The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-25

Mr.. Sanborn stared in blank amaze
ment, and mechanically gave Morton
Talbot Maggie's address; and it was not
until Talbot had left the store that he
fully realized the enormity of the crime
with which his trusted employe had
been charged. He promptly wrote to
Maggie, offering sympathy and assist
ance, and declaring his belief in her in
nocence. And that was not all. With
John Talbops assistance, a search for
the missing diamonds was instituted,
but Mr.. Morton Talbot knew nothing of
it, and went on his own way to recover
the lost gems.
A long, steep hill. At the bottom, a
runaway horse and a wrecked carriage (;
halfway up, the insensible form of Mr..
Morton Talbot, so far on his search for
Maggie Osborne or the lost diamonds /;
at the top, a comfortable farmhouse and
young lady just coming through the
gate to Mr.. Talbot's relief.
Help was near, and with very little
delay the unfortunate Talbot was safely
ensconced between the two white sheets
in the good housewives spare bed.
His senses came back to him at last,
and his first words were:
"What tremendous hill ~
Then he hethought him of his errand,
and startled the young lady in attend
ance by asking, abruptly:
"What would you do to a young lady
if she stole your diamonds from you? "
"Never having been the owner of dia-
monds, 1 cannot say" replied the young
lady; "but l believe 1 should, first OF
all, get the diamonds"
'Zounds !" exclaimed Talbot. "And
that's just what 1OiU do. By-the-way,
do you know person named Maggie
Osborne?"
"I do"
as it possible r' exclaimed Mr.. Tai
bot, as if it were the strangest thing in
the world. "Well, you are the first one.
If I've asked one, 1 have a hundred, and
nobody knew the little thief"
1.-THE 1Ohdt, sir ?"
"Thief! She stole the Talbot dia-
monds, and Pm after her."
"Whyi Why! Pm astonished! ]
knew Maggie had a very taking way,
but L never supposed she would go SO
far as that"
"Nor anybody else," grumbled Tai
bot. 'There's my boy, John, won't be-
! lieve a word of it. He's after her"
be caught, surely ~
"No, no, no " interrupted Talbot
''NOt about the diamonds; but he wants
! her for a wife !u
"Oh! That's funny-now, isn't it
OF course you'll not allow it ;"
"Just let him try it :" replied Talbot
with a meaning smile.
mo, knew you wouldn't. It would
nho h Ia
would not care so much if she hadn't
stole your diamonds Maggie is quite
nice girl, they say"
"Well, no. John has always been 8
good boy, and if he really liked a good
respectable girl, and wanted to marry
her, don't know as | should say much
against it. But such a creature! Bah
Johns a fool ~
"How curious. But if she proves bel
innocence? For instance, if you should
learn that she had not touched your dia,
monds at all, and your son still wanted
to marry her, you would not object. O
course you wouldn't"
mo, wouldn't" replied Talbot-a
the same time he was thinking, "pll bt
safe enough, for there's not the leas
doubt of her guilt. And 1 guess III
promise further, for 1 really like thi!
girl. 1t won't do any harm, any way
to give her good opinion of me-" "No
wouldn't object" he repeated; "anC
more than that, 1 would give them :
good setting up in life. Pm able, and
would do it, too"
'Thank you, father" were the words
that came in answer to his; and, look
ing toward the door, he saw John stand
ing there. 81 overheard your promise
father" continued John, 'and I thinI
l shall be safe enough to set the wed
ding-day just a month hence"
"Humph! Don't count your chick
too soon. That Maggie Osborne neve
will be your WIFE"
mot until she, or some one else
proves her innocence"
"You'll be in your grave long befor
that, boy"
"My demise will be speedy, then
said John, taking something from hi
pocket. "See the proofs ~
"What! Mercy! What is it?r
''The Talbot diamonds, fatherW
"Hanged if you amt right ~ ex
claimed Pa Talbot. "Where did yol
get them ?"
"After getting the diamonds from
Mr.. Ssnborn's, you changed coats, ant
left the gems in one of the pockets.n
"COnfound my carelessness ~
"Ips an i'll wind - You know
the rest, father. I shall hereafter priz
the Talbot diamonds for all they ar
worth. Your promise"
promise [ was only joking, boy
I never meant you should marry tina
Osborne girl. You didn't think I wa
in earnest?"
"Really, thought of little else bu
the promise. That holds good yet, from
the fact that we have witness to il
} Don't you think so, Maggie ?"
maggie! Not Maggie Osborne p
J asked the old gentleman, scrutinizin
the young lady, who was blushing an
smiling very prettily.
''Miss Maggie Osborne, father"
"pm blundering fool and a block
head and blind as bat p' growled P
Talbot. 81 don't deserve anything bet
: ter. Here, Maggie, take the Talbot dia
mOnds, and John, too I've not anothe
word to say against it. And all 1 as
: of you is, if you ever find bigger mum
, skull than old Morton Talbot, give hiI
the diamonds and ask no questions"