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-
hans. the wedding gown and bride
cake. She had been working for Mrs
Stouchton for 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 obliged
to rip and match figures and insert
matches 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 ~Crawez with him by mistake.
Greta shrewdly suspected that the
drawer was as empty as drum, but
made no demur. She would oblige a
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:
"I say, ma, 8 supper readyp Give
me a hunk of gingerbread, anyhow.
Where's Greta Loringp 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 want to ask her"
s.Hush, Fred, hushl" said Mrs.
Stoughton. "What do you meanp Don't
ask Greta any such silly question"
"Well, / 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 onep" Then she suddenly re-
membered having picked a 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 II 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 to
her lodaings, she found note awaiting
her. which read: "If Miss Loring can
give Mrs. .Stoughton any information
about the diamond missing from a ring
left in the chamber where Miss Loring
was at work, It will be gratefully re-
ceived, and no Notifying disclosures
made"
Poor Gre,eslept little that night. How
could any one suspect her Of such q
dreadful thingP Where could the dla-
mond have gomez How could she de.
fend herself except by her word? Ought
she not. to have been above suspicion
like Casar's wifep What had she done
Go deserve it? In an angry moment she
.returned this misjudged reply: Mrs
StoughtOn is st liberty to make what
ever mortifying disclosures she may
choose, but she must excuse Miss Lorinl
from rendering account of diamond o
whose existence she was ignorant.
This naturally eXasperated Mrs. Slough
ton, who hattered herself that she haG
transacted the affair with great delicacy
and decorum. She had expected to brinl
Miss Loring to her feet, with contrit'
tears and confessions, and here wa
absolute defiance! Did such a hussy de
serve consideration at her handsP AnC
if Mrs. Stoughton was more or less atraiI
to say her soul was her own before tina
impecunious other half of herself, how
much more was she afraid TO say that he
diamond was no longer hers Accord
ingly she made haste TO put the matte
into the hands of the law and the mouth
Of the Hal pton gossips Doubtless Gret