River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-06-05
MRS. sTOUGHTONs DIAMOND.


MRS. STOUGHTON'S DIAMOND
Greta had seen her household goods
fall about her before she was able TO pat
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 90 out
by the day to make and mend carpets,
old and new, for the housekeepers OF
Hampton. She hal plenty of employ
ment nov, some money in the bank, and
lover She looked forward to the
time, not SO far off. when She should he
gin upon her own carpets, when the
money in the bank would be drawn out
To buy til parlor set and the household
linen, pictures and nickknackcTy perhaps,
the wedding gown aud briac-cake. She
sometimes diverted herself with these
thoughts, Vhilc sewing up the tedious
seams ot Mrs. Cashmerc's Brussels, or
matching tbe faded figures in parson
Ncedv's three ply, which had been
patched and daTncd and turned more
times than she had fingers and toes. 1t
that the drao ing room carpets finally
graduated in the attic, going through the
preparatory course in sitting-room, din
ing nursery, and parlor chamber.
She had been working Tor Mrs. Slough
ton for several days, when her troubles
began, and hal gone home. quite tired
out with the conflict over that l8dy's
chamber carpet, which had seen its best
DAYS. She had been obliged to rip and
match figures and insert patches to de
CcIve the very elect, and al the end Mrs.
Stougten had told her she would settle
she bill when She heard from her husband.
who had gone away on business, and
taken the key Of the money drawer with
him hy mistaSG Greta shreWdly sus
peCted the drawer was as empty as a
drum, but made no dcmur. She would
obligc 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:
Il say, mas supper ready: Give me a
hunk of gingerbread, anyhow. Where 5
Greta Loring? l want to ask her if she 5
stole Miss Stoughton's diamond out Of
her ring, Jack Stoughton says his moth
cr's going TO haul Greta over the COS Is
don't believe one word OF it, and Aant
10 ask her"
Hush. Fred hush" said Mrs. Carda
mon. What do you mean. Don't ask
Greta any such silly question.
Well | don't want Jack Stoughton
saying Things, and I'll just thrash him fol
it."
diamonds laughed Greta 10 herself
who would suspect Mrs Stoughton 81
one" Then she suddenly remembered
having picked ring off the floor of the
chamber where she was sewing at Mrs
Stoughtons-a gold ring in which stou,
of good size had no doubt once sparkied
and she had dropped 1t on the mantel
and thought no more about ii. Was thai
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. Stoughtor
any information about the diamond miss
ing from a ring left in the chamber
where Miss Loring was at work, it will be
gratefully received. and no mortifyin1
disclosures made"
Poor Greta slept little that night How
could any one suspect her of such dread
tul thing Where could the diamond hay,
gone How could She defend herself cx-
Ccpt by her word Ought she not to hay,
been above suspicion, like Caesars wife
What had she done tOdcserve it. In anar,
moment shc returned this misjudgel
reply: Mrs. Stoughton is ut liberty L
make whichever notifying disclosure,
She may choose. but she must excu~,
Miss Loring from rendering accoun
of diamond of whose existence She wa
ignorant" This naturally exasperatc,
Mrs Stoughton. who tiattered herself tina
she had transacted the affair with grr,,
tieiicacv and deeorun, She had eXpecte,
to bring Miss Loriug to her feet, viii
contrite tears and confessions. and her
vas absolute defiance, Did such huss,
deserve consideration at her hands Ant
If Mrs. Stoughton was more or less atraiC
to say her soul was her OVID before tina
impecun;ous other half of herself hov
much was she afraid to say that her dia
mond was no longer hers. AccoTdingl,
she made haste to put the matter into TN
hands of the law and the mouths of tn
Hampton gosSips Doubtless Grcta wuul,
have been lodged in Jail at this time ha,
not Mr. Grafton secretly espoused he
cause, while he undertook the case Mr.
Stoughton had intrusted to him. vi
Grafton was wealthy bachelor some
what gray, and a good deal bald; he la,
smiled on Greja more than once, withou
receiving any answering smile perhaps h
thought now that every thing arrives t.
him who can afford to wait-that thi
was his opportunity His house keepe
had once engaged Greta to make carpet
at Grafton Place. and he had taken pain
% show her over the house and grounds
and had nearly Snatched a kiss in tn
shadow Of the lindens, as he put her int
his carriage to SEMI her home. Gret
had Gever worked there again, but pei
haps she was too grateful at finding
friend al her side in such stormy weatht
to refuse a favor from Mr. Grafton, an
perhaps she haG forgotten his audacit,
Yet in the midst of her humiliations Gre
"a remember with a heaIt-throb tha
she had a lover to come 20 her rescue
she chose TO call him-that she shout
not be dependent upon Mr. Grafton's ter
der mereles after stephen SOtherne ha
been notified Of her strait. Al the sam
time. she felt dlsinclmed u break tn
bad news TO him till after all was owe
For how could II be possible for an inn,
cent person 10 suffer. But Greta WAS n,
a little stunned one morning on receivin
a letter in the handwriting of her "tru
lowe. )" which ran in this wise
My DEAR GRETA,-It Is some Tin