The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-08-03

alone lest thieves break Ill and steal,
and one Or the other of the two was
compelled to be the hiding place of the
jewels when they went out together.
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 somehow it did annoy
her to carry concealed wealth like a
brigand Or a smuggler.
But when Leander had a chance to
buy shares in the Little Catawba Lum-
'~,c company and to make as much III
three months us he would in a year Ly
his clerkship Mabel would not listen to
the suggestion that the bank would adj
valce enough on the diamonds to enable
him to rake the investment.
Then Leauder discovered that his wife
could be = very obstinate woman It
was IL vain that he laid before her the
benefit that would result from a tran
slent disposal OF TIE gems. She replied,
not without logic Oh her side, that the
Little Catawba might be a failure, and
then her precious securities 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, thar burglars would get the hate
ful stones. They might at least be Of
some use 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 Cancellation he suggested that
she be doubly careful Of her cherished
possessions.
1.-The town is full of burglars, and
they know the people who have fine dia-
monds. and if they once set out to get
them they'll succeed"
Mabel did not sleep with the dia-
monds in the anne room. Womanlike,
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 q crash in the
room below. Mabel shook her sleeping
husband and whispered in his ear:
Burglars! Get your revolver and 90
down stairs. 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 commotion be-
low, the noise Of falling furniture, open
ing and closing Of windows and the
rapid firing Of the revolver after some
flying robber. Then regard for her hus-
bands 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 I:' he asked feebly as ,
he tried to raise himself. care the dia-
monds safe?'
Never mind the diamonds, said his
wife. Are you mortally wounded any
where?"
II don't know answered -Leander
feebly, and, to her credit be it recorded.
Mrs. n assisted her husband to q
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.
II Leander had been surprised at the
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
De taken to recover the thief O thieves
to justice, but when no results followed
she said she was glad of it; 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 I did
not see 1t i'll that light before. I will
never keep anything in my house again
to tempt the cupidity of the wicked or
unfortunate. To that extent am I NV
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 b.
was almost i'll from the effects Of his
tussle with the burglar. And he could
endure to have the subject men,
toned 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.
A little incident that happened at