Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-04-30

thing. My mother nad Iroo aoooss
to everything in my room. Tho
servants were honest and trust
worthy, but still 1 felt that l must
put those gems in secure place I'M
til the morrow, and tho caso was
bulky, oblong in shape and might
the furniture of which was mostly
old fashioned, was "a massive old
wardrobe, with heavy COrnice,
supported by brass fcot, and the
thought suggested itself that upon
tho top of that my case would bo SO
euro l at once climbed upon u chair,
but oven on tiptoo could only reach
the top edge of tho hugo old thing
So catching the case by its end ! let
it slip out of my fingers, and it
quickly disappeared from my view.
There was little click rs it sottlod
down on the dust covered top, and |
got down from the chair just rs tho
bell rang for luncheon.
Tho proper thing, | suppose,
would have boon for mo to be wor-
riod by the stings of conscience tho
rost of the day; but, strange to say,
during the busy afternoon l never
gave tho diamonds thought. 1t
was not until l encountered billy
Smith, who was leaving tho dress
ing room just as l entered with my
ohaperon and her daughter, that 1
remem bered them.
"Dilly's eyes questioned my sue
CESS, and she nodded approval when
whispered that l had followed her
advice. But somehow the desire to
wear them was not so keen. l
primped and prinked before tho mir
ror to gain time, for, to tell the
truth, l was ashamed to wear tho
purloined gems. Suddenly, if an at
tendant had not caught me, should
have fallen, for l made the startling
discovery that the little package
containing the diamond brooch and
earrings was no longer in my pocket.
II cannot describe the deathly
sickness that overcamo me when ]
realized that my mothor's precious
| jewels were lost or stolen. Stolen
could not believe that they could
be, but lost they certainly We're, and
what was to become of me? My
ohaperon, who had known me all
my life, was goodness itself to me.
| "Of course when had recovered
little from my faintness I had tc
go into the ballroom, but the time
spent there was agony. The music
seemed to madden mo with its hap
py strains, and at last my chaperor
sent me home.
There /, worn and spent young
creature, q very faded and wilted
bud indeed, much to my consterna-
ton, found my mother up awaiting
my return. And after one look in
my face that smote me to the heart
1T was so full of loving compassion
and growing disappointment-she
told mo that sho had the brooch and
the earrings With a great sob of
intense relief l fell upon her bosom
and asked her forgiveness.
1T seemed that while the hair
dresser was engaged with me my
mother had taken my aunt to look
at my ball dress, and while handling
it the little package fell from the
pocket. She was not ut all suspi
cious and was about to return it
| XI-hn +,
carry it away for private inspection
Then when she found that I ha(
taken her diamonds without he
knowledge or consent she resolved
to punish me by allowing me t.
think that had lost them.
And, now she added, 'wha
have you done with the rest, for
found that the case was no longe
in tho safe?'
oh, mother dear, l said, the,
are safe enough. l know wher,
they are, ard If you will come to m,
room l will hand them over will
great pleasure, for indeed I neve
want to see them again. I hav,
suffered so acutely for my disobedi
ence.
Mother followed me at once t.
my room, and just as was, in m,
ball dress, put a high hassock OF
the chair, climbed up and reached
over the edge of the cornice, expect
,, ing every minute to put my han'
upon the case, but to my oonstorna
ton nothing met my eagerly crop
ing fingers. For the second tim
that night I turned deathly fain
and sick and clung trembling to tn
wardrobe until my mother helpe,
mo down. She was taller. and, tax
ing my place, with the aid of
lighted candle she scanned careful
ly the dusty top of the wardrobe
but the tragic look on her face toll
me that the case of diamonds wa
no longer there.
" Go to bed, ohild,' she said
Tomorrow we will search further
Your father must not know of thi
for both our sakes. He has Away
insisted that the bank was the prope
place for my Jewels, but it was
pleasure to me to look at them as
could so seldom wear them, a pleas
ure which fear / will never enio
again, and what your father woul
say if he knew Of this I dare nc
even think.