The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-06-04
MRS. sIOUGHTON's DIAMOND,

MRS. sIOUGHTON'S I, DIAMOND TAI M,OQl'[lEl..
Greta had seen her household goods
fall about her before she was able e put
pride into, her pocket, where there pre- was
plenty OF room, and turn her hand1to the
only work she understood TWAS some
FIVE wears since she had begunito go out
by the day, to! make and mend, carpets,
old and new, for the housekeepers at
Hampton. She had plenty of employ
ment now, some moneyain tue bank, and
a lover. She looked forward to the
time, not so far of, when, she, should be-
gin upon her own carpets when the
money in the bank would be- drawn out
to buy the parlor set and thel household
linen, picturessan nick knac kerry perhaps,
the wedding gown and obride-cake. She
sometimes diverted herself with these
thoughts, while sewing up the tedious
seams Of Mrs. Cashmere's Brussels or
matching the faded figures into Parson
Needy's three-ply, which had been
patched and darned and turned more
times than she had fingers and toes. 1t
used to amuse her sometimes to observe
that the draring-room carpets finally
graduated in the attic, going through the
preparatory course in sitting-roQm, din
ing-room, nursery, and parlorl chamber.
She had been working for Mrs. Slough
ton for several days, when her troubles
began, and had gone home, quite tired
out with the conflict over that ladys
chamber carpet, which had seen its best
days. She had been obliged to rip and
match figures and insert patches to de-
ceive the very elect, and at the end Mrs.
| Stoueton had told her she would settle
the bill when she heard from her husband,
who had gone away on business, and
taken the key of the money drawer with
him by mistake. , Greta shrewdly sus-
pected the drawer was as empty as a
drum, but made no demur. u She would
oblige a neighbor, and never remember
| it. -r tsu Fa.: go ':fHj .tn4atsl:a.t
The following day she was engaged at
DR.. Cardamon's, when she heard Fred
rush in from school, and shout:ai 7>&a.&'
II say, mas supper ready? Give me a
hunk Of gingerbread, anyhow. Where's
Greta Loring2 want to ask her If she's
stole Miss Stoughton's diamond out OF
her ring! Jack Stoughton says his moth
er's going to haul Greta over the Goals
don't believe one word of it, and I want
to ask her u a. @ts"t.=i2 hi5a .''
} ''Hush, Fred; hush!'' said Mrs. Carda
mon. What do you mean? Don't ash
Greta any such silly question" 4s" ~
"Well, I don't want Jack Stoughtol
saying Things, and I'll just thrash him TO
it," &c. l3r,'''"'''j = '7'''''.' '3''''-~' ''''
:: "Diamonds!' laughed Greta to herself
l ':Who would suspect Mrs. Stoughton 9
r ,one?" Then, she suddenly remembers
T having picked a ring off the floor Of tn
chamber where she was sewing at Mrs
Stoughton's- gold ring in which q ston
f of good size had no doubt once spanked
4 and she had dropped it on the mamie
S and thought no more about it., Was thu
h cavity going to bear false witness again:
her? What nonsense! But that evenin!
X when she returned to her lodgings, st
- found note awaiting her, which reac
i eff Miss Loring can give. Mrs. Stoughtc
q any information about the diamond mis-
ing from ring left in the chamb
where Miss Loring was at work, it will
J. gratefully received, and no mortifyir
IS disclosures made. .... All. III ..,..-.s...
/ Poor Greta slept little that night. Ho
T. could any one suspect her Of such drea
full thing? Where could the diamond ha
n gone? How could she defend herself e:
IN cept by her word? Ought she not to ha
lie been above suspicion, like Caesars wit
What had she done todeserve it? In ang
m moment she returned this misjudg
5e reply: "Mrs. Stoughton is at liberty
l -h0$n turn So0I
hit she may choose, but she must excu
r.. Miss Loring from rendering acsou
be of diamond Of whose existence she v
NJ Ignorant This naturally exasperat
,rt Mrs. Stoughton, who dattered herself Il
A. she had transacted the affair with gre
. delicacy and decorum. She had expect
to bring Miss Loring, to her feet, wi
NJ contrite tears and confessions, and ht
cl- was absolute defiance! Did such hus
p deserve consideration at her hands? A
en- if Mrs. Stoughton was more or less airs
ae to say her soul was her own before Il
ne impecunious other half of herself, h
OK much was she afraid to say that her d
ys mond was no longer hers! According
she made haste to put the matter into
ma hands of the law and the mouths of |
sol Hampton gossips. Doubtless Greta wo,
les, have been lodged in Jail at, this time /
lily not Mr.. Grafton secretly espoused
ten cause, while he undertook the case n
DOR Stoughton had intrusted to him.
art, Grafton was a wealthy bachelor, sol
, what gray, and a good deal bald; he
/ on smiled on Greta more than once, with
- receiving any answering smile perhaps
s3is thought now that every thing arrives
' "a him who can afford TO- wait--that
I'D was his opportunity. His house kee
nv had once engaged Greta to make, carl
10y ;aty at Grafton Place, and he had taken pr
10y to show her over the house and grour
and had nearly ,snatched a kiss in
4 l shadow of the lindens, as he put her
nte- his carriage to- send her home. =. CT
ate had never worked there again; but,
use. haps she was too grateful at fndir
Z OF friend at her side in such stormy weat
an to refuse favor from Mr.. Grafton,
ess- perhaps she had forgotten his audae
arly Yet in the midst Of her humiliations
sed. ia remembered with a ,heart-throb
tor she had lover to come to her rescue