The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-09
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
How a Young Girl Lost Her Love for
Diamonds.
From the Philadelphia Times.


Il do not care as much about diamonds
as most folks" said grandma, who had
hitherto been a silent listener to a dis
cussion which We younger people were
having about gems; but our discussion in
stantly gave place TO interest in grand
mas remark, for what she had to say we
generally found intensely interesting.
Polishing her glasses grandma said:
''They were associated in my mind with a
youthful escapade of mine that caused me
so much distress of mind that for long
time l could not bear to look upon a dia-
mond, If l could help it, for as sure as 1
did experienced all the feeling Of deathly
| faintness which Overcame me when l made
the startling discovery that had lost nv
step-mothers jewels"
Here grandma put on her glasses, and
resumed her work, as II that was the end
of the matter. But the clamor which fol-
lowed this move on her part soon convinc-
ed her that our newly awakened interest
was not to be so easily laid, nor her work
resumed, until we had heard the story
of her escapade.
We'll. you know" said grandma, 81 was
| quite young when my mother died, and nay
Ss sIiii' i'I was woman OF very good
only enid, and, / fear, somewhat spoil
| ca. That winter l made my debut in So
| clety, which was an event / had long look
ed forward to. Mother had been very in
| dulgent to me, and not one of the bevy of
| buds who were to come out at the same
| time had handsomer or more costly out
| Mt than that which was ordered for me.
| But did not have O single ornament
/ given me for the event. Most of my
companion buds had been more fortunate
/ than myself in that respect. Some had
/ pearls of great price bestowed upon them
| A Few had old-fashioned gems reset for
/ them, while one or two had confessed
TO borrowing from sisters already married
| or older friends ornaments elegant enough
| 70 wear upon that suspicious occasion
FOR, young ladies did not in those days
make their hrst appearance at a tea or
| reception" added the old lady, with
| rather disdainful curl of her lip; "a grand
ball was considered the proper thing"
| Now, my stepmother had a set of mag
nihcent diamonds which she never wore
| Tor as she was great sufferer from
asthma she seldom went into society. She
| had planned, however, to chaperone me-
but cold, caught a few days before
had brought on an unusually severe at
| tack of her old complaint and a friend
| OF the family, who was bringing out her
also.
Under the circumstances. ventured to
ask my. stepmother to let me wear her
diamonds, and received a very prompt
and decided refusal of my request 1t is
needless to say l sulked good deal. 1
could not understand why she should re-
fuse to thus complete my happiness. OF
course, she was right and l was wrong.
nn al Nhe hime l thought was a
Il poured my tale of woe into the sym
! pathetic ears of my closest friend Dillv
Smlth-'Daffy Down Dilly,' as we girls
called her. She was not a bit like a daft
fodn, but very sturdy young lady, full
of spirit and resource, which she needed
being the only girl in house full OF
boys;
cue?' said billy.
| But l shook my head. knew better
| than to appeal to him.
" Do you know where they are kept p
she next inquired, and 1 acknowledged
| that l did.
"'Help yourself said Oily, she will
never know it, and even if she should hear
of it afterward she will overlook it. or
style exactly, and it is mean of her not t to
let you borrow a piece
1T is not difficult task to persuade
! one to follow the way their inclination
leads, as mine did in that case. / knew
right from wrong very decidedly, but 1
| soon made myself believe that mother
| would overlook my disobedience, and for
give me for taking such a liberty with
when one yields to a temptation be-
lieve things are made easier for them at
least so it seemed to me then. The very
day of the ball an aunt Of mine-my
fathers eldest sister-came from a dis
lance to make us a short visit; and
mother was consequently much occupied
so that 1 found an opportunity to get
the diamond case out of the small iron
| safe in mothers room, and carried it to
my own chamber, where, behind locked
| doors, I made my selection.
II did not intend to wear them all, my
natural taste making up for my youthful
inexperence. 1 chose a brooch, a most
beautiful affair, and the earrings TO
match. These made up into tiny but
| solid parcel, which / slipped into the
pocket of my ball dress, intending to put
| them on after l got to the ball.
But as l did not dare make second
trip to the safe that day, had to find a
place to secrete the case with its pre-
cious contents. until could put back the
pieces which 1 had borrowed, when all
,Nlnf Nanfn
place. The key, however, must restore
| to it's regular hiding place, as my father
was accustomed to put his valuables in
| the safe at night, and there would be a
great outcry il the key should be missing
| Now, / never had turned key in any
drawer lock in my life. In fact. doubt if,
| to secrete anything. My mother had free
| access to everything in my room. The SER
wants We're honest and trustworthy; but
still ! felt that must put those gems in a
secure place until the morrow, and the
case was bulky, oblong in shape, and
might attract attention. Now in my room,
the furniture of which was mostly old
fashioned, was massive old wardrobe
! with heavy cornice, supported by brass
feet; and the thought suggested itself that
upon the top of that my case would be
secure. 1 at once climbed upon a chair
| but even ON tiptoe l could only reach the
top edge of the huge old thing. So, catch
| ing the case by its end, let it slip out of
my fingers, and it quickly disappeared
from my view. There was little click, as
it settled down on the dust-covsred top,
and got down from the chair just as the
bell rang for luncheon.
1.-THE proper thing, I suppose, would
have been for me to be worried by the
| stings of conscience the rest of the day
! but, strange to say, during the busy af-
| ternoon never gave the diamonds a
thought. It was not until I encountered
| Dilly Smith, who was leaving the dressing
room just as I entered with my chaperone
and her daughter, that 1 remembered
| them.
"Dilly's eyes questioned my success, and
she nodded approval when / whispered
that l had followed her advice. But
not so keen. 1 primped and prinked be-
| fore the mirror to gain time, for, to
| tell the truth, was ashamed to wear the
| purloined gems. Suddenly, If an attend
| ant had not caught me, I should have
/ fallen. for 1 made the startling discovery
| that the little package containing the
diamond brooch and earrings was no long