Evening Star Newspaper, January 24, 1874, Page 2

I went to mysafe to On Wr Hearing how | Drawe And sayir Whar wil! you have i Cherokee Bob at the last debating! That was th gestion’ 1 forgot— But Jones didn’t like Bob's way of stating. Nothing of that kind, eh? ‘ou mean Something milder? Let's see—Oh Joe! ‘Teil to the stranger that little scene ‘ abes in the Woods.” You name that we gave ‘em, sir Two lean pens, and greener ‘Than even mace and tir here they nest, and each day grew lea! No one knew where th camefrom. None sk if they bad a mother. ne 80 sad and shy, Con st each other solely, ‘That somehow we'd always shut 0 And never seem to obser: As they passed to th out el And i oye, .m wholly, Twasa worn- They could liv ‘ vl @ way of leaving game In their teat, and forgetting all about it. Yet ao one asked for *heir secret. Dumb Itisy in thetr big eyes’ heavy ho! It wa. rstood that no one shou To their tent unawares, save the i swallows So they lived alone. Until warm 0 t was 8 ng here he ten When oat of th anset’s rosy lig Up rose the sheritf of Mariposa. I knew at once there was something wrong, For his ba And there is: 30 warn the Babes * Tel! I'm coming—to get and scurry, For I’ve got astory that’s bal, and wor I’ve got a warrant: hurry.”” Too late! they bad seen him cross the hill iran to their tent and found th Dead in each other's arms Clasp'ng the drug they had An! there lay their s:eret sold and sare, Cheir lite, their trial—the old, old stors! For the sweet biae eyes. ant the golden hair Was a woman's shame and a woman's g m lying aken flying “Who were they?"’ Ask no more, or ‘The sun that visi s their grays so ligh Ask the whispering reeds, or task The mourning crickets hat chirrup nightly AU of th tits Love forgot Eversth der and soft und mystic, These a in the Woods, you've got, Well—tluman Nature—that'’s characteristic Bret Ha MISS WHITELAKE’S DIAMONDS. At the time of the remarkable ocurrences about be related | resiied h my uncle, Harrigon Burche, esq., of Fairfield. 1 had gone to that place to engage in the practice of iaw, and cheertully accepted an invitation to make his house my home. My uncle’s family consisted of himself and wife, one son, Giles, and a young laly, Mite Hattie Whitelake, who was an orphan war Giles was near my own a and proved to b a very congenial compan: In personal ap pearance be was quite prepo-sessing, being t well-formed; graceful in manner, and hunt some in face. His mental ,jualities were in ¥> cord with! the attrastiv ‘ a <0u We passed m: a Mise Whi \: haired beauty, whem [ a charming person. A 1 ance confirmed my imy to imagine what happe: in love with her b other a month. 1 soon had the incxpressible jo returned. There was one | ever, to my bliss. Hatticot tain want trust in b = ing in oue of her age, aud coupled with it wa a dismal fashion of lvoking too tauch on the bad side of afairs. These unfortunate traits were first formed by occu rience among stringers, to relate. It is # they existed; and I may that I had good cause to remember thein fur many a day. My uncle favored our love-making, and so Hattie and I were engaged to be married, and the wedding was to take place svn after she | became of lawful age, which would ve in a little more than a year trom that time. | The year rolied smoothly and quietly away. No eveut of any special conse juence marked its Pp je, excepting that, as Huttie’s twenuty-tirst rthday approached, there was a bustle o: Preparation to celebrate the event by a grand entertainment to her friends. | She desired to have, for this occasion, some Hew jewels, and I accompanied her to Clear- port, Our nearest city, to look up the coveted | articies. Her choice fell on sume magniticel jiamonds—a breastpin, car-rings and necklace, of unique pattern and exquisite workmanship. ‘The purchase was delaycd, however, because their cost was greater than the amount she had expected to expend, and, althoagh she was quite rich enough to aford them, it was thought best by both of us to twith her guardian again before deciding. So we went back with- vat the diamonds. After due consultation, ee concluded to take them, and, a my uncle would have occasi g2 to Clearport on other bus etore t would be needed, he was commissioned to ge them. { was absent from tervening before th tarn, found that my rt and brought home the ba be birthday festival pa: t or the