Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-06-11
Mrs. Stoughton's Diamond.

Greta had seen her household gods fall
before she was able to put pride in her
pocket, where there was plenty of room, and
turn her hand 10 the only work she under
stood. It 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 employment now, some money in the
bank, and 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 knicknackery perhaps, the
wedding gown and bride-cake. She had
been working for Mrs. Stoughton for sew
eral 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 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 mis-
take. Greta shrewdly suspected that the
drawer was as empty as a drum, but made
no demur. She would oblige a neighbor,
and never remember it,
The following day she was engaged at DR..
Cardamon's, when she heard Fred rush in
from school, and shout:
al say, ma, s supper ready Give me a
hunk Of gingerbread, anyhow. Where's
Greta Loring? want to ask her if she's
stole Miss Stoughton's diamond out of her
ring Jack Stoughton says his mothers
going to haul Greta over the Goals. don't
believe word of it, and want to ask her"
Hush, Fred, hush, said Mrs. Cardamon.
What do you mean? Don't ask Greta
any such silly question"
"Well, don't want Jack Stoughton say
ing things, and I'll just thrash him for it."
Diamonds" !" laughed Greta to herself.
"Who would suspect Mrs. Stoughton of
one ?" Then she suddenly remembered
having picked ring off the floor of the
chamber where she was sewing at Mrs.
Stoughton's-a gold ring in which stone
of good size had no doubt once sparkled,
and she had dropped it on the mantel, and
thought no more about it. Was that cavity
going to bear false witness against her
What nonsense But that evening, when
she returned to her lodgings she found a
note awaiting her, which read " If Miss
Loring can give Mrs. Stoughton any infor-
nation about the diamond missing from a
ring left in the chamber where Miss Loring
was at work, it will be gratefully received,
and no notifying disclosures made"
Poor Greta slept little that night. How
could any one suspect her of such dreadful
thing? Where could the diamond have
gone How could she defend herself ex-
cept by her word Ought she not to have
been above suspicion, like C@sar's wife ?
angry moment she returned this misiudped
renlv. mMrs. Stougbton is at liberty To
mats wbatever moItifvino disclosures she
NAV choose Init She must excuse Miss Lor.
;ng from, render;pg account of a diamond
Of whose existence she was ignorant" This
naturallv exasnerated Mrs Stouohton. who
battered herself that she had transacted the
affair With Great delicacv and decornm She
had exnecte1 IN bring Miss Jorino To her
feet With contrite Tears and confessions.
and here was absolute defiance Did such
a bussv deserve cons;darat;on AT her hands
And K Mrs Stouobton was more or less
afraid m sav her soul was her own before
that imnecnnious other half of herself. how
much more was she afraid to saw that her
d;auo,J uos M longar hers Accord;ngIv
che made haste m mt the matter info fhe
hands of the law and the months of the
Uampton gossips. Doubtless Greta would
have been LODGED in iail at this time had
not Mr.. Grafton secretly espoused her cause.
while he undertook the case Mrs. Stoughton
had intrusted to him. Mr.. Grafton was a
wealthy bachelor. somewhat gray, and a good
deal haId he had smiled unon Greta more
,i,a,, - ,,,;.ho,,. .aoa;,;,,t, o,,,, ars,,ar;,,o
V'''i' o"ee' t,t . 'nJ - - o.'a. e.,.,s
smile perhaps ne thouShI NOW tnao every,
Ia inn NJ fA i'm n a m
that this was his onportunity His house
| Ioonar hod onoa anCtac,ad Crata 10 ,raks
slps,, - - So, p7aeo ond La hsJ 80
carpets d. piaioon iaoe, anu ne ,'u 'aA9
| pains to show her over the house and grounds
and had nearly snatched q kiss in the
| shadow of the lindens. as he mt her int
III; o,..;.o o., ,o,J har boma Crat, bof
h'o o"iii"So " 9onu nei hoe' 10. 10
| never worked there again pul perhaps sh'
| was too grateful at finding friend at hel
| side in such stormy weather to refuse
| favor from Mr. Grafton and nerhans sh,
had forgotten his audaclty. Yet IN th'
must Vi nei nuni,''a,ions uieIa q, /.
WIN hearttprop tnat sue nau 10, ioyer ~ u
come 10 her rescue II she ciose 70 eau III, mn
-that sue shouiu ho. pe uePenuel. uPo'
Mr. "rai'oh 'enuer lieieies as'ei o'epne.
1o'nerhe nau oeel ho'fI fnit s;i;nsd al ne s.,", =.
az 'he s",iio 'iiio, SUI lei. ..,, ST.. NJ y
| :. ---:lI
over for now couiu !. pe Possipie iol al
innocent person 10 suuer ! Dul ure1a wa
not NIUE sIunheu one iioinins on ieoe..
ing ietter III the hahuwri.ins Vi her 'ru
ioVe' which ran III tlis WISE
"My Dear Gretd: II is some time since ha'
te pleasure oi n9ihs ~ iron, y1u; anu as nv oo
,saaSaninn ny our " bold mon each other. to wonde
how long YOU would continue to loves man whom
you saw only once or twice a year, since it seem
to me that owing 70 the bad tlIes @ our narrias
as inuehn'ey PUstonea w. ot ,sis a. 'ne m s,aud in vnn
lisht; II Won were not engaged to me, some NOR
eligible partner would seek you, feel certain
Moreover my health is precarious and the doctor
nave advised me 70 sfy s,e ar oi oaIrorn" asm
Sn nIs, isaye vnn beHind me bnt coHid my
in honor, carry your promise with me for a
indefinite space Of time for my own selfish sat
faction merely, At the same time believe me,
= no easy t1s IN iOp word lhe 10 say "u'eu W III
''' Sincerely STEPHEN sornEpSE."
To saw that Greta was SURPRISED woul
ho tba same az II we shonld call an eartl
0uaLe ~nnpIs,sant" She was tbnnde
dI strncI ovarwbeImed with inst enong
sn;rit ,aft to return Mr. Sotberne's lette,
and nrasents Inv the next mail without
ur word + >'''0 y w
lie has heard all about the damon,
and he,;sves IL" sbe Thought. II wonld !
a comfortable arraneement if one conl
cease TO love the instant lover proves nj