The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-06-04
Mrs. Stoughton's Diamond

Greta had seen her household gods
fall about her before she was able to put
pride into her pocket, where there was
plenty of room, and turn her hand TO the
only work she understood. 1t was some
five years since she had begun to go out
by the day to make and mend carpets,
old and new, for the housekeepers OF
Hampton. She had plenty of employ
ment now, some money in the bank, and
a lover. She looked forward to the
time, not so far off, when she should
begin upon her own carpets, when the
money in the bank would be drawn out
to buy the parlor set and the household
linen, pictures and knickknackery per
haps, the wedding gown and BRIDE
cake. She had been working for Mrs.
Stourbton for several days, When her
troubles began, and had gone home,
quite tired out with the conflict over
Ghat lady's chamber carpet, which had
seen its best DAYS. She had been obliged
to rip and match figures and insert
patches to deceive the very elect, and at
the end Mrs. Stoughton 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 suspected that the
drawer was as empty as drum, but
made no demur. She would oblige Il
neighbor, and never remember it.
The following day she was engaged at
DIR. Cardamon's, when she heard Fred
rush in from school, and shout:
Il say, ma, s supper readyP Give
me a hunk of gingerbread, anyhow.
Where's Greta Loringp l want to ask
her if she's stole Miss Stoughton's dia-
mond out of her ring! Jack Stoughton
SAYS his mothers going to haul Greta over
the Goals. / don't believe word of it,
and l want to ask her"
"Hush, Fred, hush" said Mrs.
Stoughton. "What do you meanp Don't
ask Greta any such silly question"
"Well, L don't want Jack StOughton
saying things, and I'll just thrash him
Diamonds !" laughed Greta to her
self. "Who would suspect Mrs. Slough
ton of onePn Then she suddenly re-
membered having picked ring off the
floor of the chamber where she was sew
ing at Mrs. Stoughton's-a gold ring in
which a stone of good size had no doubt
once sparkled, and she had dropped Vt on
the mantel, and thought no more about
it. Was that cavity going to bear false
witness against herP What nonsense
But that evening, when she returned tC
her lodings, she found note awaiting
her, which read: "If Miss Loring car
give Mrs. Stoughton any Information
about the diamond missing from ring
left in the chamber where Miss Lorinl
was at work, it will be gratefully re
ceived, and no morhfying disclosures
made"
Poor Gresa slept little that night. How
could any One suspect her of such
dreadful thingP Where could the dia
mond have gomez How could she de
fend herself except by her wOrdP Ough
she not to have been aboye suspicion
like Caesars wifep What had she don
to deserve itp In an angry moment sh
returned this misjudged reply; mrs
Stoughton is at liberty to make what
ever mortifying disclosures she ma,
choose, but she must excuse Miss Lorinl
from rendering account of diamond Q
whose existence she was Ignorant.
This naturally exasperated Mrs. Slough
ton, who hattered herself that she ha
transacted the affair with great delicac
and decorum. She had expected to brin
Miss Loring to her feet, with contrit
tears and confessions, and here wa
absolute defiance! Did such hussy dc
serve consideration at her handsP An
if Mrs. Stoughton was more or less atral
to say her soul was her own before tha
. impecunious other half of herself, ho'
much more was she afraid to say that he
diamond was no longer hersl AccorC
ingly she made haste TO put the matte
into the hands of the law and the mouth
of the Hampton gossips. Doubtless Gret