time in- and, oa my re- i been to Ciear- wamonds. dof things usually do. Nothing o quires mention in this afterward. Loweve>, 4 seri mences most extra ’ ing character. Hiatt home to a month in the © , having little use for her jewels, and besides not thiuking it quite safe to have such valaables about her when out of town, she gave them into my care until her return. I immediately locked them up in my othee-safe. The next day I nad a sudden call to business in Ciearport, and was absent about three weeks. On my return I was surprised to find Hattie at horae again. She had become tired of the country sooner than she had expect- ed. A few evenings after, we bad invitations to @ fashionable gathering, and Hattie wished to wear her diamonds. went to my safe to get them. and, to my inexpres ié astonishment ‘ound ightest disturbance perfect order, and, by ing of the ‘‘combinati or dial kiad, could not have been picked. The on!y known way to get it open was by turning the dial tu certain numbers in adefiuite order. I had told noone how I had set it when | left nome, and there was scarcely one chance in @ million that any- body had guessed it. t was sure that noone outsideor my family had known of my haying the diamo: and yet, whoever had committed the burgiary, appeared to have them alone in view, fur there were other valuables in the safe which were seit us ouched. These valuables were bouts Belonging w severai cil pte who had iutrastet them to me for safe keeping, and were payable tothe bearer.” This tact increased the uys- tery. Jewels which might be easily iteotified bi been taken, and money lett behind which would have been intinitely less like to lead to the detection of the thiet. Had the diamonds been my own,the loss would bave been bad enough; under the then existing cireumstances, it was 4 thoasant times worse. My situation was horrible. Nobody had seen me put them in the sate, and, even had that been the case, I had no'proof o: not saving them out again myselr. | had no thoug! y of my friends would for a moment ¢ of such infamous rascality as havin gto do with their disappearance, but image dreadful when E Epa i 8 i i ir i i i ! i i ! I f out @ paper, and there were the jewels, ii, jastasi bad received them fro and just as i had 2¥ own hands We were all delighted to have them back again, vou may be sure; but the myste tinued to be as perplexing as ever, or, indeed, case and m Hattie. locked them up for ner grith ore so. Whe ad stolen the diamonds either repented afterward, or else restored them trem fear of bemg foundout. Bat who was the thief? and how bad he gotten twice tnto yeate Annoying asthe stions were, I had yet the great ~atista { fecling that whoever was at the bottom the affair, I at lea cleared from the remotest sus toing. ghted mortals’ Could It foreseen < time that the new troables hese ab jewels were soon to bring pen me, I should, doubtless, have wished they had to the bottom of the sea, in- stead! of having reappeared in my strong box I have omitted to mention that just before the loss of the diamonds my marriage with Hattie | had been postponed for another year. The rea- sons for it were comparatively unimportant, and may be summed up by sayingthat I did not feel quite ready to marry. Hattie was very willing to wait, especi we could see each other so often. Before the first halt of this year had gone, I made an unpleasant discovery. Giles Burche s learning to think too much of Hattie White- lake. He knew her engagement, and, al though I could not say positively that he wa: endeavoring to supplant me, I had good reas to believe it. Not a word was spoken, but Giles soon perceived my suspicions. We understood ch other, an trom thattime the breach be- ween Us widened id. formal p took the place of our friends! this, of course, and several tim | reason. I was then jealous eno she only affected iguorance, ans avoided an answer. Matters had gone on in th | when Hattie went to Clear; some little affairs of busi would be home ag: did not return as promised came a letter from her to w it hada .one wr what was to come. jreadfu! vou shal Mr. Antuve B the had fter. and She there When | received giving that some had utterly unpr ‘or It was a dreadful letter; how see tor yourself 28. el lett bome y days ago, { have mething about the bu y that oc- curred some time ago, which makes it neces- sary forme