Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-02-09
exercise, such as little rowing or rid

and our little onesl think bitterly on
the unequal distribution of the good
things of this world; so few have all
and so many have nothing at all; but
when say so, Charlie laughs and says
I'm little communist, a dangerous
character, and should be suppressed.
As usual, while am sitting sewing
| am devising a thousand impracti.
cable schemes, when my revery is in.
terrupted by my elder boy, Robert.
"Oh, mammal see those beautiful
poniesp
look out and see phaeton drawn
by span of black ponies, and, seated
at her ease, her lap,dog beside her, l
recognize my cousin, Lucinda Marston,
How circumstances have changed,
She and her dog in my place. l and
my children living a life of privatiOn.
My husband dying for the need of the
money she ldvished on horses and dogs
in week.
cannot help a reproachful feeling
toward my aunt as reflect on her
capricious treatment of me. At sight
of that cruel face l live over again
that last 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 $50 for
them," she had said.
Fifty dollarsw | exclaimed aloud.
"Fifty dollars means rest, country air,
rowing, riding, life, and health for
Charlie"
opened the satin-lined box and
looked at the yellow baubles, that
smiled and twinkled in their soft bed,
as if they were glad they were going to
be of some use at last.
"Oh, you treasure" l said, and
kissed them rapturOusly and with a
thankful heart.
While lput on my hat and shawl |
had mentally made away with half my
legacy, for | had bought Charlie a new
suit, nice, warm nlnnels 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 l was doing till
| found myself in the palatial store at
Bank street, and heard a gentlemanly
voice say, in answer to my question:
"Will you please wait moment,
MADAME"
He spoke to an elderly man, who in
while came to me and said:
"Would you mind telling me, madam,
how this set OF jewelry came into your
pOssessOn?'
My heart sank. There seemed to be
something of a doubt as to whether
they had been honestly come by.
"Certainly not said | "They were
left to me by my aunt Miss Eurice
MarstOn. You may perhaps remember
that she bought them here"
"Nill you please give me your name
and address,"
did so, and found that the younger
man knew my husband well, and also
remember having seen me in the store
with my aunt.
"Do you know, madam, what these
jewels are wOrth?'
"About $50, | suppose" | said.
He took ore of the earrings out of
the case, and giving little twist and
a light pressure of the small gilt knob
at the lower side of the ball, it opened
into two parts; taking off the golden
envelope, he held up to my astonished
eyes an immense solitaire diamond that
sparkled and blazed like a star as il
tremble1 in his hand.
The earrings alone are worth 10000
and with the brooch, which opens, too
you see, the set is worth $4,000.
The words had no meaning to me;
everything faded before my eyes-all
was darkness. When | came to my
senses was lying on lounge, and a
sweet-loOking lady sat by me bathing
my head. When was sufficiently re-
covered to think of what had hap.
pened, and was assured that it was not
a dream, | had another interview with
the gentleman, who, like the genii in
an Arabian story, had evoked such
wonders from simple golden ball.
Upon my signifying my desire tC
sell the jewels, an agreement was
made, and l went out of the store 8
rich woman, with Ormulu s. Co.'S
check for $4,000 in my pocket,
When l reached home, Charlie stood
at the front door waiting for me, look
ing anxious, poor fellow, for no ont
could tell where | had gone, and it was
very unusual for me to be out wher
he came home. He must have thought
| had gone crazy, when, putting thu
check in his hand, | threw my arms
round his neck right there in the vesti
bule, and, crying as if my heart woulC
J break, said,-
"0h Charlie! Oh, Charlie" TheI
when he had taken me into the house
drew all my little ones into my arms
crying, "Oh, my darlingsl my darlingsl
When my excitement had abateC
somewhat, l thought of the precious
paper.
"Where is the checkp' l said.
"Checkr said Charlie. "POor dar
| ling, trouble has turned your BRAIN"
} But upon my insisting, very mucl
I as one humors a sick child, he consent
ed to hulor me, and pretended to lool
Cor it.
: Here is something, papa," exclaimed
, Amy, as sheput in his hand acrumplet
bit Of paper she had picked up in th
: hall.
can see that expression on his face
| do really believe my husband, for
| minute, thought l had, in my insanity
been guilty of forgery, burglary, high
2 wayrobbery, or some dreadful thing.
1t seems but yesterday, and yet fiv
happy years have gone since then, an,
) we have a house of our own, with
, cozy library full of books for Charlie
3 and large sunny, lovely room for tn
children's nusery.
You wouldn't know Charlie, he is s.
; rugged and brown. He is now cashie
} of the bank in which he began as al
errand boy. We are not rich by an
5 means, but have everything we nee
|, and many luxuries.