Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-09-14
Weaverville, September IA. 1878.
THE LOST DIAMONDS.

One Of the iollIest fellows on the toler-
nbly long list Of my acquaintances is
Charles Filby +; and though the wrong
side Of sixty as to age, he yet is as genial
and live y as many young mon l wot of
-livelier, in point of fact. l was seated
with him after dinner few evenings
since, enjoying the fragfant weed in per-
hsps as lovely little retreat as tho eye
could possibly wish to behold namely, u
Devonshre garden and noting my
fiend's brow, during lull in out pleas
ant chat, become suddenly clouaed. |
offered him the meagre. sam of a penny
for his thoughts.
"You shall have them free gratis, for
nothing, my boy" was the rejoiner
"Well. then, was thinking Of my, lost
diamonds, and, moreover, what capital
present the like would make for your
Darling Flossy' on her wedding mora
Wouldn't her bright eyes sparkle eh :?
Between you and me, Percy
(and this is in strict conhdence) she may
I say she may have such present, IN
spite Of my long ago misfortune. l
think the thing by no means impossible.
ButI 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
those lost diamonds you were thinking
of? I'm all mpatence to learn the de
tails, especially as seeing our acquaint
anco las been Of long standing, and this
ia the first time I've heard you even men
tion the matter"
"For the best Of all reasons, Percy
a man doesn t care to he laughed Mt for
greenhorn. The fact is, no English
man likes to be done and when lie is,
prefers keeping his grievance to himself
rather than be laughed ut Tor a '6at, or
get that kiMd of milk and water sympa-
thy which is as disgusting as it is insinccre.
However, I'll unbosom myself for once ;
and il you DO elect to call me blockhead, ,
| can't helpit.
"You remember the time of the Cri-
mean war? OF course you do, though.
Well, at that time | held tolerably long
lease Of my old shop in Barbican. And
Barbcan as you know, used TO be, what
ever it ia now, not The least important
street in London town: l did not, it is
true, keep much of show in the window
but my customers knew that had rare
and valuable stock in drawers inside,
and that was enough alike for nae and
them.
Nell, my lad, as / have before said
it was the time Of the Crimean war. 1t
was about, as near as | can remember,
ly cold day in September--a Tuesday
when either the slush or the pie cling, Bit
ing cold, or the leaden ominous sky that
loomed overhead and threatened n snow
storm, kept people who had money, by
their llreside or in bed indeed, few peo-
pie of any kind were abroad, and "ll
things outside wore as gruesome and dis
piritlng us they well could be. ~ had
drawn near my counting house fire, and
was looking into the glowing Goals, my
thoughts very far away from Barbican,
Il. G. My Imagination wandered to the
sea- OF war. vhere such terrible privation
and blood freezing cold and acute suf-
fering-rendered all tho more so by shock
ing mismanage agement-encOmp mpassed our
Door brave fellows round about and just
as a deep sigh came from my lips, my
shop door opened and there entered fine
tall, handsome looking gentleman, who'
by his dress and bearing, was evidently Il
clergyman. At least, l thought so at the
time, as would anybody eIse, for that
matter. His attire was OF the beat ma
terial and make, and scrupulollsly neat !;
and his neck band WAS as white as the
driven snow. Moreover, gold trimmed
spectacles and heavy seals depending
highly respectable appearance but stamp
ed him as wealthy withsl. That's to say
| thought SO. Well, up hs marched to
my counter with tolerably long strides,
removed his hat (of the first quality. and
placed it upon my counter (hs we'll ar
ranged silver hair became him immense
ly), and gave me good morning. and
smile which was incaculably pleasing
and GOOD to see. This man is Christ
ian; goodness and gentleness beam or
every feature, l mentally told myself
I put-on my very best manner and polite
asked him his pleasure.
81 have been recommended TO you
sir, (hs mentioned firm with which
dealt largely in the way OF bar silver. =
am given to understand he continued
that you have n varied and very valuable
selection Of ladies' diamond ornaments.
81 signiied that such was really th'
case.
"We,l, he proceeded, I am some
what anx ous, sir, to see md examine
some Of your possessions. The fact is
my dsughter-my only daughter, sir,
pure, sweet tempered child-is on tn
eve Of marriage, and / naturally, yo'
would saw, am desirous of giving her
substantial wedding present. Very good
Mind l want nothing gaudy nor
pardon me Mr.. Filby-nor do l cesln
any artfully contrived specimen of tn