The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-05-07
INTERESTING STORY.
A BOX OF DIAMONDS.

n QUA VI DIAIMUNLjD, Il
When Elfrida Garnis married William
Warlock she brought him her fortune in
box of diamonds. Her father, very rich
old man and a widower, had done most
eccentric thing. After his daughters en-
gagement he had bought himself life an
nuity, allowing himself ample means for
every possible expense and luxury q single
man could have, and had put the rest of lis
fortune into splendid diamonds, each with
a history diamonds known to fame in the
jewellers worll. These he gave to his
daughter as a present on her marriage day.
Whenever you want large sum of
money you can sell one of them, my dear"
he said Meanwhile, your fortune is in
portable form, and you win be able to show
it when you like. Robbers won't steal those
diamonds; they could do nothing with
them. They ore too large--too splendid J.
They would be known at once, and you can
keep them in the safe in your house as we'll
as not.n ans
Elfrida did this. In n year the sold two
of the jewels because she desired to hive
money of her own but as her husband was
prosperous she sold no more. Years passed;
the little family were rich without the dia-
monds; but the wife began to feel glad that
her fortune was in such form, for her hus-
band dipped deeply into speculation Old
Mr. Garnis died, and the first grief fell
upon the happy little circle. He was terri
bly, missed by all, and was in every way a
loss to the household. It was long before
they wore the semblan.e of gayety again;
long before the diamonds were worn once
more. Before this day came another had
been sold, but still the value of the gems
was immense.
Il was for a wedding that Mrs. Warlock
6rst put them on again. She wore black,
but it was black velvet, and exhibited the
gems to great advantage. They glowed in
her black hair and lay on her white arms
and throat like drops of dew on cream roses.
There We're even buckles for her slippers.
The day had been an exciting one. In
looking over her possessions, Mrs. Warlock
had discovered that dress of hers had been
worn by her maid to several balls. Il was
pale blue, trimmed with costly lace. The
maid, a French woman, had admitted the
fact, but had pleaded in defence that she
thought madame would never wear it again.
" 1t is now almost ont OF fashion, and, be-
sides, it is not soiled in the least. II have
not injured it," she said and my waist is
smaller than madame's"
Do you suppose would ever again
o,,
Mrs. Warlock.
At this Estelle had flushed in deep Of
tense.
9 am rs clean as madame she had an
swered and l have lived with ladies' who
gave me handsome thingsn
Mrs. Warlock had replied that the CIR,
might go when her month was up, and had
been very, very angry.
When Mrs. Warlock returned from the
wedding she replaced the Jewels in the case.
Before she had set the box in the safe cry
of fire arose. It came from the nursery.
The mother, with her splendid dress half
off, flew up the stairs. The father was there
already. Servants followed, strangers ran
in, fremen were summoned. 1t was only
curtain that had caught fire, a wall that
was burnt. No one was hurt, but It was
nearly dawn before the confusion was over,
and Mrs. Warlock returned to her bedroom.
She undressed in haste, and though after
she was safe in her warm bed she asked her
self if she had really locked up the lia-
monds, she was too weary to rise and see
about it.
In the morning there was a scene. The
safe door stood open, and the diamonds
We're gone.
The servants, who had none of them left
the house, came in body desiring to be
searched. The French maid, Estelle, was
particularly anxious. The detectives had
strong suspicious of her honesty They
hired person who had been searcher in
the custom house TO do the work thorough
~. Mademoiselle's dresses, shoes, corsets,
were almost ripped to pieces. Her shoes
were examined, her hair, even her teeth, her
trunks, and her band-box were thoroughly
investigated the boards In her room were
taken up, the walls tapped.
When she departed from the house, she
was followed and Swallowed " for months,
but nothing was discovered.
Mr.. Warlock could not help reproachinQ
his wife for her negligence. She felt that
she was the greatest sufferer When at last
the turn in the tide came that led not on
to fortune" but away from it; when the |
man who had felt that he held sort OF |
charmed life amongst the spectators began
to lose-lost again grew bewildered; grew
panic-stricken then the harmony of the
household was broken.
:" Your box of diamonds would have saved |
me" said the husband. /" Yon must haye
been mad to forget a fortune. But youl
father was out of his mind to leave ii in
such form that woman could lose it."
'.Had my fortune been in money, you
would have gambled it away long ago." the
wife retorted. My father was WISE He |
knew you very we'll" F
And Love, though he did not exactly I" fly
out Of the window perched upon the sill,
ready to fly, = avw p9lr
The downward course of events contin-
ued. Property was sold valuables dispos-
ed of. Finally they knew that the house
must gothe home of their early married |
days. Out of the bitterness of their hearts
they exchanged denominations, until. when
there were actually men in the house taking
an inventory Of its furniture, they had their
first furious quarrel. Each reproached the
other cruelty, bitterly, coarsely. M
All, if my poor father had but known
what you were." cried the wife, looking
upward to the spot where hung upon the
wall portrait of her parent, in massive,
FURNISHED head.
g Next to you, that old idiot was the cause
of all ~ cried the man. :" I'll cut the pic
ture into fragments !"
Selling carving knife, he jumped upon
table and Mrs. Warlock, rushing acros,
The room, seized him by the leg. The table
shook, toppled, and was overturned. In
voluntarily the man caught at the picture