The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-11-22

| associated WITH the uear o.,- ...-n wn~
gave them?"
The dear old man had been terror
In the family and had only given the
diamonds to Lenders wife because he
hated that nephew little less than the
others, whom he hoped to make hor-
ribly jealous and angry and-had sue
ceeded.
When Leander asked his wife to keep
her diamonds in the bank she promptly
declined.
"But you surely will not wear them,
dear?" he suggested.
"Why not?" she asked.
at would injure our prospects and
not be consistent with our position"
"They are a gift to me. Surely have
the right to do as 1 please with my
own"
1.-THE right-yes, but 1 thought my
wife had more discretion. did not
know you cared for gew-gaws, Mabel"
| So the first cloud came on the horizon
of their love, but Leander was good
| tempered and Mabel satisfied, and 1t
disappeared. The truth was that Le-
ander had expected handsome sum Of
money from this very uncle, who was
a bachelor and very old. But age had
not mellowed an ugly disposition to
thwart his relatives, and after raising
the young mans hopes he took a ma
licious pleasure in disappointing them.
The young couple began life in
pretty furnished cottage on the modern
plan of a chafing-dish and hand-paint-
ed china, anG it worked like charm
When Lsander had a chance to buy
shares in the Little Catawba" Lum.
Der company and to make as much In
three months SIS he would in year by
his clerkship Mabel would not listen TIC
the suggestion that the bank would ad
vance enough on the diamonds to en-.
able him to make the investment.
Then Leander discovered that his
wife could be a very obstinate woman.
1t was in vain that he laid before her
the benefit that would result from a
transient disposition of the gems.
II WISH" he said in tones Of INJECT
i've, that burglars would get the hate
full stones. They might at least be of
some good to them!'
1t is said that curses. like chickens,
come home to roost. After Leander had
asked forgiveness for his rudeness and
Mabel had sweetly extended the olive
branch Of reconciliation he suggested
that she be doubly careful of her cher-
ished possessions.
1.-THE town is full of burglars and
they know the people who have fine
diamonds, and If they once set out to
get them they'll succeed" 49,
Mabel did not sleep with the dia-
monds in the same room. Womanlilxe,
she thought If she secreted them in
some place where they would never be
detected they would be safe.
One night there was a crash in the
room below. Mabel shook her sleeping
husband and whispered in his ear:
Burglars! Get your revolver and go
downstairs. The diamonds are in the
bottom Of the clock"
Leander was startled and confused,
but as the noise continued he hurried
on his clothes, and, taking his revolver,
ran softly down the stairs Mabel re-
fear. There was fearful commotion
manned where she was, shivering with
below, the noise Of falling furniture,
opening and closing Of windows, and
the rapid firing Of the revolver after
some flying roober. Then regard for
her husbands life compelled Mabel to
hurry to his assistance. She found him
lying on the floor grasping his revolver.
She did not faint nor shrek, but,
kneeling beside him, bathed his face
and besought him to speak to her.
where am II" he asked feebly as
he tried to raise himself. Are the dia-
monds safe?'
Never mind the diamonds said his
wife; "are you MORALLY wounded any
where?'
81 don't know" answered Leander
feebly, and to her credit be 1t recorded,
Mrs. Leander assisted her husband to a
couch and sent off, or rather, called,
for assistance before she even thought
Of her diamonds.
Then the open door of the clock told
the whole story-the diamonds were
gone root and branch! And they were
the only things stolen.
If Leander had been surprised at the
manner of his wife on receiving the
jewels he was astonished at the calm
Indifference with which she parted from
them. She allowed the usual course to
be taken to recover the thief, or thieves,
to justice, but when no results followed
she said she was glad of 1t; that the
gems had been like an evil eye to them,
and for her part she never wanted to
hear of them again.
II wonder" she said, that did not
see II in that light before. 1 will never
keep anything in my house again to
tempt the cupidity Of the wicked or UNI
fortunate. To that extent am 1 my
brothers keeper"
But the effect upon her husband was
entirely different. Either he caught
cold on that night of the burglary or
his nervous system received a shock,
for he was almost iii from the effect Of
his tussle with the burglar. And he
could not endure to have the subject
mentioned before him. Not even the
success of the Little Catawba," in
which a friend had invested for him,
gave him the peace and rest he craved.