Year: 1879

which was not to be more than two months
hence, and BisBie and were very much in
terested In advertisements of furniture
houses, and never passed store Of that kind
without looking critically and in business
like way at carpets, bedsteads, and such
things. Lizzie would blush and pinch my
arm whenever I'd price cradle, as often
did to tease her. Well, as l said, we had
just made UP our minds to get spliced in
October next, when a thing happened to Inc
which then thought the greatest misfor-
tune in the world, but which has since turn
ed out great blessing. Owe to it this
cozy little cottage, and. think also those
habits of economy which have enabled me
to lay something aside for a rainy day.


/" 1t was one day in August Is, the
men had Just gone to dinner, and was just
going myself, but had stayed behind a min
ute or two to finish setting large, hand
some diamond I'd got to fix in locket for
an uptown jeweler and which was wanted
in hurry. My bench stood opposite the
window which, Of course, was open to catch
what little air there was, but the bench
wasn't close to the window-it was, in fact,
two or three feet away.


You know a diamond is pretty hard,
and will bear good blow with the hammer
SO to fix it firmly, gave it pretty smart
stroke to bury it well in the setting, when
whiz it was gone. l fancied l heard it
drop on the floor, but must have been mis-
taken, as a most thorough search for 1t there
failed to find it. 1t couldn't have flown
through the window, it looked teo fari but
it must have gone somewhere, and it was
not on the floor, was sure of that. l call
ed Mr.. Everett who happened to be in the
front office, and hastily explaining matters,
ran down into the street. had little
chance of finding it if any one had chanced
to see it sparkle and you know what crowds
pass through Nassau street, he'd have pick
ed it up immediately and besides, had
strong idea it hadn't gone through the win
dow. However, got couple of boctblacks,
described the stone to them as bright piece
of glass I'd dropped, and gave them half
dollar each to look for it, with the promise
of dollar if they found it, There was no
dinner-hour for me that day. hunted all
over the shop, my fellow workmen helped
me, we moved all the furniture, and all in
vain.


al went home that evening feeling pretty
bad, and but little inclined for sleep. |
saw myself ruined, the diamond was worth
over one thousand dollars, and how was |
to repay it2 never thought tho firm
would prosecute me, but stain would rest
on my character, my occupation would be
gone, and as for marriage, it couldn't be
thought of


"Next morning l called round at my
fathers before he went to work and told MIN
all about it. He was awfully hurt ofcourseJ
said he would no more suspect me of steal
ing it than he would of my being murder
er, and was sure that Everett & johnson
thought the same as hej but we didn't know
what others might think and it would new
er do to let suspicion rest on the name
of Davidson. At all costs the value of the
stone must be paid. That was very good.
| | had about four hundred dollars, with
which l had intended furnishing the cottagej
but that wasn't half enough. WE'LL edvis-
ed by my father, who said that if could
save four hundred could easily save the
balance, drew my money with very differ
ent feelings from what | had anticipated
while paying it inJ and went with the old
man to Everett & johnson and had priv
ate interview with them. l offered them
the money had saved, and said | would
repay the rest by degrees out of my earn
| ings


"The firm wefe very kind. They said
they always had a high opinion ofme and
my present action confirmed it. 1t was a
sad accident, but alone was accountable
for it; they would haye to replace the dia-
mond right away, they could not afford such
loss, so they accepted my offer and re-
tanned my position.


"My reputation was saiej but yet had
to see and explain matters to Lizzie and her
folks and put off the wedding ana | got
over that better than expected. The poor
little girl was awfully vexed at FIRST but
both she and her parents declared that they
didn't see the necessity of delay. "See
here" said the old lady, "you will spend
good deal more single than married, and
you've got big debt on your shouldersj so
il you like 10 begin housekeeping in small
way, get married quick. don't want my
Lizzie to lose a good husband, so if you're
willing I'll let you have my spare bedroom,
rent freeJ for year. You can use our par
lor and kitchenj and pay half the house
keeping expenses. My old man and you
gets on first rate, so what do you say2"
was willing, and my father, whom l felt
bound to consult, agreed that I'd risk iti so
we got married in week, and were happy
| from the start!


"The old folks gave Lizzie nice outfit of
clothes, and she made mine last twice as
long as before l gave up billiards, lager
and cigars, never took car when | could
walk, while the old lady and Lizzie kept
capital table on what seemed next to moth
ing:


Before the year was out had paid up
| Everett & johnson, and was beginning TO
save up towards little place of our own.
when JEANNE was born,a and my wife didn't
pinch me when brought home a cradle.


at was about fifteen months after the
loss of the diamond that the house facing
ours, where the shop is, was being torn down
to make room for larger structure, and we
grumbled at having to keep our front win
dows closed because Of the dust, and I was
sitting at my old bench listening to some in
structious from Mr.. Everett who blythe
by, had sent nice present to my little one
when lie heard Of her arrival, when our ats
/ tention was attracted by a crash louder than
usual over the way We looked end saw it
was caused by window frame giving away
easier than Tire lsbugsts had expected, but