The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-16

InGn was III ue9p Despair. MY
mother was like an angel. Sho did
not reproach me, but l saw that she
did not believe that I had ever put
the case upon the top of tho ward
robe.
If you had, child, she said, it
would certainly bo there, as you say
no one saw you do it. 1t could not
walk away
' THAT it certainly could not,
mother I replied, but I surely put
the case on the top of the wardrobe.
I wish you would toll father or let
me. Ho might be able to do some-
thing
"But mother, good, simple soul,
declined. In the meantime I did not
sleep, and hardly ate, and conse-
quently soon became subject for
the doctor. I saw that my illness
puzzled my father, as hitherto I had
had perfect health, but my mother
was my devoted nurse and gratifed
every wish except to allow me to
tell my father, and to diyulge to
him my secret trouble seemed the
only thing which I longed to do.
"But it happened ono day that IA
ther met the husband of my ball
room chaperon. That lady. who
had called, of course, had been urged
to secrecy by my mother. She, good
woman, did not believe in having
any secrets from her husband, SO
told him, and he, forgetting or ig-
noring her caution, when he encoun-
tered my father inquired if the case
of missing diamonds had turned up.
'l saw when my father entered
my room 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, I said in con-
clusion, mother has behaved like an
angell Say or do what you like to
me, but do not be cross to her, for I
cannot bear it, even though she will
not believe that I put the case of
diamonds, or rather dropped it out
of my hand over the edge of the
cornice, on to the top of the ward
robe.
"To my surprise my father start
ed, and all the gravity left his face.
"'It's all right, child, he said.
You dropped the case on the top Of
the wardrobe, and I would. swear
that this moment the missing gems
are reposing in She dust of ages on
the false bottom of that precious old
wardrobe. You and your mother
might have saved yourselves good
deal of suffering if you had told me
of this week ago.
cat this moment mother came
into the room, and when he had
spoken to her ho walked toward the
wardrobe, hitching up the knees of
his trousers as he went. Tho next
thing l knew no was down on his
side on tho floor. and after consider
able effort he slipped aside a metal
button OF something whicl. gave
little click similar to tho noise which
l heard when the case of diamonds
dropped from nv hand on to the
wardrobe top ] could see from
where I lay on my couch a little
hinged board hanging down. Then
father turned over on his back and
CROPPED with his fingers as far as he
evidently could roach, and in q few
minutes held out with "a very dusty
hand the missing case of diamonds.
'It is needless to say that got
we'll at once, and mother let father
put her diamonds in the bank for
safe keeping. An eccentric aunt'of
my fathers had had the wardrobe
built. at the side of the cornice
there was piece of board with a
spring that covered areceSS between
the inside shell and the outside of
the wardrobe, which recess ran from
top to bottom. Father had heard Of
it us child and investigated it
when a growing boy, but had for
gotten it until I mentioned that
had dropped the case. Thon be re-
membered and knew at once what
had become Of the missing dia-
monds, and that, said grandma in
conclusion, is why do not care for
tho gems. '-Hayden Ingram in
Philadelphia Times.
His Inspiration.
She-I have just read your poem,
l.. I H. e