to break ow our engagement at once. I perhaps ought not say angthing more, yet I feel that J must teil you how I found out your villain * “A week or two 2 I read someth’ newspaper about how artificial diamot made, and the article wound up with an anec- dote about a lady who had been so cleverly de- ceived by het own husband that she had worn false diamonds for years, and never wou known apy better if it had not been for an ac- cident. After | read this I began to wonder if the diamonds I have now were the same ones | had given vou to keep. I didn’t want to suspect you, but the more I tried thought of it, the more it hannted me, until Isaid to mj-eif, ‘I'll go up to Clearport and have my fiamonds examined, just to be rid of my foolish, icked thoughts about Arthur.’ I had no idea cf what 1 was to learn; it was a dreadfal dis- euy + but it well for me that I made it in ‘ time.” My diamonds are all coun Bat why should [ teil you, who already know ali about it? ittle too soon for you. It is all as plain to me pow asit bas been all along to you. I under- stand how the diamonds got out of your safe, why you had ‘business’ in Clearport the day after I went to the country, and how my jewels happened to be found again in such a strange way But enough; vilely as you have deceived me, { will not betray you. I will keep your secret aslong as I live. In return, 1 ask you to go away from Fairfield. Invent any excuse you can, and spare me the pain of ever meeting you hereafter. I shail stay here « month, and then hope to hear that you have dune whut i as H.W As soon as I recovered from the shock this letter gave to me, I naturally cast about tind Tor some means of escape from the which bad been thrown around me in such terious manner, but I could not think of ast clue that would lead me out. The dia- monds wight possibly have been counterfeits when they left the haixs of the jewelers, but from the reputation of the ficm, I could hardly tthem, or think they would have risked cir credit even it disposed to be di and, had I believed them guilty of fraud, no more ability to prove it thar how the jewels had disappeared trom my tody. All the facts oné conclusion in m aged, in some way Ic gina ous case pointed to but nd. Some one had man- id not guess, to get the diamonds out of my safe during my absence, and had substituted false ones to conceal the robbery. The robber had evidently been de- layed in carrying out his scheme, but finally vmpleted it in the hope that the jewels had not been mussed,or that, if they liad, the trick would not be suspected when they reappeared. But who was the thief’? Circamstances unde- niably pointed tome, and I had no proot to give that would show my innocence. Only one resource remained—to throw myselt back ‘on my honor. I thought at first of go ng immediately to eee Hattie, but I doubted if she would rece.ve me, anid so conclucied to write in- stead. Her answer killed all hope: “1 could not trust you atter what has happened. Unicss I know that you are innocent, we can never meet again.” “I now believed that my jealousy had been well founded. Atter this pere myptory refusal to even discuss the matter, I began to hing that Hattie wished to be rid of me, and as glad of £0 good excuse for breaking our gagement Nothing was now left for me todo but to leave Fairfield. I told my uncle that Hattie and I disagreed. He maa J inquired the cause. I | told Bim that must be known only to Hattic and myself. Hewas very reluctant to hear to my going away, and insisted on interposing his kind offices, but I felt that they would be of mo use; and, besides, my pride was now so stung that! did not want a reconciliation. So I lett bim, to travel a month or two, determining that Iwould after that settle in or near Clearport, and devote all the energy I could spare to un- Traveling the dreadful mystery of the diamonds. Itt. I resume my story at a period about three mC nths subsequent to the events narrated in the last cnap'er. I bad tound some relief from my troubles in the excitements ef travel, and then carried out my determination of locating in Clearport. I bad quitted Fairfield insuch a «listracted state of mind that I did not feel as if 1 could consuit with any one, or make any ar- rangements for professional assistance. You may think it strange I should have delayed so long, but the truth is that, appearances