Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-04-05
COUSIN CAROLINE,S DIAMONDS.

My aunt, Mrs. Musgrove, is very
remarkable woman. Tall, with spark
ling black eyes, and thick bandeaux of
jet-black hair, she might easily be taken
for fifty, instead of sixty-fve.
After the marriage of her daughters,
and the establishment in life of her
sons, she sold her house in New York
and took up her permanent residence
at Ravenswood, her handsome country
seat on the Hudson. Here she dwelt
in a sort of stately seclusion, receiving
constant visits from one or the other
of her married children.
These family reunions usually took
place at Christmas. But, one year, it
CHANGED that Thanksgiving was select
ed, because one of my younger cousins
was going abroad. 1t was very bril-
liant affair, and all the famous Mus
grove silver was sent up from the bank
at New York for the occasion. The
guests, however, only remained for a
day. All had left, either by the mid
night train for New York, on the same
evening, or by the earliest one on the
following morning. BY noon the next
day my aunt and l were left alone.
Our first business was to count and
pack the silver, which was always sent
back to the bank in New York. My
aunt used to say that nothing would
induce her to keep it in her house. Of
her own servants she felt perfectly sure.
She had four in all her cook, Bridget
O'Donnel, an elderly Irishwoman, who
had lived with her for years; her
housemaids, Sarah and Susan, who
were sisters and, finally, an all-ac-
complished Swiss man-servant, called
Victor Ducange, who was literally and
truly a perfect treasure. There was
nothing in the world Victor could not,
would not do. He took charge Of the
two carriage horses; drove my aunt
out; waited at table; and could, in
an emergency, even make the beds or
get up a dinner. He was always at
hand, always noiseless, and never in
the way.
81 got him quite by chance, too, my
DEAR" my aunt said. "He came to
New York with the Carringtons when
they returned from their last trip to
Europe. Such recommendations as l
had with him! George Darlington
could scarcely say enough in his favor"
Old Bridget, however, heartily dis
liked him. "That murtherin' thafe Of
Frinchman," she used to call the in
valuable Swiss.
The day after the Thanksgiving din.
ner my aunt came to my room, where
was resting, after the packing of the
silver.
"Only think, Lizzie" she said, "hert
has Bridget gone and fallen i'll to-day
of all the days in the year, when, al
you know, Sarah and Susan have both
gone down to New York to be present
at their sisters wedding.
Bridget i'll? Why, what can be thu
matter?"
Goodness knows. She was as vel
as possible this morning; but just nov
she came to me and said that she had
such 'whirling in her head, and such
a 'trimlin' in her legs, that she JUS
had to go up to her room and liz
down."
Just then Victor's discreet tap wal
heard at the door; and on being bid
en- to come in he entered, civil ant
obsequious as usual.
"If madame will permit me-" hi
said, II will take charge of all thing
for day or two. The maids will b,
back tomorrow evening; and as fol
mistress Bridget, she will be all right
in day or two. IF madame will tel
me what she would like for dinner
shall get it ready for her."