Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-10-12

diamonds To leander wife because he
hated that nephew little less than
the others, whom he hoped to make
horribly jealous and angry and-had
succeeded.
When Leander asked his wife to
keep her diamonds in the bank she
promptly declined.
But you surely will not wear them,
dear2' he suggested.
why not ?" she asked.
1T would injure our prospects, and
not be consistent with our position
They were a gift to me surely
have the right to do as please with
my own
"The right-ye>, but | thought my
wife had more discretion. did not
know you cared for gew-gaws, Mabel"
So the first cloud came upon the
horizon of their love, hut I.ean,!er was
good-tcmpered and Mabel satisfied and
il disappeared. The truth was that
Leander had expected a handsome
sum of money from this very uncle,
who was 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 malicious pleasure in disap-
pointing them.
The young couple began lite in a
pretty furnished cottage on the mod
ern plan Of chatting dish and hand
painted china. and it worked like Il
charm. Mabel presided over the
dainty cuisine, the buffers pantry,
the parlor, and really did wonders.
Leander fell in love with her over and
over again. But Tor the diamonds
they would haze been as happy as
larks.
Did they hear a sound at night-it
was burglar after those precious
gems. They were afraid TO leave the
house alone lest thieves break in and
steal, and one or the other of the two
was compelled to be the hiding place
of the jewels, when they went out to-
gether. Mabel did not care To adorn
herself with diamonds when she went
to market or to church, but she could
not listen to q sermon in peace il the
gems were not about her. And some
how it did annoy her TO carry CON
cealed wealth, like Il brigand or IA
smuggler.
But when Leander had chance To
buy shares in the Little Catawba"
Lumber company, and to make as
much in three months rs he would in
a year by his clerkship, Mabel would
not listen 10 the suggestion that the
bank would advance enough on the
diamonds to enable him to make the
investment
Then E.eander discovered that his
wife could I've very obstinate woman.
1t was in vain that he laid before her
the benefit that would result from a
transient disposal Of the gems. She
replied, not without logic on her side,
that the Little Catawba" might he
failure, and then her precious securi-
ties would be forfeited Ieandcr, man
fashion. grew angry, and after some
hot words reached the penultimate Of
passion.
Il wish" he said in tones of invec-
tive, that burglars would get the
hateful stones. They might at least
he o: some good to them
1t is said that curses, like chickens.
come home TO roost. After Leander
has asked forgiveness for his rudeness
and Mabel had sweetly extended the
olive branch of reconciliation, he sug-
gested that she be doubly careful of
her cherished possessions.
"The town is full of burglars, and
they krow the people who have fine
diamonds, and if they once set out to
get them they'll succeed"
Mabel did not sleep with the dia-
monds in the same room, woman-like,
she thought if she secreted them in
some place where they would never be
detected, they would be safe Neither
the ash-barrel nor the ragbag entered
into her calculations, but places just
as inconsistent did.