Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-02-10

ed by my elder boy, Robert.
ooh, mama. see those beautiful po-
niesI"
I look out and see a phaeton, drawn
by a span of black ponies, and seated
at her ease, her lap dog beside her, I
recognize my cousin Lucinda Marston.
How circumstances have changed
She and her dog in my place; ! and my
children living life of privation! My
husband dying for the need of the mon
ey she lavishes on her horses and dogs
in a week.
[ cannot help reproachful feeling
toward my aunt, as [ reflect on her ca
PRECIOUS treatment of me. At sight of
that cruel face / live over again that
ast.dreadful interview when my cousin
gave me the jewels. Her words rang
in my ears once more, but with a new
meaning.
"Ormulu would give you fifty dollars
for Them" she had said.
Fifty dollarsw I exclaimed aloud.
Fifty dollars means rest, country air,
rowing, riding, life and health for Char
lie"
| opened the satin-lined box, and
looked ut the yellow baubles, that smil-
ed and twinkled in their soft bed, as if
they were glad they were going to be Of
some use at last.
ooh, you treasure" [ said, and kiss
ed them rapturously and with a thank
full heart
While l put on my hat and shawl, 1
had mentally made way with half my
legacy, for I had bought Charlie an en-
tire new suit, nice warm fannels and
all, and barely left him enough to pay
his board with in the country.
Carried away by the excitement of
the moment, [ scarcely knew what I
was doing till / found myself in the pa
latial store at Bank street, and heard a
gentlemanly voice say, in answer to my
question: "Will you please wait
moment, Miss?" while he spoke to an
elderly man, who in while came to me
and said:
Would you mind telling me, mad
am, how this set of jewelry came into
your possession?"
My heart sank. There seemed to
be something of a doubt as to whether
they had been honestly come by.
Certainly not, said I. They were
left to me by my aunt, Miss Eunice
MarsIon. You may perhaps remember
that she bought them here"
VIII you give me your name and
address, please p
| did so, and found that the younger
man knew my husband we'll, and also
remembered having seen me in the
store with my aunt.
"Do you know, madam, what these
Jewels are worth p
"About fifty dollars, l suppose" /
said.
He took one Of the earrings out of
the case, and giving a little twist and a
light pressure of the small gilt knob at
the lower side Of the ball, it opened in
to two parts; taking off the golden en-
velope, he held up to my astonished
eyes an immense solitaire diamond
that sparkl9d and blazed like star as
it trembled in his hand.
"The earrings alone are worth ten
thousand dollars, and with the brooch,
which opens too, you see, the set is
worth twenty-five thousand dollars"
The words had no meaning to me;
everything faded before my eyes-all
was darkness.
When / came to my senses, | was ly-
ing on a lounge, and a sweet-looking
lady sat by me bathing my head.
When [ was sufficiently recovered to
think of what had happened, and was
assured that it was not dream, [ had
another interview with the gentleman,
who, like the genii in an Arabian story,
had evoked such wonders from a sim
pie golden ball.
Upon my signifying my desire to sell
the Jewels, an agreement was made, and
went out of the store rich woman,
with Ormulu & Cos. check for twenty
thousand dollars in my pocket.
When reached home, Charlie stood
at the front door waiting for me, look
ing anxious, poor fellow, for no one
could tell where had gone, and it was
very unusual for me to be out when he
came home.
He must have thought I had gone
crazy, when, putting the check in his
hand, threw my arms round his neck
right there in the vestibule, and, cry
ing as if my heart would break, said:
"Oh, Charlie! Oh, Charlie!" Then,
when he had taken me into the house,
drew all my little ones into my arms,
crying: ooh, my darlings! my dar-
lings"
When my excitement had abated
somewhat, [ thought of the precious
paper.
|'Where is the check" [ said.
"CheckP ' said Charlie. E'Poor dar-
ling, trouble has turned your BRAIN"
But upon my insisting, very much
as one humOrs a sick child, he consent
ed to humor me, and pretended to look
for it.
"Here is something, papa" exclaim-
ed Amy, as she put in his hand a
crumpled bit of paper she had picked
up in the hall.
| can see that expression on his face.
[ do really believe my husband, for a
minute, thought I had, in my insanity,
been guilty Of forgery, perjury, high
way robbery, or some dreadful thing.
1t seems but yesterday, and yet five
happy years have gone since then, and
we have a house of our own, with a
coy library full of books for Charlie,
and large, sunny, lovely room for the
chlldren's nursery.
You wouldn't know Charlie, he is so
rugged and brown. He is now cashier
of the bank in which he began as er
rand boy.
We are not rich by any means, but
have everything we need and many
luxuries.
No matter: Charlie and my darling
children are happy, and [ wish Aunt
Eunice could look into my grateful
heart tO-DiUbt-a baart 90 filed with q