be-
tween his teeth, as did the diamond in
tho eastern tale to the fisherman and
his family who discovered il In
the eotrailg of the fish. Another
visit e. the jeweler, and the ring resumed
its place on the finger of its owner, and
three or four years passed away. The
office had again returned to India, and |
vaa with bis regiment, which was en-
camped near large station, portions of |
soms other regiments being close to |
chem. He was acting as Adiutant to
the General in command, and was writ.
aug at q small table placed close to the
door of his tent. As his hand passed
rapidly over the paper, the troublesome
diamond once more dropped from its
setting, and fol on the table beside him.
Being in hurry, he merely uttered an
angry exclamation, pushed the stone
close 70 the inkstand aud went on with his
writing. Presently q messenger came
20 Say that tho General wished to see
him Immediately. He forgot all about
the stone, threw on his uniform, buckled
on hls sword, and started at once for the
quarters OF the commanding officer. He
was detained some little time; ana when
ne returned to his own tent he looked
1lrectly Tor the diamond, which he had