The record-union., 1891-04-05

Irlehu oI his ldtner, the rev. Stepnen
Woodrough, a minister near London.
"But he stipulates that | should be
known here as Stephens" said Wood
rough, land. therefore, l have lost my
good name in more senses than one"
1t was grim humor. But L believed in
the young fellow, especially when I re-
membered that the Featherstone diamond
was worth at least .el0,000.
''If he had that diamond he would not
be toiling at Millchester," / reflected.
Poor Woodrough."
So there We're several reasons why did
not care to tell Bowman and Sweepstone
about what they called my champion
paper knife.
Rumford Featherstone was very &C.
centric man. It was said that the only
way III which he could be managed was
to take no notice of him-rather a pecul-
lar kind of management, | must confess.
Brayshaw, my pupil, acted on that prin-
ciple, and the experiment appeared to be
successful.
'Uncle NEEDLES with everything and
everybody, but he would be surprised if
you attended to any of his suggestions. L
never do" Remarks like that were often
made by the lad in jovial manner
Weakness and pain had not made him
petUlant, but he was ready to joke about
his own iniirmities.
There are worse things in this world
than weak constitution" he said, ''if it
is not too weak. l have been spoiled, and
I like it.''
Fun must have been very difficult in
the presence of Rumford Featherstone,
who was a grim-looking man of sixty
five. lie had a face which looked in
capable Of smiling, and l never knew
him to try the experiment. His nephew
was constantly making absurd remarks,
but none Of them appeared TO affect the
uncle, who glared under his heavy brow
at the venturesome youngster who was
| bold enough even TO make puns in that
forbidding presence.
Rumford Featherstone professed to
trust nobody. His opinions about human
nature were as unfavOrable as possible,
but in practice he was the most unSuSpi-
cious Of men, and he might have been
robbed with impunity. He locked up
scarcely anything. He denounced the
worthleSSneSS OF humanity and the dis
honesty OF society, while he left valuable
articles about as il he had perfect conf
dence in his fellow-men.
lie was known to have q splendid col
lection Of gems, and some OF them were
of great value. The aeatherstone dia-
mond especially was one of the famous
stones which have been honored with
distinctive names, and it was known far
and wide.
''if you want to be remembered as long
as the world standS,n he said to me when
first he showed me his treasures, you
must procure stone like this and call it
after yourself. This will be the Feather
stone diamond when all the monuments
which have been reared in this genera
ton are c2rted away for rubbish and
when all the books which have been
written during this century are forgot
ten"
''It may have half dozen different
names before the end Of time" exclaimed
Brayshaw. I'm the year 49, 001 it may be
called the Ching Chow diamond, if the
Chinese rule the roast, as they are ex-
pected 20 do. Rule the roast pig Charles
Lamb would have said"
Featherstone looked angry, and as
nobody cared to laugh at Brayshaw' S
remark, he laughed himself, repeating:
''It viii be the Ching Chow diamond,
formerly the Pah Pah diamond of New
Zealand. There is time for many changes
before the year ten thousand and one"
The Featherstoue diamond was famous
for its perfect color and matchless Iuster.
1t had been cut to the best advantage and
weighed thirty-fve carats. If there had
been nothing extraordinary in its appear
ance it would have been worth 9l0,000
but with precious stones value is enhanced
by fame, and it was impossible TO say
what stone like that might have fetched
in the open market.
Some people said it was the only thing
in the world which it's owner really
loved
'He is little more than Indifferent to
his sister," was a remark often made,
land he does not positively hate that
nephew OF his, but he loves nothing but
his diamond
In the library massive safe stood,
having the most recent improvements,
.l,.l. Ill =
the precious stones were kept.
Woodrough was called the private sec
retary, but his duties had more connec-
ton with the jewels Of his employer than
with books and papers. He had key to
the safe and he generally set the time lock
at night.
I liked Woodrough. and so did my
pupil. He was quiet fellow, fond Of
reading and attached to his employer.
''Mr. Featherstone is not difficult to
please" he said to ne in confidence. "All
you have to do is to find out what he is
likely TO want and then act as if he had
told you. Very likely he will complain,
but that does not matter. He is magnaui-
nous enough not to expect me to say
am wrong when I Know / am right. /
have to watch that safe continually, and
when l am going out | generally set the
time lock; then nobody can open it. He
has stormed q few times about my doing
so, when he has wanted something later
than usual, but say nothing and do the
same thing again. | have known him to
leave the safe open, with half the gems on
the library table. 1t is not fair TO the
servants. l remember the first time
discovered things in that condition / told
him i should not consider myself re-
sponsible for the safe keeping of his
treasures if some reasonable precautions
were not taken TO protect them."
tEIiOw did bn lilr a tbafS,i 7 oSI-a1
well, he made himself rather often
siVe," was the reply.
l looked at Woodrough, and / suppose
he understood me to signify that I was
surprised to find him still there.
''Uh, ] did not eat much mud, can tell
you,'' he answered. II said / considered
that our engagement was at an end, and
| would go and put my things together.
That surprised him. He apologized
handsomely, however, and so the dispute
ended. The only danger of rupture be-
tween us since has arisen when he has
told me not to set the time lock on the
safe because he intended TO open il late at
night. he always promises to set it him
SELF but as often as not he forgets it. i
have come down into the library at or
O'Clock in the morning and found that he
had simply locked it''
What does it matter?i' / asked.
1T matters just this,' he said. "If
Jul i"iS DioMC lhto tne ndIl Iney would be
sure 10 get his keys or NINE for it would
be an organized gang which would do it:
then they could open the safe and take
everything. We are known to have
chronometer locks, and that is our chief
safeguard. Let it be discovered, how
ever, that we do not use them regularly,
and the cracksmen will think It worth
their while to pay us visit.'
The Featherstone diamond and several
of the richest gems were generally kept
in small case, of which Woodrough had
no key.
Il cannot show them in Mr.. Feather
stones absence" he said, land am very