being so strong against me, | shrank from laying open my case to any one even in a professionai way. I had another good reason, too, for my delay. Soon after I lett Fairtield, a suspicion dawned on my mind of who the criminal might be. I actually dreaded the idea of proving this suspicion to be correct, for the person | had fixed on was my cousin, Giles Burche. And, it | it should be he, I felt that I would rather keep the matter in my own hands. I am afraid I felt too much like screening him trom jastice if be should be found guilty, but I reasoned that it would be bad enough in this case to show who was the thief to these who must know it. With such a one as Giles, I felt that the punish- went of exposure to his friends would be severe epough, and that he could be, perhaps, re- claumed by such a mild measare, while harsher ones would hurry him to destruction. ‘While | was thinking out a plan of action, 1 had an invitation to go to Four Oaks to meet a | friend. Four Oaks was # little village on the line of railway runoing from Clearport to Fatr- geld. It was only an hour's rid» from the former | piace, and I went down early in the morning, | expecting to return late in the evening. But | my friend and I bad so much to talk about that | | Lagreed to remain overnight. He having busi- ness that separated us for 4 couple of hours in the evening, I set ont alone fora stroll. The weather was delightful, and the fresh couutry air tempted me to prolong my walk beyond the boundsof the village. I wandered on until the shades of night began to fail, reminding me | that it was time to retrace my steps. I was just | on the point of turning avout, when som thing caught my eye that caused me to hurry forward instead. The road J had chosen ran aralicl wiih the railroad, and, from the point had reached, I could see the lines of iron stretching far out into the distance. A little way ahead of me one of the rails appeared to have lost its mate. ‘The line was unbroken on the one side; on the other it bad disa; 5 When I came up to the place, my worst fears liteness | | It becomes my painful duty to tell you is were | have | to drive awky the | I got back from my country visit a | | more hopelessly in the dark than before. | went down. I had scarcely got into my cousin's the train under fall speed, and no sign was given that I had been seen or heard. Ina moments it woald reach me. Mustering all my strength [ made one last ‘and effort. ‘Stop for your life!” I shouted, #the engine flew past me. I was heard! Quick and sharp came the whistlefor brakcs. Ima moment mor: a shower of sparks was flying from the track, and I knew that the engine had ben raveraed The spaed of the train was now checked a little: could it yet be saved? A moment of unatterable sus- pense and horror followed. Too late! The momentnim carried it on to the fatal piace, and headlong it went down over the steep embank- ment I will not istress you with the horrors I saw when] made my way back to the culvert. There were plenty of uninjured passengers to care for the wounded until help arrived, and, glad to escape trom the scene, I set out as fast as my | limbs would carry me toward Fonr Oaks. As [ neared the village | was fortanate enough to meet two men on horseback, who, of course, immediately turned to give the alarm. The | People were soon aroused, and hurried to the | wreck with hand-cars and wagons, and the re- | movalot the dead and wounded to Four Uaks | Was commenced with all possible expedition. Three persons had been killed outright, and a dozen or more seriously injured. I remained at the station, anxiously watching to see if any one of my Acquaintance was among the sufferers. My vague fears wererealized. My cousin Giles Was one of the dangerously wounded. Under other cirenmstances I do not suppose I could have brought myseif to treat him with even common civility, but when I saw him ly- ng before me senseless, and perhaps dying, my ard thoughts melted away, and I was realy o what T could for him to the utterm rocured tre most comfortable rs I co nd the best medical attendan nd then, of ourse, sent for bis parents. They ampaved the ext morning and found Giles delirious A evere blow on the bead had stunned him, and 5 consciousness returned, a rag etin For many days and nights we watch th: t ath. When th the batth 1 intoa p Jumber When I we and avo to the