The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-04-22
NOT GUILTY..
BY MRS. AMELIA S. CAMPBELL.

che famous Lamhton diamond threw
back the light from its many facets ana
strange, brilliant colors shot from its depth.
Ii was the finest stone had ever set in my
life.
The ring, now that it was finished was
ii even to adorn the hand of Lady Gwen
dulen Forrest, the beauty and heiress Of
the season. But | did not envy young
Lord Lambton his fiancee: in my own Nell
had girl as good and rs pretty as any
in the Land.
l was about to take the ring TO Mr..
Nugent when Nell herself ran in. 81"
was my employers daughter, and his
house was upstairs over the large sho v
room IN Clifford street. 1t was against all
custom for Nell to come down to my work
shon, for her father diSapproved OUT en-.
gagsnrgt. But today she had not been
able to resist the temptation Of having
weep at the i.ambton diamond,
Just as she had slipped it on her ling.i
End vas dancing about twisting her hand
Shat the mar. elols stone might catch thr
light, she door opened and Mr.. Nugrnt
entered. | prepared to defend Nell from
marsh rerrlmand, but none came. Her
father appeared oddly pr2.occupicd. merely
took the ring from her, examined it earn
estiy, aud anapping She lid ri the case
down upon il, placed it in his pocket and
walked away.
Next day | was sitting at work when
saw hanson drive up and Lord Lambton
jump out. He came hastily into the show
room, which adjoined the one where Vas
sitting, and where Mr.. Nugent was.
"scoundrel!' l heard him say, and
could scarcely believe my ears. "You
hut an! as good jud:.e of jewels as you
are. You are thief, sir What have you
done with the diamond | entrusted tt
you?"
l sat still. | understood very well that
Lord Lanbton had deliberately accus q"
my employer of trying to palm eff upoi
him 81 imitation diamond, yet kne y chat
< had sea the true stone and delivered 1T IT,
Mr.. Nugent only yesterday.
My employer himself was a skillet
workman, though not a good designer, ana
IN the time that had elapsed between my
handing him the ring and his transferring
1t to the owner he could have removed tn,
stone an replaced it by another.
IA | thus specialized on the astonishing
aocpcation, Mr.. Nugent himself opened
she GGGr OF the workroom. He looked
2seerly at me, AS if wondering il 1t woulu
l,e rat& to trust me.
IBID yon near aIytnng of what passed
: the next room? he questioned
| admitted that had.
COZ course, shall be triumphantly ac
quilted, be announced, clearing his rnroat
hushiIy As he spoke. STILL Lord L,mh
son can o,t&a things disIaraeabte. AMI
look here, Vale, haven't always been a.
Friendly to you as mi ,ht but can tlrl-,
you. You'll be an impo tant witness De-
what you can for me 10: the girls sake. :"
VS. given no time to answer, for at
chat momGnJ Lord LambtOn returned with
ijwo Scotland Yard men My employer
was given into Gust dy and taken to the
police station 10 he charged, the detectives
remaining to search the premises.
MI. Nugent being widower, with only
one Child, the management of the bushes,
practically dcyolved on me, and as the de
tectge- raasacked the place. they pat
many questions to me as to where the
stones were kept The safes We're all
pointed eus to them, bus they seemed dis
appointed with their operations.
Late in The evening they came to me ia
She wotiIoom, aud holding out thu ring
Shat l ha! made for Lord LambtOD, one of