The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-11

highway TO future wealth. IL all arose
from the fact that he took time "y the
forelock.
But it's this very thing that is causing
him such a lot of mental anguish now.
Mabel Thorpe laid no claims to social
distinction when Leander met her first at
some entertainment, where she rendered
selections of classic music In sucn a
materly manner than he, Icing lover OF
music, was instantly attracted To her
side, and stayed there during the even
ing
For the"fest she wore glasses, being
nearsighted, and having graduated from
an eastern college, was rather stiff and
pedantic In her manner-a grateful change
form the ordinary frisky creatures with
whom Leander had been assoc slated.
Now Mabel Thorpe did not expect her
hero 10 swim the Hellespont of life with
all his armor on, but she did demand from
him nigh moral standard, for she had
not married him until she had seen, as
she believed. his who.e past life laid
open before her as book.
Mabel Thorpe believed in an inflexible
uprightness. The command TO do evil
that good may come was TO her a porvert-
ed text.
Leander Clarke had been a good son,
and he intended to be a good husband.
tie was both proud and fond of his wife,
but certainly regretted that he could not
give her all the luxuries that she could
y
her musical talent deserved.
Among the wedding presents OF the
young couple was one that far outshone
all the rest-a superb set of diamonds
sent by an uncle OF Leander's who was
near TO deatbS and gave the residue OF q
large estate in. his extrsvagant present.
Leander himself was genuinely sorry that
such an undesirable gift had been made.
What was his surprise when his bride
sale
.r ..a- -. -. ~,...s A.. .....,.x. ~
monds represent to me the crystalizatio..
of everything beautiful in art and nature.
l never dreamed that i should possess
such magni1cence"
When Leander asked his wits to keep
her diamonds In the bank, she promptly
declined.
"But you surely will not wear them,
dear?" he suggested.
"Why ot?" she asked.
"It would injure our prospects, and not
be consistent with our position"
"Tbey were gift to me; surely have
the right TO do as please with my own."
1.-The right--yes; but i thought my
wife had more discretion. l did not know
you cared for gew-gsws, Mabel.
So the first cloud came on the horizon
of their love, but Lesnder was good tenn
percd and Mabel satisfied, aud it disap.
peared.
The young couple began life I'm prett,
furnished cottage on the modern plan
a chatting dish and hand-painteG china
and IT worked like charm. Leapder 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
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 together.
But when Leander had a chance to buy
shares in the Little Cataw ba'' lumb Der
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 hark would advance
enough on the dian . d. to enable him
TO make the investt Mt
Then Leapder disco, Led that his wife
could be very obstinate woman. She re-
piled, not without logic on her side, that
the "Little CatawDa" might be failure,
and then her precious securities would be
forfeited. Leander, man fashion, grew
angry, and after some hot words, reached
the penultimate OF passion.
81 wish." he said, IN tones of invec-
tive, "that buJgars would get the hate
full stones. They might at least be of
some use TO them."
IL is said that curses, like chickens,
come home to roost.
One night there was a crash in the
room below, Mabel shook her sleeping
husabnd and whispered IN his ear,
"Burglara, Get your revolver and go
down stairs. The diamonds are in the
bottom of the clock.
Leander, taking his revolver, ran softly
down the stairs.
There was a fearful commotion below,
the noise of falling furniture, opening
ana 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 as
sistance. She found him lying on the
floor grasping his revolver.
"Where am I?'' he asked as he febely
tried to raise himself. "Are the dia-
monds safe?"
"Never mindthe diamonds. said his
wife. mAre you mortally wounded any
where?"
~ don't know" answered Leander,
feebly, and to her credit be II recorded
Mrs. Leander assisted her husabnd to
couch and sent off, or rather called for as
sistance, 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.
Either Leander caught cold on that
night OF the burglary, or his nervous sys-
tenn received shock, tor he was almost
III from the effects OF his tussle with the
burglar. Anu ne cOulu not endure 10
have the subject mentioned before him.
Not even the success of the Little Cat
swba," in which friend had invested
for him. gave him the peace and rest he
craved.
A little incident that happened at that
time aid, however, help TO restore him to
his normal condition. His wife received
small package, accompanied by soiled
and dilaptdatsd note, which upon being
opened read:
"honored madam:
~ cote no sleap sence i stoal yurs
dimons l no yure laidy an am reich
II i give them up'pra fur me.
ian unnone frend."
And in the package. Mabel found her
diamonds exactly as she had last seea
them.
81 wish 1 had taken your advice
earlier" she said, gracefully. 1T would
have seved US so much trouble"
Leander murmured something about'sll
being well that ends we'll, aud at neon
brought her a certificate OF deposit.