Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-08-15
associated with the dear old man who

aSSOclatcd with the dear OLD man VINO
gave them?"
The dear old man had been a terror
in the family, and had only given the
diamonds to Leander's wife because he
hated that nephew a 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 prompt
~ declined.
but you surely will not wear them.
dear?" he suggested
why not?" she asked.
st would injure our prospects, and
not be consistent with our position
''They were a gift to me; surely
have the right to do as 1 please with
my own"
The right-yes, 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, but Leander
was good-tempered. and Mabel salts
fed and it disappeared. The truth
was that Leander had expected hand
some sum of money from this very
uncle, who was bachelor and very
old. Bnt age had not mellowed an
ugly disposition to thwart his rela-
tives, and after raising the young
mans hopes he took a malicious pleas
ure in disappointi them.
The young couple began life in a
pretty furnished cottage on the mod
ern plan of a chatting dish and hand
painted china, and it worked like a
charm. Mabel presided over the
dainty cuisine, the buffers pantry, the
parlor. and really did wonders. Lean
der fell in love with her over and over
again. But for the diamonds they
would have been as happy as larks.
Did they hear a sound at night-it
was a 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 a sermon in peace if the
gems were not about her. And some
how it did annoy her to carry coz
cealed wealth, like Lrigand or a
smuggler.
But when Leander had a chance to
buy shares in the Little Catawba"
Lumber company, and to make as
much in three months as he would in
year by his clerkship, Mabel would
not listen to the suggestion that the
bank would advance enough on the
diamonds to enable 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 disposal of the gems. She
replied, not without logic on her side,
that the Little Catawba'' might be a
failure, and then her precious securi-
ties would be forfeited. Leander, man
fashion, grew angry. and after some
hot words reached the penultimate of
passion.
II wish.' he said in tones of invec-
tive, that burglars would get the
hateful stones. They might at least
be of some good to them"
It 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 suggested
that she be doubly careful of her cher
ished possessions.
''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
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.
One night there was a crash in the
room below. Mabel shook her sleep
ing 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-
manned where she was, shivering with
fear. There was a fearful connection
below, the noise of falling furniture,
opening and closing of windows, and
the rapid firing of the revolver, after
some flying robber. Then regard for
her husbands life compelled Mabel
to hurry to his assistance. She found
him lying on the floor grasping his re-
volver. q
She did not faint nor shrek, but
kneeIiuo beside him bathad his face