The morning times., 1896-03-08

a very faded aud wilted bud indeed, much
to my CONSERVATION, found my mother up,
awaiting my return. And after one look in
my face that smote me 10 the heart it was
so fun Of loving compassion and grieving
diSappoiutment-sh told me that she had
the brooch and the earrings. With great
sob of instant relief fell upon her bosom
and asked her forgiveness.
1t seemed that while the hair-dresser was
ged with me my mother had taken my
aunt TO look at my ball dress, and while
haudling it the little package fell from the
pocket. She was not at al suspicious, and
was about to return il, when something
prompted her 10 carry itawa yfor private iu-
spection. Then when she found that mad
taken her diamonds without her knowledge
or consent, she resolved to punish me by al
lowing to think that Iha q lostthem.
" And now,' she added, what have you
done with the rest? For found that uLs
case was no longer in the safe
oh, mother, dear, ] said, they are safe
enough. know where they are. and IL you
Will come TO my room will hand them over
with great pleasure, forindeed never want
tosee them again. Ihave suffered so acute
ly for my disohedience.'
"Mother followed me at once 10 my room,
and Just as ] was, in my BAH dress, / put
a high hassOck on the chair clumbed up
and reached over the edge of the cOrnice eX-
pecting every minute to put my hand upon
the case, but to my CONSERVATION othing
met my eagerly cropping fingers. For the
second time that night ] turned deathly
faint and sick, and clung trembling to the
wardrobe until my mother helped me down
She was taller aud taking my place, with
the aid OF lighted candle she scanned care
fully the dusty top OF the wardrobe, but the
tragic look upon her face told me that the
case OF diamonds was no longer there.
" Go 10 bed. child she said. 'Tomor-
row we will search further. Your father
must not know of this for both our sakes.
He has always insisted that the bank was
the proper place for my jewels but it was
pleasure TO me 10 look at them. as ! could
so seldom wear them; pleasure which ]
fear ] will never ENJOY again, and what
your father would say il he knew of this
] dare not even think
i never knew how ! put in the rest OF
that night. but did not close my eyes. In
the morning. after father had gone to his
office and aunt had gone visiting, my
mother and servant with a high stepiad-
der rinvestigatcd that wardrobe. top, bottom
and back, but nothing except dust reward
cd their search.
"Then l was in deep despair. Ny mother
was like an angel. She did not reproach
me- but l saw that she did not believe that
/ had ever put the case upon the top OF the
wardrobe.
" If you had, child she said, it would
certainly be there, as you say no one saw
you do IT, 1t could not walk away.
THAT it certainly could not mother
/ replied. but / surely put the case on the
top of the wardrobe. l wish you would
tel father or let me. He might be able 10
do something
But mother, good, simple soul, declined.
In The meantime did not sleep and hardly
ate, and consequently soon became n sub
iect for the doctor. | saw that my illness
puzzled my father, as hitherto l had had
perfect health, but my mother was my de-
voted nurse and gratified every wish eX
cept L. allow me to tell my father, and TO
divulge TO him my secret trouble seemed
the only thing which l longed TO do.
But it happened one day that father
met the husband OF my ballroom chaperon.
That lady, who had called, of course, had
been urged TO secresy by my mother. She,
good woman, did not believe in having any
secrets from her husband, so told him, and
he, forgetting or ignoring her caution, when
he encountered my father, inquired if the
case of missing diamonds had turned up.
y saw when my fathered entered myroom
that day that he knew at last, and before
mother returned he was in full possession
Of all that / knew about the gems.
But, oh, father said in conclusion,
mother has behaved like an angel. Say or
do what you ike to me, but do not be cross
to her, for cannot bear it, even though she
VIII not believe that ! put the case Of dia-
monds, or rather dropped it cut of my hand
over the edge of the coruice onto the top of
the wardrobe"
"To my surprise my father started and all
the gravity left his face.
" That's all right, Chid,' he said You
dropped the case on the top OF the wardrobe
ard | would swear that this moment the
missing gems are reposing the dust ofagGs
on the false bottom of that precious old
wardrobe. Youand your urmOther mighthave
saved yourself q good deal Of suffering if
you had told me this week ago.
AT this moment mother came into the
room, aud whca he had spoken to her, he
walked towar' the wardrobe, hitching up
the knee OF his trousers al he went. The
next thing knew hc was down on his side
on the floor, and after considerable effort
he Siippcd aside metal button or something
which gave a little click similar to the noise
which / hard when the case Of diamonds
dropped from my hand on to the wardrobe
ton. / could see from where I lay on my
couch little hinged board hanging down.
Tncn father turned over on his back and
gropcd with his fingers as far 5 he evidently
could reach, and in few minutes held out
with very dusty hand the missing case of
diamonds.
1T is needless TO say that ! got well at
once ana mother let father put her diamonds
in the bank FOR safe keeping. An eccentric
aunt OF my fathers had bad the wardrobe
blit. At the side of the cornicc there wasa
recess between tine inside shell and the out
side of the wardrobe. which recess ran from
top to bottom. Father had heard of ii as a
chile and investigated il when growing
boy. but had forgotten II until mentioned
that / had dropped the case; then he re-
membered aud knew 1t once what had be-
come CT the missing diamonds, and that"
said grandma. in conclusion, "ls why do
not care for the gems" Phiia delphia
Times.
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lady when SnouDinr in q large Western