next day his wan face 1 up wi das soonas I got ne ough he reached ont bis thin, white | band. saying: “Arthur, my dear old boy, how an Dever thank yo —you saved my lite. Mother has told me ail | | | Iv. | | had gone, Gilesremained so weak that l unable to converse beyond a few wort ntervals. Dnring this time I was frequ room, and he always appeared to be pleased ee me. Here was anew pu Day atter ay be welecmed me ina manner so confiding, and with a look so innecent, that I began to | tif it were possible that he could be guilty oft charged in my | mind. asked myself, that one who lo it be so unntterably | foul? Yet I had weighty reasons for bel: ving | t Giles was the man who had stolen the | diamonds. | 1 continued in this bewildered state unti | Giles bi: lf threw a weight into the scales | that turned them for the second time against him. As soon as he was able to speak at all in more than monosyilables, he said to me: “Ar- ‘hur, I have done you wrong. I am too weak yet to tell you more. I have tried to look so you would know that I wanted to be at peace with you.” | now believed, of course, that Giles alluded to his endeavor to supplant me in the affections of Miss Whitelake; I believed, fur- ther, that he had something to tell me about the joss of the diamonds. How far I was right you will very coon discover, as [ had not long to wait 10F ny Cousin’s revelations. A tew days after he had first named the mat- ‘er he felt strong enough to tell me what was onhistmind. It was still hard work for the voor fellow to talk, but he seemed su intent on telling his story that I could not prevail on him to wait, and, to tell the truth, | was so over- powered by the Ateeblé show of resistance. He had ¢ ently arranged that our interview should have > with Tor we were left alone very soon ifter I came in. i ‘he began, bgt? aul. smiled faintly and nodded, and the: je pause, restimed: “1 was a very great yil- ain, Arthur, todoasIdid. Bat it seemed to me | couldn't help loving her. I parted you two, but I mean to bring you together again. Hattle never did care anything forme, all. I found that out the day betore I left Fairtield, snd Was on my Way to see you and teli you to ome back, when I was stopped by the acci- nt.” He paused now ast oked tor me to make some sature coukt no longer resist. would make a bold stroke. “Never mind about that now, me about the diamond: Giles looked puzzied—as thongh he did not know why I bad asked the (uestion but prompt- y replied with a smile: “Ah, you guessed it was | who took them! was.’ “But how,” I persisted, ‘did you get them” Wit rprise, 28 thougl he sup- osed sing one part of the riddle, , he replied “you know what I want ough he had sh and man wrong, y. I Hight or said 1; ‘tell It He paused to rest, and I had time to rettect on his singular behavior. I found myself losing vatience. Instead of waiting to hear a full e. planation of how the sate had been opened— 1ow he had managed to find out the combina- ionon which I had locked it—I interrupted him with, ‘Come, come, Giles, 1 am ready to ‘orgive you all the wrong you bave done me, but (don't like to hear you speak so lightly and unconeernedly about so dreadfully serious a thing. Once more the puzzled look came into his | face, and he said: “ T don’t quite understand yon." At this I could contain myself no longer. “' How can you talk #0, Giles,” I cried, “after robbing Hattie, and then suitering me to be branded as the thief? “ For Heaven's sake, Arthur,” he rejoined, “what do you mesn’?”” I was blind with indignation. the mischief 1 wax doing. “Mean,” retorted I, with a sneer, as a new idea flashed into my mind, “I mean that you are 4 greater scoundrel than I thought you a moment ago. I understand you now. You thought I didn’t know that Hattie’s diamonds were never returned, and that you put back in | their place only a vile imitation!”” Isball never forget the look of horror and dismay that Giles gave me,as I finished. His | wyes rested on me but a moment; he gave ashort | gasp for breath; a deathly palor crept over his face, and, for a moment Gr two, { thought I had killed him 1 ‘ourse, lost no time in calling for help. | My cousin lay for some time in a death-like swoon. but by and by began lowly. to revive. | Assoon as I saw this I quietly withdrew, for | Tear the eight of me might do fresh damag: That night Giles was again