Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-27
few days after this, parcel.

came from Amsterdam, addressed t.
the young man. and they, too. wera
delivered. The man who carried them
to the mansion house. said that ono
was slightly opened and contained
NNhat do you think?) woman's
silken gown.
1T seemed very queer, Gretchen,
and the people talked about It a grea,
deal. The diamond merchants con.
tinued to come and sell their GEM
and though the young man grew old,
he still continued to buy them and
live all alone in the big house.
zone night flames were seen COM
ing through the roof of the mansion
and people gathered from every d.
rectlon to witness the sight and try
to save the building. They pounded
and pounded upon the gong and fin
ally some one tried to turn the handle
that opened the gate-it turned and
the gate opened.
Then the crowd surged through
tho grounds that had been closed for
SO many years and into the house.
I'm the grand parlor, on the Sec
ond floor, they found the old man.
There he stood. before beautiful
statue OF young woman. who APP
peared so lifelike in a magnificent
gown of silk, that people were as
! tonished and at first thought it to
/ be alive.
Someone recognized the statue as
| being that OF the young lady that
! had won the old mans heart in days
gone by. But that isn't the strangest
part of It. The statue was simply
covered with the most magnificent
diam onds. The most valuable of ali,
were in the shape of necklace that
encircled the neck Of the statue. and
as the people advanced closer, the Old
man suddenly grabbed the necklace
and threw 1t out of tho window where
1t fell into the waters of the dyke.
1T lies there today. Gretchen, for
no one has ever been able to hnd 1t.
The mansion house burned down and
the old man who was taken sick.
said that he never wanted 1t rebuilt.
He gave all Of his wealth to charity
and before his death, which occurred
soon after. said that whoever found
the necklace could have 1t. Many
have searched the waters around here
| but 1t still remains to be found.
Prob bly,. my dear those geese that
you see swimming out there are just
above it" and rising from his seat,
Gretchen's father went into the mill.
And there Gretchen sat thinking OF
the strange story that had been told
her and wishing that she could find
the beautiful diamond necklace. that
she might sell 1t and with the money
go to far off America with her father.
Then She rose. and going into the
house brought out piece Of bread
and began to feed the geese. How
tame and gentle they were. Even the
big drake came and ate from her
hands, all knew her and were not
| afraid.
Just the a pure white little goose
came swimming toward her, cutting
through the water like knife and
eager to get its share OF the bread
that was now almost gone. Gretchen
saved a large piece for II and as the
beautiful ,ird drew near. reached out
her hand to Feed 1t. But something
cleaned and gittered in the sunlight
like thousands of points Of light.
And what do you suppose 1t was?
why as surely as I'm telling you about
1t. It was the most beautiful diamond
necklace in the world and 1t hung
gracefully around the neck of the
hungry little goose. Tho iniser's nece
| lace was found.