Year: 1878

When L was about twelve years OF
age, was invited by Mrs. Hall, my
godmother, to pay her visit before 60
ing to boarding school, where l was to
remain for few years. My mother had
died when l was very young, and my
father thought it better for me to be at
a nice school, where | would be among
girls of my own age. than in the house
with only his sister and himself. Mrs.
Hall was very fond of me; she had no
children of her own, and, had my father
consented, she and Mr.. Hall would have
taken me to live with them entirely.


1t was a lovely day in June when l
arrived at my godmother's, and she was
delighted to see me. The house was
beautifully situated on high ground, sur
rounded by grand old trees, and at one
side was a flower garden.


One morning godmother said to me:


"Come up stairs with me, Lillian, and
will show you some Indian jewels that
my uncle>left me lately


She opened the drawer of an inlaid
sandal-wood cabinet and took out a
small case, in which were pair Of ear
rings, a brooch and necklace of most
beautiful diamonds. | thought had
never seen anything SO beautiful before.


my dear Lillian" said she, IL in
tend to give you these on your sixteenth
birthday. [ see, however, there is a
stone loose in one of the earrings, so |
will take it into town and have it re-
paired"


She folded it up carefully and put it
in her purse the case with the other
diamonds she put in one of the drawers
of her dressing-glass.


After lunch Mr. and Mrs. Hall took
me with them to the town, which was
about four miles distant. The earring
was left at the jewelers.. and, as we were
to spend the day at friends house, we
arranged to call for it on our way back.
But you will say, what has all this to
do with your dream? Well, wait lit
tie and you will see.


We spent pleasant day, called for
the earring on our way, and arrived
home about half-past 9 o'clock. AS |
was taking off my bonnet godmother
came into the room.


Lillian" said she, 81 cannot find the
case of diamonds anywhere. Did | not
leave it in the drawer in my dressing
GLASS before went out | went to put
in the other earring now, and it was moi
there. Who can have taken it?"


"You certainly left it in the dressing
glass drawer l said. Gould any oI
the servants have taken it, do you
think 2"


81 am sure they would not" she an
swered. 81 have had them with me fol
years, and never missed anything be
fore"


"Are there any strangers about thai
could have come in through the win
dow ?''


mo, Lillian there are no strangers
about the place except the gardener, and
he seems most respectable man. go
very high character of him from hi,
last place in fact, we were told he wa.
a most trustworthy person"


Next day there was wonderful com
motion about the missing jewel-case
The police were sent for, and every
place was searched over and over again
but to no purpose. One thing, however
puzzled us: On the window-sill was
footmark. and near the dressing table
little bit of earth, as if from a shoe O.





boot, which led US to think that tn,
thief must have come in through tn
window. But how did he get up to it
1t was good height from the ground
and the creeping plants were not in tn
least broken, as would have been tn
case had any one climbed up by them
A ladder must have been employed, an,
it was little to the credit of the polio
that this fact had not been properly con
sidered. AS the matter stood it was
mystery, and seemed likely to remain
so, and only one earring was left of tn
valuable set.


In few days l left for school, wher
| remained for four years. | spent ever
vacation between my home and my god
mothers. We often spoke of the stole
diamonds, but nothing had ever bee
heard of them, though a reward of fft
, pounds had been offered by Mr. Hall fo
; any information that would lead to tn
detection of the thief. On my sixteent
birthday my godmother gave me a beat
tiful watch and chain and the damon
earring which she had got arranged a
a necklet.


81 am so sorry, Lilian," said she
| "that | have not the rest of those dia
r monds to give you: but, if ever they ar
found, they shall be yours, my dear"


must now pass over six years, whic
! went by quietly and happily, nothin
very important taking place until tt
f last year, during which time l had bee
/, married My husband was barriste
r W. l;,oI - Al. VT e ~, NJ