The Portland daily press., 1885-08-28

her sister, who has voice-such a voice =
for church singer, when she will have
salary that will be wealth to them, and give
some lessons beside. And she was wrapped
up In her And took an interest In them
myself, and gave her silk dress to make
over, and got new cloak that real
ly didn't need, so as to give her my old
one land | saw she had the good taste to take
off some of the trimming), and lots of my old
music. And out Of her own wages Mildred
mas to hire room and piano ana pay Tor
herlessons; somebody gives her her board TIL
she can pay the debt, and it takes every cent
Mildred earns; and you see it Is quite natu-
raj that she should look about her to find
where she can turn penny
AN honest penny" said Mr.. Torrance.
"A girl who is doing that for another Is not
one that would be likely to turn any other
sort of penny"
How you do love to interrupt me, Dir
Torraneei 1t really seems as if you couldn't
bear the sound of my voice. was going on
to say, before yon took the words out OF my
mouth, that recently this sister of hers has
been advised to take lessons of another mas
ter, who asks all creation, but Is really worth
1t. And he says he can make her voice a
fortune to her. And they have been dread
fully cast down because they couldn't do it.
And now you see where the diamond comes
in. If she can get for that stone anything
near its value, her sister Mabel can take her
lessons. And her voice is delicious-just
perfectly delicious!' exclaimed Mrs. Tor
bred had her come here and sing to me- And
can't describe it to you never heard a
lark or nightingale, but a bobolink isn't
whistle to to it. A flute, trumpet-Well it
was sweet and satisfying and penetrating as
the door OF some Hover, and yet soft as the
velvet side of the petal of the flower. Angels
would sing so, maybe, if there are any. And
| was Just carried away. l forgot all about
her sisters being my maid | cried and |
laughed, and felt as if | had found her
And will cnlnnnn1u toll Arch
dear and she bent across the pretty china
service, transtiXing him with her radiant
eyes-"l locked at my ring, and | turned it
and turned it, and | said to myself | have
had the good of it ever since Grandfather De
Peyser gave it to me, and everybody knew l
had it, and my position was pretty well es-
tablished, diamond rings or not and when
you were able to afford a real grown up but
Ter, you would probably get me plenty; and
if sold it now, and gave this poor dear girl
the money to secure career, what blessing
it would be to her, and what Joy | would be
giving to the world in her. too for of course
she wouldn't be confined to a church choir
IN that case, and II she were, in what heay-
emily fashion could those tones of hers swim
out over prayerful audience, and Just take
the prayer on their silvery strength, and lead
it III, up; and anybody who is the means of
producing more of them. and so brings down
the price of prima dome in the market, is
a public benefactor, to be sure, anyway; and
l was just on the point of saying that would
speak to you, and if you approved, as knew
you would, could have thousand dollars
or Whereabouts for them to-day, when Mrs.
Veasey happened in, and So as | didn't want
Mrs. Veasey to know anything about it. and
be taking the wind all out of my sails, just
told Mabel to come again to-day and would
have something further to say to her! And
breath with renewed yigor. 81 shall have to
tell her that her sister has been arrested for
thief. and that she may go sing to her in
prison"
but robbery is a very harsh term, Janet
darling, when carelessness may be the whole
"There it is again My careIessness, not
their dishonesty. When went to the wash
stand | turned the RUG on my, finger again,
and there was the stone gone
"And how many times have | told you
that the careless habit of washing your hands
in your rings wears off infniteSimal fractions
of the gold till the stones are loosened in
the setting, and drop out without your
being aware of it?'
You are always so wise after the act!
How do you know | wasn't going to take my
rings off You are so ready to find me at
fault! But thought at first the stone must
have washed out"
$50 it seems you did wash your hands
with the ring on?" said the turning worm
Eyes, did. There! And | sent for the
plumber Immediately, for / knew if it
had washed out, it must have caught in the
wasn't there. And he said if he made real
job OF it, and went down to the main some
thing, he might find it there; but [ thought
that would cost more than the diamond it
self"
''Wise woman groaned Mr. Torrance.
And SO, you see, didn't accuse Mildred
in the first place. [ searched, and took every
precaution. didn't think of such thing
till saw her stand there turning more col
ors that the lady in the LOBSTER,
''H on don't saw that Won really have az
cused her?"
well, what if l have? l must lose my
diamond that my dear grandfather gave me
when [ was married and that | treasured
little hussy's feelings will be hurt! My feel
ings are of no consequence at all. 1t isn't to
be reckoned to my account that was ready |
to give her the diamond@and | love dia- |
monds / don't think there's anything so
beautiful in the whole world
But, Janet, you are always so positive"
How can you say so? What am / ever |
positive about? You wouldn't have me dis
trust the evidence of my senses2 And if | |
ever saw guilt on any face"
There is nothing more fallible than the
evidence of your senses
Il beg your pardon. | can see as far, and
can hear as quickly, and taste as keenly as
any one alive. And for you to begin to run
down my eyes now-perhaps they're not so
bright as they have been-but | never
thought-to hear you INVITING me OF grow
ing old-in this way, all of sudden" trying
hard to swallow her sobs)-.becagse you're
For Heavens sake, Janet, think what
you're sayingl
Il do think what am saying she cried
then, in fury. And | say, whatever the
evidence of my senses may be, L have every
evidence that you care nothing at all for my |
feelings, and can see me robbed without lift
ing your voice. and-and-oh, a husband |
ought to love his Wife, and protect her, and
take her part. And here Mrs Janet rose
hurriedly and pushed over her chair and |
was running from the room.
But Mr.. Torrance was not to be outdone by
any such Sleight of foot, and had caught her |
in his arms before she reached the door.
And do you think, he exclaimed, that |
don't love you, you abominable little mass Of
contradictions? Do you suppose that won't |
protect you with my life itself? Do you fan
cy for moment that won't take your part
when you decide what your part is?"
Let me go! Let me CO. STRIP she ex--
my handkerchief S' And she he's struggled i for
her handkerchief, that the kisses her husband
gave her might not be too salt, and pulling it
from her pocket, something in a great are
and stream of lqstre whirled out with the vi,
through the air like nothing so much as a
flying rainbow, and fell at her feet.
1t was the lost diamond.
Mrs. Torrance stopped in the midst Of her
TEARS, DluShlng, dlsheVeled, diamond dropped
herself, as pretty sight as a rose bush in
shower, and held back her skirts with both
hands while she looked at the great shining
eye there before her on the carpet ''The
horrid thing!'' she said. THE horrid, I'M
winking, accusing thing! 1t is calling Inc
all sorts of names. [ shall never want to see
it again. Only think if | had denounced
that poor girl! I'm so glad never breathed
of it to her. / remember l had on this very
gown when Mrs. Veasey was in. How stu
pid of me! Now, I'll take this down to
diamond brokers' to-day, and Mildred's Ma
bel shall have her thousand dollars worth of
lessons. l dare say she'll sing at our parties
by-and-by. She'll be our particular prima
donna. And by that time | shall have inn
proved Mildred into a companion. Oh, |
should think you would despise such a ridic-