The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-11-16

shares in the Little Catawba Lumber Com
pany and to make as much in three month!
as he would in a year by his clerkship
Mabel would not listen to the suggestion
that the bank would advance enough OF
the diamonds to enable him to make tn,
investment.
Then Leander discovered that his wifi
could be very obstinate woman. 1t wa
in vain that he laid before her the benefi
that would result from transient dis
posal of the gems. She replied, not with
out logic on her side, that the Littl,
Catawba might be a failure, and then hel
precious securities would be forfeited
Leandsr, man fashion grew angry, ant
after some hot words reached the penulti
mate of passion.
81 wish," he said in tones of invective
''that burglars would get the hateful
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.
"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 diamonds
in the same 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 cal
culations, but places just as inconsistent
did.
4 X
One night there was Il 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 remained where
she was, shivering with fear.
There was fearful commotion 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 COM
PEELED Mabel to hurry to his assistance
See found him lying on the floor, graspng
his revolver.
She did not faint nor shrek. but, kncel-
ing beside him, bathed his face and be-
sought him to speak to her.
'Where am 2" he asked fceby as he
tried to raise himself "Are the diamonds
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. 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 thr
whole story. The diamonds were gone,
root and branch! And they were the only
things stolen.
II 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 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.
81 WONDER" she said, that | did not
see III III tlldb llglIl DelOle. Will never
keep anything in my house again to tempt
the cupidity of the wicked or unfortunate.
To that extent am | my brother S
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 IA shock, for he
was almost i'll from the effects of his
tussle with the burglar. And he could
not endure to have the subject mentioned
before him. Not even the success of the
"Littlc Catawba,' in which a friend lad
invested for him, gave him the peace and
rest he craved
A little incident that happened at that
time did, however, help to restore him tc
his normal condition. His wife received q
small package, accompanied by a soiled
and dilapidated note which, upon being
opened, read:
HoNoRp MADEM--i gets no sleap sence
stoal yoar dimons: no yure lady an am
reich if Civ them up pra fur me.
an unnone friend.
And in the package Mabel found he,