The morning times., 1896-03-08

but our discussion instantly gave place 10
interest in grandma's remark, for what
she had TO say we generally found intensely
interesting.
Polishing her glasses grandma said:
They are associated IN my mind with
youthful esCapade OF mine that caused me
SO much distress OF mlnd that Tor long
time ] could not bear 10 lCok upon
diamond, if ] could help il, FOR as surely as
] did experienced al The feeling OF deathly
faintenss which overoame me whcn made
the starting discovery that ] had lost my
stepmothcr's Jewels"
Here grandma pnt on her elas and re-
sumed ler work, as lf that was the end Of
the matter But The clamor which followed
This move on her part soon convinced her
1IIal our newly awakened interest was not
TO be so easily laid. nor her work resumed,
until We had heard the story or her cscapade.
"Wcll. you know" said grandma, II was
quite young when my mother died. and my
stepmother was woma Of very fine fam
lily ana considerable wealth. ] was tue only
child. and, fear. somewhat spoiled. That
winter ] made my debut in society. which
was an event ] had long looked forward to.
Mother had been very indulgent TO me. and
=
come Gut at the same time had a handsomer
or more costly outfit than that winch was
ordered for me.
But uld not have a single ornament
given me Tor the event. Most CT my com
panion buds had been more fortunate Than
myself IN that respect. Some had pearls
OF greaat price bestowed upon them. 4
few had o d ashioned gems reset for them,
- Ts,.r.- r~fsnfr
from sisters already married or older
friends ornaments elegant enough 10 wear
upon that auspiciouS CccaSion-iOr young
ladies did not IN those days make their first
appearance at a tea or a reception,
add "a the old lady with rather disdain-
ful cur OF her lip, "a grand BAN was con-
sidered The proper thing.
Now, nay stvpmotner had set CT mag
nificcat diamonds which she never wore,
tor, as she was a great sufferer from
asthma, she seldom went into society.
Sine had planned, however. 70 chaperon me,
but cold, caught few days before, had
brought on an unusually severe attack OF
her old complaint, aud a friend CT the fam
ny, who was bringing out her Cwn daugh-
ter, was To take charge OF me also.
Under the circumstances, l ventured TO
ask my stcpmotGer TO let me wear her
diamonds, and received a very prompt and
decided refusal TO my request. II is need
less TO say / sulked coed deal. / could
not understand why she should refuse to
thus complete my happiness. OF course she
was right and was wrong, but at the time
/ thought was a much-abused Individual.
Il poured my tale Of wee into the sympa-
thctic ears OF my closest friend, Dilly Smith
-'Dany Down Diny,' as we girls called
her 5 he was not bit Ike daffcdl, but
a very sturdy young lady, fuil OF spirit
aad resource which she need j. being the
only girl 10 a house fun CT boys.
Wont yUur father come 10 the rescue?
said Dnly.
.ButI shook my head. ] knew betterthan
10 appeal 10 him.
do sou know where they are kept?' She
next inquired, and ! acknowledged that ]
did.
",Hclp yourself said Dilly;, she viii
never know it, and even if she should hear
Of it aftcrward. she will overlook IL, or you
can do penance. Diamonds are your style
exactly and il is mean OF her not TO let you
borrow piece
III is not a difficult task TO persuade one
10 follow the way their inclination leads, as
mine did in THAT case. i knew right from
wrong very decidedly, but ! soon made my
self to believe that mother would overlook
my disobedlence. ani forgive me for taking
such a liberty with her jewels.
When one yields TO temptation, / be-
Iieve things are made easier for them, at
least 80 seemed TO me then. The very day
oftheballan aunt OF mine-my father Seldest
la, n
short visit. and mother was consequently
much occupied. 50 that Ifoundanopportunity
TO get the diamond case out OF the srnalli iron
safe in my mothers room and carried it to
my own chamber, where, behind locked
doors, / made my selection.
Il did not intend to wear them all, my
natural taste making up for my youthful in
experience. chose brooch, a most beau
uful affair, and the earrings 10 match.
These made pinto tiny, but soiled parcel,
which i slipped into the pocket Of my ball
dress intending to put them on after gotto
tile ball.
But az did not dare make a second trip
10 The safe that day, I had 10 find a place
10 secrcuc the case with its precious contents
until / could put back the pieces which /
had borrowed, when, all complete, l would
return il 10 lis proper place. TIC key, how
ever. / must restore to its regular hiding
place as my father was accustomed to put
fis valuuhles in the safe AT night, and there
would be a great outCTy if the key should be
missing.
Now. I never had turned a key in any
drawer lock in my life. In fact, doubt if,
mp 10 that day, had ever required a place
to secretc anything. My mother had free
access 10 everything in my room. The serv-
ants were honest and trustworthy, but
stilI felt that / must put those gems in a
secure place until the morrow, and the case
was bulky oblong in shape, and might at
tract attention. Now, in my room. the fur
niture Of which was mostly old-fashioned,
was massive old wardrobe with a heavy
cornice supported 10y brass feet, ana the
thought suggested itself tina upon the top OF
that my case would be secure. ut once
climbed upon a chair, but even on tiptoc
could only reach the top edge OF the huge
old thing So, catching the case 10y its end,
let il slip out Of my fingers ana il quickly
disappeared from my view There was
little click as it settled down %. lhe dust
covered top, and got down from the chair
Just as the bcll rang for luncheon.
Ihc proper thlhEr suppose Nouiu illNe
been for me 10 bc worried 10y the stings Of
conscience the rest of the day, but, strange
20 say. during The busy afternoon, never
gave the diamonds a thought. 1t was not
mtI encountered Dlly Smith, who was
leaving the dressinG-room inst Us entered
with my chaperon ana her daughter that
remembered them.
"Dilly's cycS questioned my success, and
she nodded approval when whispered that
] had followed her advice. But somehow
the desire 90 wear them was not so keen.
nrlmned and prnkcd before tic mirror 10