Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-02-01
A DREAM AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

When was twelve years of age was
invited by Mrs. Hall, my godmother,
to pay her visit before going to a
boarding-school, where was to remain
for few years. My mother had died
when | was very young, and my father
thought it better for me to be at a nice
school, where / would be among girls
of my own age, than in house with
only his sister and himself. Mrs. Hall
was very fond of me; she had no chill
dren of her own, and, had my father
consented, she and Mr.. Hall would have
taken me to live with them entirely.
1t was lovely day in June when l
arrived at my godmother's and she
was delighted to see me. The house
was beautifully situated on high ground,
surrounded by grand old trees, and on
one side was flower garden.
One morning godmother says to me;
Come upstairs with me, Lillian, and
will show you some Indian Jewels that
my uncle left me lately.n She opened
the drawers of an inlaid sardal-wood
cabinet and took out small case, in
which were pair of earrings, brooch
ndnecklace of most beautiful diamonds.
thought had never seen anything so
beautiful before. my dear Lillian, -
said she, IL intend to give you these on
your sixteenth birthday. 1 see, how
ever, there is stone loose in one of the
earrings, so | will take it into town to-
day and have it repaired" She folded
it up carefully and put it in her purse;
the case with the other diamonds she
put in one of the drawers of her dress
ing-glass.
After lunch Mr.. and Mrs. Hall took
me with them to the town, which was
about four miles distant. The earring
was left at the jewelers., and as we were
to spend the day at friends house we
arranged to call for it on our way back
But, you will say, what has all this to
do with your dream? Well, wait lit
tie and you will see.
Wespent pleasant day, called for the
earring on our way, and arrived home
about half-past nine o clock. AS | was
taking off my bonnet, godmother came
into the room. Lillian" said she, II
cannot find the case of diamonds any,
where. Did l not leave it in the drawer
in my dressing-glass before went out?
went to put in the other earring now,
and it was not there. Who can have
taken itp''
"You certainly left it in the dressing
glass drawer l said. "Could any of
the servants have taken it, do you
think?r
Il am sure they would not" she an
swered. Il have had them with me
for years, and never missed anything
before
20 tbara an1y ctrorn,a,.s about a. n =
could have come in through the win
dowPn
"No, Lillian; there are no strangers
about the place except the gardener,
and he seems most respectable man.
Igot very high character of him from
his last place; in fact, we were told he
was a most trustworthy person."
Next day there was wonderful COM
motion about the missing jewel-case.
The police were sent for, and every
place was searched over and over again,
but to no purpose. One thing, how
ever, puzzled us; on the window-sill was
foot-mark, and near the dressing-table
little bit of earth, as if off a shoe OF
boot, which led us to think that the
thief must have come in through the
window. But how did he get up to it?
1t was good height from the ground,
and the creeping plants were not in the
least broken, as would have been the
case had anyone climbed up by them.
A ladder must have been employed, and
it was little to the credit of the police
that this fact had not been properly
considered. As the matter stood it was
a mystery, and seemed likely to remain
80, and only one earring was left of the
valuable set.
In few days left for school, where
/ remained for four years. l spent
every vacation between my home and
my godmother's We often spoke of
the stolen diamonds, but nothing had
ever been heard of them, though a re-
ward of ESQ had been offered by Mr..
Hall for any Information that would
lead to the detection of the thief. On
my sixteenth birthday my godmother
gave me a beautiful watch and chain
and the diamond earring, which she
had got arranged as necklace.
81 am so sorry, Lillian" said she,
thai l have not the rest of those dia-
monds to give you; but if ever they are
found they shall be yours, my dear"
must now pass over six years, which
went by quietly and happily, nothing
very important taking place until the
last year, during which time had been
married. My husband was a barrister.
We lived in the north of England My
mother-in-law, Mrs. Benson, and Mary,
one Of her daughters, lived some miles
away from us, near the sea coast. 1t
was . very lonely place, long way
from the little fishing town, or rather
village, Of Burnley. / confess l often
felt very nervous about Mrs. Benson
and her daughter living alone Cher hus-
band being dead many years.. Except
three women-servants in the house and
the coachnan and his family, who lived
in the lodge, there was no one nearer
than Burnley, four miles off. Besides,
IL was known that there was large
quantity Of plate in the house; and the
little seaside village was often the re-
sort of smugglers and other wild and
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