Sharp County record., 1879-06-26

yOu--I never COutd make up my nllnu
10 write it; but she was at work here
Greta Loring y-the-way, l haven't
paid her yet-and-and my diamond
ring was in the same room, and-it's
there vet, only the diamonds gone.
Nobody else had been in the house.
What could l think? OF course she
stolei it, though she brazens it out as she
does.n
Mr.. Stoughton turned ash-color, laid
down his fork, and stared at his wife.
.sAnd you accused her of stealing the
diamOnd?h
81 wrote to her very kindly and con-
siderateIy. She replied in high and
mighty tone, which was simply insult
ing. put the case into Mr.. Grafton's
hands"
"Into Gratton's hands! Well, and
what did he say about it?"
"Say! Why, he's going to marry
herr"
"Looks as if you'd win your case,"
laughed Mr.. Stoughton, uneasily.
"And so Greta is going to marry the
old fox. A pretty kettle of fish, My
dear, 1 really wish you had notified me
of your loss"
He took up his hat and went out
grimly. He had q very disagreeable
duty to perform, and he wanted it over
with; it had spoiled his dinner, and
that was enough. He knocked at Gre
ta's door.
"The diamond again." she thought.
"After all, )" he cogitated, "why not
let well enough enough alone? Perhaps
she loves the fellow"
Greta bore herself like one with good
news; a tender color trembled on her
cheek, sort of suppressed joy shone in
her eyes. An open letter lay before her,
and Mr.. Grafton sat in her easy-chair
Mrs. StoUghtOn, watching from her
window, wondered what under the sun
Herbert could have to say that would
take SO long, and hoped he was giving
Greta a piece Of his mind, but grew all
the more beVildered when he and Mr..
Grafton came out together and separated
without word.
Il guess her cake is dough" " she con-
iectured.
When Grata was left once more alone,
she turned to her open letter, written in
a strange hand:
/ Whet does this mean, my dearest Greta?
| sometimes think Pm not quite sane yet,
and it's all fiction Of my disturbed brain.
Here | was, just picking up from fever, in
a strange city, when received all my old let
] +hoo,~
not word Of explanation. 1t was like
| bomb shell. | was out Of my head for
month afterward, and small wonder. Greta,
/ love you-lOye you; so much love was
| never meant to be wasted. The hospital
nurse kindly writes this for me, since | can
/ only swear that | am still, and ever W ill be,
your devoted lover,
STEPHEN SOTHERNE.
Mr.. Stoughton looked very sober
when he sat down to his tea table that
night.
"I'm dying to know what Miss Greta
| had to say for herself" remarked his
wife.
The stronger vessel smiled. "Your
tea, my dear, resembles the church If
Laodicea-it is neither hot nor cold"
"It waited for you long enough to
cool. wonder you didn't see that you
were de trop at Miss Loring's."
81 think maybe Grafton found me
de trop. In the mean time, my love,
am happy to restore your diamond"
and he passed a tiny box across the
table.
"Then she has confessed?" sparkled
Mrs. Stoughton.
You jump at conclusions. Women
are fond of such gymnastic exercises, l
hear. No; the confession comes from
your humble servant. am the culprit,
Mrs. Stoughton. It was who, wanting
some ready money for business purpos-
es, abstracted the diamond from your
ring, and pawned it to Mr.. Grafton
He advanced a considerable sum upon
it, and | never meant you should know
till had redeemed it-perhaps not then.
After all, perfect confidence is the only
safe thing between you and me, | find. |
Now we must go and beg Greta's par
DON"
"And Mr.. Grafton"
"The blue satin parlor is mistake,
as well as the boudoir; he will remain a
bachelor.n
"How-how does he explain him
self?"
"All's fair in love and war, even
forgery, is his creed"
"Then Greta will return to her car
pets?"
"Not if Stephen Sotherne can help
it. "-Harper'S Bayar.
Bread Soup: Take large coffee
cup of stale bread crumbs s-rolled as
finely as possible-and having readyiu
a skillet 4 tablespoonfuls of boiling