The Red Cloud chief., 1879-06-26
MRS. STOUGHION'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. II
was some five years since she had be-
gun to 90 out by the day to make and
mend carpets, old and new, for the
housekeepers of Hampton. She had
plenty of employment now, some
ey in the bank, and a lover. She look
ed forward to the time, not so far of,
when she should begin upon her own
carpets, when the money in the bank
would be drawn out 10 buy the parlor
set and the household linen, pictures
and knickknackery, perhaps the we'd
d~ing-gown and bride-cake. She some
times diverted herself with these
thoughts while sewing up the tedious
seams of Mrs Cashmere's Brussels, or
matching the faded figures in Parson
Needy's three-ply, which had been
patched and darned and turned more
used to amuse her sometimes to observe
that the drawing-room carpets finally
graduated in the attic, going through
the preparatory course in sitting room,
dining-room, nursery and parlor-cham-
Der. She had been working for Mrs.
Stoughton tor several days, when her
troubles began, and had gone home,
quite tired out with the conflict Over
that lady's chamber carpet, which had
seen its best days. She had been oblig.
ed to rip and match figures and insert
patches TO deceive the very elect, and
al the end Mrs. Stoughton had told hel
she would settle the bill when SHE
heard from her husband, who had gone
away on business and taken the kew OF
the money-drawer with him by mistake
Greta shrewdly suspected that the
drawer was as empty as a drum, bu
made no demur. she would oblige 8
neighbor, and never remember it.
The following day she was engaged
at DR.. Cardamon's, when she hear(
Fred rush in from school, and shout:
81 say ma, IS supper ready? Civ
me a hunk of gingerbread, anyhow
Where's G-eta LoiiugP want to asl
her if she's stole Miss Stoughton's dia
mond ont of her ring! Jack Stoughtol
says his mothers going TO haul Gret,
over the Goals. / don't believe a wor,
of it, and l want to ask her"
Hush, Fred, hush" said Mrs
Cardamon. "What do you mean
Don't ask Greta any such silly ques
ton"
swell, / don't want Jack StoughtoI
saying things, and III just thrash hir
for IT."
"Diamonds!" laughed Greta to her
self. "Nho would suspect Mrs. Slough
ton Of one?" Then she suddenly n
membered having picked 8 ring off tn
floor of the chamber where she wa
sewing at Mrs. Stoughton's-a gol
ring in which a stone of good size ha
no doubt once s~parkled, and she ha
dropped it on the mantel, and though
no more about it. Was that cavity gc
ing to bear false witness against her
What nonsense! But that evening
when she returned to her lodgings, ST
found a note awaiting her, which read
"lf Miss Loring can give Mrs. Stougl
ton any information about the damon
missing from a ring left in the chambt
where Miss Loring was at work, it wi
be gratefully received, and no mortif,
ing disclosures made"
Poor Greta slept little that nigh
How could any one suspect her of sue
a dreadful thing? Where could Il
diamond have gone? How could 81
defend herself except BY her wort
Ought she not to have been above So
piciOn. like C9sar's wife? What hs
she done to deserve ftp In an angl
moment she returned this misjudged 7
ply: MRS Stoughton is at liberty
make whatever Notifying disclosur
she may choose, but she must excu
Miss Loring from rendering account
q diamond of whose existence she "
ignorant" This naturally exasperat
Mrs. Stoughton, who faitered hers,
that she had transacted the affair wi
CREST dslicacy and decorum. She b
expected to bring Miss Loring to b
fDoE ui a nontrito toSrs and oonfoss;os