Year: 1871

Diou.


'rn bring it back to you in three
months time,' said he; ''twont be O. no
good 10 me, but I'll take it on trust Or,
if you can pay sooner, shall be about
the neighboIhood next week, and shall
sleep each night at the inn."


Be very sure I did not hesitate long, the
temptation was too great so thrusting the
old pin carelessly into his breast pocket,
he tied up his bundles, and with low bows
left the house.


] could scarcely believe in my good
luck. spread out my new irock on the
bed, and held it before me TO try the eff
feet. And then | began to repent. MY
father, | knew, would not give me one
cross look; but still did hate to tell him
OF the twelve shillings I owed the ped
dler, | would be so saving for the next
three months that he would lose nothing
by the bargain, for I'd sorape it together
myself


When picked up the linen band to put
it round my neck, did not know how to
fasten it at first without the familiar old
,in; then | recollected how often the
Urls had told me that bow of ribbon
would look so much prettier. So, look
ing up small piece of black velvet, /
formed bow, and felt more than satis1-
ed


My father did not get home to tea or to
supper. | put the children to bed after
their slices OF bread and treace and 4
good washing.


At 10 o'clock note came saying some
business had detained my father; that |
had better close the house and "retire
This was nothing very unusual, as his
business matters often kept him late. |
was quite a staid little woman in manage
ment and did as I was bid Ny father
would come in with his latch key On
Sunday morning at breakfast the children
showed their watches and doll. | said
nothing about the dress, for it struck me
he was looking anxious


"Where's your breast-pin, Mabel ?" he
asked, as the children ran ont before the
door after breakfast.


The breast-pin | was frightened at
once. He had never asked after it or
noticed it before He must have heard ot
what I'd done and was angry.


"Father, have not got it n' / exclaim-
ed at once, ready to cry


"Not got it What do you mean, child 4.
You surely wore it yesterday p


"Yes, Sir" replied, land it's all safe.
was going to tell you about it when YOU
frightened me"


"Well, ! don't wish to frightcn you my
dear; | had no thought of such thing
Calm yourself Mabel, while | tell you OF
letter | received yesterday, and then
You can get the pin at your leisure You
can get it,


81 can get it, father Or, rather you
can. But hope you will not blame me.
What have you heard about it ?"


"Well, my dear. listen. We have
never attached any value to that old pin,
only that good. kind woman gave it to
your mother to keep for you, and so we
did keep it because of that She was
stranger to us, poor lady, and was in dis
tress, and your mother was kind to her
But she left the place soon after you were
born, and we never heard more of her.
Yesterday, however, got letter from a
long distance, asking about that very pin,
and even to the name on the back 1t is
very valuable, Mabel


My heart was beating ten strokes where
it should have beat but one.


The pin we have set no store by is Of
great value, Mabel. The centre diamond
alone is worth what to us poor people
would be a fortune And il is all yours.
my dear; you can convert the diamonds
into money and be at ease for life.''


What with the overpowering surprise
and what with fear of my fathers anger,
| tainted When | came to myself on the
sofa in the parlor, the children were there,
and it was too late 10 60 to church | felt
bewildered, and trembled yet, but listen
ed attentively to my father as he read the
important letter from London. Then
sprang up wildly.


"Oh father, father, 60 down to the
Black Horse ~ I exclaimed. "The ped
dler is there, and he has my pin"


My fathers first thought was that the
good fortune had turned my brain / ex-
planned all to him. He was very kind
never scolded me; but, as to finding the
pin and the peddler, he knew more of the
world than his foolish child, and was not
so hopeful.


However, he thought it best to 60, and
for me to 90 with him. 50 in few mo-
ments we were walking down to the Black
Horse. The landlord was sitting alone
in his front porch, smoking quietly. He
looked mp surprised when we walked up
the steps, but very politely invited us in
to the parior, explaining that his women
folks had gone to church.


"Is there a peddler staying with you,
Mr.. Ford ?" began my father.


ga peddler ?-no," exclaimed the land
lord as If the question veXed him. II
have not seen peider for three weeks.
and the one that was here then did not
pay his bill"


| must have turned very pale at this and
felt faint again. Mr. Ford wanted me to
take a cordial. My father turned it off.
saying | was tired. Then he said that
had made little bargain with ped(ller
the day before, and that we wished to set
tie with him.


SCOT cheated, warrant" said the bluff
old landlord; "but no such man came to
this house yesterday, do recollect now
that Joe, my 'osler, said he saw il fellow
with a big black box or bundle come up
the bank from the creek Just after the
stage passed; but didn't pay any atten-
ton to him."


Ny father gave up all hope at once;
but | could not believe nv fortune was
gone. He tried to comfort me, saying |
was jus0 as well off as before, and had n
ieW uleSS lhto inc DdISdlH HOW Hdteu
the thonght of my beautiful merno


Well, it is of no use to prolong my story
or TO tell you of all the efforts made to
catch the adroit thief. He was no ped
dler, but clerk in that very law office
from which the letter was sent telling us
of the diamonds. He managed to delay
the letter to my father for post or two
fastened away himself, and obtained my
pin.


We never found him; we never heard
of him. He must have got off somewhere
over the sea with his prize. My poor,
toiling father, always gentle, did not re-
proach me; but even to this day the re-
gret lies heavily on my mind; for what
might 1 not have done for him and the
dear children with all the money?


And the lady who had given me the pin
did not know until she was dying the
value it was of; and that caused the stir
All, me it was one of those chances in
life that perhaps we all miss on occasions
1.-The tide in the affairs of men that taken
at the flood leads on TO fortune" And
about my crimson dress! For long
while, shabby though l was, 1 could not
look at it or let it be made up. But time
soothes trouble. And l must say that it