The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-02-19
the LOST DIAMONDS

0ne of the jolliest fellows on the
tolersbly long list Of my acauaintan
ces is Charles Fllby; and though the
wrong side of sixty as to age, be yet
is as genial aud lively as many young
men l wot of-liveIier, in p9iat oi
fact. | was seated with bin after
dinner a few evenings since, enjoying
the fragrant weed in perhaps as love
ly lite retreat as the eye could
posably wish to behold namely
a Devobshire garden aud no.ing my
friends brow, during luil in cur
pleasant chat, become suddenly
clouded, | offered him the meagre
sun Of penny for bis Thoughts.
"You shall have them free gratis,
for nothing, my boy" was the re
joinder. well, then, | was thinking
If my lost diamonds, aud moreover
what a capital present the like would
make for your Darling Flossy' on
Der wedding morn. Wouldn't hef
bright eyes sparkle. eh +?
Between you aud me. Percy, (and
This is in strict conhdence) she may
Il say she may have s1cn present.
in spite Of any long ago misfortune
| think that thing by 40 means i'm
possible But | won't say who the
donor will be. o, dear, NO Not by
any means"
You're a good ftllsw, Filby. Age
hasn't robbed you Of warmth u hearl
AID kind feelings. But what ab5ut
these lost diamonds You were think
ing Off I'm all impaIienee TO learn
the details, especially ss seeing our
acquaintance has been Of long stand
ing aud he first time I've heard you
ever mention the matter"
For the best Of all reasons, Per
ey-s man doesn't care TO be laugh
ed at for greenhorn. The fact is,
40 E0glisbman likes to be oatdoue !;
and when be is, prefers keeping his
grievances TO himself rather than be
laughed at as fiat" or get thai
kind of milk aid water sympathy
which is as disgusting as il is insin-
cere. However, I'll uabosom my
self for once and if you do elect to
call me block, caa't telp it,
You remember the time of the
Crimean war CT course you do,
though. Wen, at the lime | held a
solerAoly long lease Of my old shop
in Barbicaa. And BsTblcan, as you
know, used to be, whatever ii is now,
not The least important street in
London town. cid not, il is true,
keep much of q show Ia :he windog ";
but my customers knew that had
rare aud valuable stock 10 drawers
inside, and that was enough alike for
me and them.
We'll, my lad, as have before
said, it was the lime Of the Crimesn
var. IL was about, as Bear as l can
remember eleven O'Clock in the morn
ing OF bitterly cold day in De-
cember-s Tuesday-when either
the slush or the piercing bitter cold,
or the Ieaden omiaous SKY that loom.
ed overhead aud threatening q sEow
storm, Kept the people who had mon
ey by their 6reside orin bed indeed,
q few people OF any kind were
abroad, ana all things outside were
as grlesome aad dissipatIng as they
well could be. | had drawn near
my coun,inghouse FIRE. and was look
ing into the glowing Goals, my
thoughts Yery far away from Barhi-
can, Z C. My imagination wander
ed 70 the sest Of war, where such
terrible priystiOn aud olood-freeziGg
cold aud acute suffering-rendered
all the more SO by shocking misman-
agement - encompassed cur poor,
brave fellows found about and jasi
as desp sigh came from ny bps.
my chop door opened sud tAete en-
tered 8 6ne, tail, haadsome-looking
gentleman, who. by his dress sae
hesEiDg, wss esiaeltlY clergy man
Al least thought at the tIme, Sc
would sny body else, for thss matter
Als attire WAS Of tie best material
aud make, aad scrupuioasly neat;
ano his neckbsnd was as - bite a.
driven snow. Moreover, gold-rim
med spectseles and heavy seals de-
pendiI g from his watch-fop gave bim
not oBis highly respectable appear
snce, bat stamped him as wealthy
sithsl. TaAl's to Say, | thought
SO.
rWeli. up be marched TO my ccun-
ter With tosershly long strides. re
moved bis bat (of first quality and
PLACED it on my counter tbis well-ar-
ranged and silver hair became him
immensely and gave me Good
aad a suiie which was 10,
pleasant aad good 10 see.
This man is q Christian; goodness
and geatleness beam on every feat
ure, as mentally tod myself. |
put on my very best manner. aud
politely ask hin bis pleasure.
II have been recommended to you,
sir,p mentioning frm With whom l
dealt largely in the way Of bar sil:
yer. Il am giyen TO understand, =
be contInued, that Jou have s va
ried and very valuable selection Of
ladies' diamond ornapentsp
Isssured him that srch was really
the case.
"WeIl,r be proceeded. Il an some-
whst anxious. sir. 10 see and exam
iHe sone in your possession The
fact is, my daughter = my only