The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-15
a DREADFUL CASE,

"Gems!" he exclaimed, the expression
of his countenance changing from that
of the reflective sage, I was going to
say, to one that was almost miserly.
"Ah, now you talk of something T un-
derstand. They are not Watching us,
are they?" he broke off, looking nervous
ly in the direction Of the house.
"No, no." said I, with subdued ex-
citement, wondering what was to hap
pen next.
He deliberately unbuttoned his long
ulster coat, shivered in the cold winter
mir as he did 80, then he began to fun
ble at belt which he wore. Several
diamonds of great value, as judged, in
moment more sparkled before my as
tonished eyes. He had apparently drawn
them from little leather pocket, curl
ously concealed beneath this belt.
"Ah! those are gems, if you like, sir, :"
he exclaimed, with M exulting chuckle.
which brought to my mind the impress
sion created at our first interview, that
lie was not quite right in his head.
'"They are splendid" I said, "but
why do you carry them about with you:
Suppose any one, dishonesty inclined,
were to learn that M elderly man had
property of such value upon him? The
thought of it makes me tremble, sir."
IT am not in the habit of exhibiting
then,fGt&, 1syhich it has taken my life
time to ar1isss. T dare not. But trust
you, sir
AS man of business I thought there
WAS here another proof of mental weak
ness, in the fact that he should confde
in one of whose antecedents he knew
nothing, and of whose honesty he had no
further proof than love of nature might
suggest.
But CHANGED at this moment tc look
up at the first floor window of our neigh
bor's house: and there, watching with n
strange and, as I thought, scornful
smile, stood the tall, shallow man of
whom both my wife's and my own im-
preston was so distinctly unfavorable.
T mentioned to tho old man to put
away his jewels, for the German servant
was approaching again; most likely sent
by her master.
My strange acquaintance did not ap-
pear in the garden any more.
have an innate horror of eavesdrop-
ping, and, as I have repeatedly said to
my dear wife, whose feminine curiosity
tempts her to attach far too little atten-
ton to this evil. "Conversation not in
tended for her ears ought to be regarded
with the same feelings as n letter not
written for her perusal She would feel
deeply insulted did any one suggest that
she would be capable OF reading another
persons letter simply because the seal
happened to be broken, and could there
fore do 80 without tho fear Of detection"
But women, alas! are never logical; and
she will not see, or, perhaps cannot, that
her conduct is no less culpable when she
greedily listens to the private convcrsa-
tion of others, just because accident or
carelcssness on their part has placed her
within earshot.
Well, few days after that we sat in
our cheerful, cosy front parlor; we were
sitting, I say, in our cosy parlor; my
wife, with her knitting in her hands, on
an ottoman, which was drawn close into
recess by the Fireplace; I, III my good
old arm chair,by the table in the middle
of the room, and reading the last num-
ber of the Gardeners Magazine. The
entrance of Ann with our customary
"night cap" of weak toddy and thin
bread and butter, interrupted my study
of an articleOn "Trenohing, "and caused
mo to look mp at my wife.
"Eavesdropping!' I was about to ex-
claim, when my speech was arrested by
observing the strange look Of horror on
Pollys face. She had dropped her knit
ting, and sat with hands clasped across
her breast, and head pressed closely
against the wall.
my dear girl, whatever is tho matter
with you?" said.
"Ohl it is DREADFUL" she whispered,
holding up her fingers to check me.
"Pray come and hear what they are
saying"
Exalted though my principles were
about listening, 7 could not resist the
impulse of the moment, but hastily roso
from my scat and placed my ear against
the wall likewise. Ann Lightbody, too,
forgetting our relative positions, drop