The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-14
THE LOST DIAMONDS.

ONE OF the JollieSt fellows on the toll
erably long list of my acquaintance is
Charles Filby; and though on the wrong
side OF sixty as to age, he yet is as
genial and lively as many young men l
wot of-livelier, in point of fact. | was
seated with him after dinner a few
evenings since, enjoying the fragrant
weed in perhaps as lovely little re-
treat as the eye could possibly wish to
behold-namely, Devonshire garden;
and noting my friend brows, during a
lull in our pleasant chat, become sud
denly clouded, l offered him the meagre
sum of penny for his thoughts.
"You shall have them free gratis, for
nothing, my boy,' was the reioinder.
"Well, then, was thinking of my lost
diamonds, and, moreover, what a cap
ital present the like would make for
your Darling Flossy' on her wedding
morn. Wouldn't her bright eyes
sparkle, Ell? Between you and me.
Percy (and this is in strict confidence)
she may say she may have such a
present, in spite of my long-ago mis-
fortune. l think the thing by no means
impossible. But | won't say who the
donor will be. o dear, no! Not by any
meanS!'
You're good fellow, Filby. Age
hasn't robbed you of warmth of heart
and generous feelings. But what about
these lost diamonds you were thinking
OFF Pm all Impotence to learn the de-
tails, especially as seeing our acquaint-
ance has been of long standing, and
this is the first time I've heard you even
mention the matter"
''For the best of all reasons, Percy
man doesn't care to be laughed at for
greenhorn. The fact is no English
man likes to be done; and when he is,
prefers keeping his grievance to him
self rather than be laughed at for a
fiat or get that kind of milk-and-
water sympathy which is as disgusting
as it is inSincere. However, rll unbo-
som myself for once; and if you do
elect to call me blockhead, can't help
it.
"You remember the time of the
Crimea war? OF course you do, though.
Well, at that time | held a tolerablv
long lease of my old shop in Barbican.
And Barbican, as you know, used to be,
whatever it is now, not the least i'm
portant street in London town. | did
not, it is true, keep much of a show in
the window; but my customers knew
that l had a rare and valuable stock in
drawers inside, and that was enough
alike for me and them.
''Well, my lad, as | have before said,
it was the time of the Crimea war. 1t
was about, as near as | can remember,
eleven O'Clock in the morning of bit
terly cold day in Deeember-a Tuesday
when either the slush or the piercing,
biting cold, or the leaden ominous sky
that doomed overhead and threatened
snow storm, kept people who had
money by their freside or in bed; in
deed, few people of any kind were
abroad, and all things outside were as
gruesome and dispiriting as they well
could be. l had drawn near my
contingencies fire, and was looking
into the glowing Goals, my thoughts
very far away from Barbican, Z. c.
My imagination wandered to the seat
of war, where such terrific privation
and blood-freezing cold and acute suf-
fering-rendered all the more so by
shocking mismanagement- encom-
passed our poor brave fellows round
about; and just as deep sigh came
from my lips, my shop door opened
and there entered fine, tall, hand
some-looking gentleman. who, by his
dress and bearing, was evidently a
clergyman. At least, thought so at
the time, as would anybody else, for
that matter. His attire was of the
best material and make, and scrupu-
lousy neat; and his neck-band was as
white as driven snow. Moreover.
gold-rimmed spectacles and heavy
seals depending from his watch-fob
gave him not only a highly respectable
appearance but stamped him as
wealthy withal. That's to saw, |
thought so. Well, up. he marched to
my counter with tolerably long strides,
removed his hat (of the first quality,
and placed it upon my counter (his
well arranged silver hair became him
immensely, and gave me a good
morning. and smile that was meal
culably pleasing and good to see. This
man is a Christian; goodness and gem
tleness beam on every feature, / men
tally told myself. l put on my very
best manner and politely asked him
his pleasure.
"I have been recommended to YOU,