Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-01-08

before the unac
customed eye could discern it even
through u glass. But, as tie morning
mists cleared away suddenly, a long
belt of coast appeared, and very soon
the harbor and its surroundings were
plainly visible. Many of the passen-
gers had gathered on deck, each eager
to catch the first glimpse OF land.
AS I stood among the little group
and watched the eager faces all turned
in one direction, 1 told myself that,
perhaps, none OF them wousd be quite
60 glad to reach their journeys end as
]. One is apt to reason in this fash
ion, for to each his OWN concerns
seem of 50 much more consequence
than those that engross his neighbor.
Still, my egotistioal reflection was, in
measure true, for to me the landing
at Southampton meant more than that
safe passage from India had been ao.
complished. 1t meant thst the goal
had been reached on which every
thought and hope had been centred
for months past. 1t meant that mis-.
sion upon which my future career de.
pended had been triumphantly carried
through. 1t meant to me, in fact, the
difference between success and fail.
ure.
During my fve-and.thirty years oil
life 1 had gone through many varied
experiences, but none that had caused
me so much anxiety of mind as this
voyage home from Calcutta. My fell
low passengers on board the steamer
little knew the responsibility with
which I was weighted-tbat if I had
found watery grave sSD,000 would
have gone to the bottom With me. and
Brassington, the well-kn.awn firm OF
London jewelers., would h.ve been un.
able to fulfil Royal commission fol-
q wedding present for Princess. For
more than ten years I had been in
the employment of the Messrs. Brass
ington, and although they had always
treated me with confidence, sending
me out to India to complete the pur-
chase of an historical diamond belong
ing to an Eastern Rajah was the highest
mark of distinction they had ever paid
me. can recall the thrill of delight
that passed through me when the elder
Brassirgton, the chief of the firm,
called me into his room, and after
speaking of the negotiations that had
been going on concerning the diamond,
said:
'.Mr. Fenton, we have decided to
intrust you with the responsible task
of fetching it from India
My fellow clerks, if triae envious
of my preterment, were loud in their
congratulations, declaring that "old
Dick" was' esak's,wayz<t6at his for.
t,1Ra was made! Indeed, was some.
what of that way Of thinking myself,
for reflected that if L carried out my
mission successfully I should never
again he ranked with the other clerks,
but should, in all probability, be given
a junior partnership in the flourish
ing firm of Brassihgton & 90. With
these sanguine and ambitious thoughts
in my head, / went out to the East,
where 1 executed my instructions to
the letter and occurred the costly
bauble, which was a magnificent stone,
the size of large hazel nut. Under
my coat and waistcoat I wore strong
leather belt, in which was small
pouch, or pocket, and in this ! was to
carry the diamond home. I had re.
solved that the bslt should never leave
me day or night until I had delivered
my precious charge to my employers.
After the diamond came into my
possession I had nn anxious time of it
before embarking at Calcutta. For
the sale of the stone was soon noised
about, and the natives thers are a
crafty, cunning set, jewellery having
an attraction for them such as q mag
ret has for q needle. However, 1
managed to eluds all would-be plum
derers, and went on board the steamer
feeling that, if only the elements were
propitious, I had nothing more to
fear. On the whole, the voyage home
was fair one, and once in sight OF
Southampton I felt elated, as one who
knows that victory is secured.
On landing, I had to make my way
to jeweler in the town, who was an
agent OF our firm, and to whom Mr..
Brassington had promised sight of
the diamond en- route. After I had
interviewed this man. I had only to
choose convenient train and make
the best of my way to London, where
hoped to arrive before our business
establishment closed for the night,
and SO rid myself of all further re-
sponsibility.
AS I passed from the steamer with
the other passengers, noticed tall,
black man, who, strangely enough, I
never remembered to have encoun-
tered during the voyage. He was
dressed in shabby suit of European
clothes, but he had q striking resem-
blance to native servant of the Ra-
iah from whom I had bought the dia-
mond. The man had al evil looking
face, and I had strong suspicion that
he had designs for robbiug me of the
stone, for he had dogged my footsteps
as made my way from his masters
palace to Calcutta. However, on re.
hection, I felt that the Rajah's servant
and the man who disembarked with
me at Southampton could hardly be
the same. For while the first had lost
no opportunity of following me with
his cunning, watchful eyes, the latter
passed me without CLEAN of recogni-
tion, and was soon lost in the crowd
upon the harbor.
1 made my way at once to Mr..
French, the first jeweler in Southamp-
ton, and was annoyed to find that he
was from home. was only instructed
to show the diamond to him, 80 that I
was forced to await his return, and
this prevented me from catching the
early train had fixed upon, and I
found that I should be unable to;leave
for London until the evening express.
wandered about southampton, had