very ill. I was overpowered by anxiety and stricken by re- morse. My troubles were intensified by my aoli- | citude to learn the remainder of the story I had | so rashly interrupted. If Giles should die now, | I might never hear it, aud would then be left 1 could not see Vv. My worst fears for Giles were happily not realized. In a few days | had the intense satis- faction of knowing that he was again out of danger. I dared not risk another interview until there was no cha of a second rela; and, as the best way of avoiding it, left Four Oaks for home. Giies made anxious inquiries for me, but I refused to return until the doctor assured his mother that it would besafe. I then room when he asked his other friends to retire, and at once commenced on the old subject, by saying: “Arthur, do you believe that I could do such @ thing as you accused me of the la-t time | saw you?” I was silent. I really did not know what reply to make, slooked at me with painful anxiety ex- pressed in every feature of bis countenance. “Tsee you doubt me,” he continued; “and you have'a right to; but I declare most solemuly For the firat eight or ten days after the fever sire to hear it that I made | sw Tought to have tot you then, bat I didnt, and by some stran, busy every day tn your o J coaid be there. “As the matter wouldn't be Made any worse, I waited for my chance, and got the diamonds back In the safe the evening efure ou went away on your second journey. Again I swear to yon that I took them only for & juke, and for aught I know to the contrary, put them back ag them.” Giles" story was straightforward enoagh, but, much 9s I was inclined to give him the henetit of my doubts, it was far from clearing him of suspicion. Not very long after the rodery, I had heard that the new locks had been so r. ily opeued on several occasions in the way de- seribed by Giles, that the inventor had ad ted an attachment to overcome the unlooked-fur danger. Giles had doubtless heard of this also, and, knowing that I could scarcely forget the taik we had had about the lock when [ tirst got my safe, he would naturally suppose that he might be suspected. It was just from these two things, in fact, that my suspicion of him had been aroused. “And wien I charged him with the robbery might he not have felt so sure that T had some positive evidence against him that he chose this clever way of escaping? The case looked very bad for him. “Giles,” said 1, after I had resolved the mat- ter over and over iu my mind, “where did you keep the diamonds all the time they were in your possession?” ~In a drawer in my desk, which I kept locked all the time,’ he replied. “Did you ever look at them daring that time?” tatality, roa were joe at the only time 2, nearly every day, to see if they were } ain just as I had found | agatn.” | strictly private one, may I boit the door?” the idea of seeing her humiliated before astran- AN INTERVE WwW WITh RICHARD T, and begged Kraf tolet as take tue mitter WAGNER. @ thy own hand again. [Tranclated f Journat.} “You recollect that vou didn’t get along 30 Walking down the Matn Street of the Toll with it befereby yourself, doa't you” Bo | picasant city of Bairenth, stopped at acme Thad to acknowledge that I dit A haadtem nay cogtatd eee Well, youbad better let me have it my way istar Wager ree & litwe longer. or you'll be sare to spoil it | “te ie at the arora hone @ answer “Have vou au ze eave Tfelt that [could not help myself, and. as we | bad nearly reached my uncle's house, [ passive | me WE ee ae aieeed ly submitted to what appeared inevitab'e. Five minutes later I was at the epot When our ring was acswered, Mr. Kraft | mensions of this mew Wagnerian’ opera ve gave his pame only, and asked for Mr. Burche. Hl Imagine the three largest We were shown into the ta niliat library, a» thrown into ° od von in afew minutes my uncle made his appsar- enormous e now ance. He was glad to see me, but evidently sur- orn) other purpose than © prised. especially as Mr. Kra‘t was an entire | 2 representations ot the Wagner.a. mas stranger to him. After an introduction, we all Of the future to minastyie such as th works of no operatic composer have enjored 1 asked a laborer to tell me where I could 4 Richard Wagner. “There he stands,” group of carpenters. shirt-sleeves. ‘One was 4 tall man, wit lexion, and most ures. was Wagner, the composer of hauser™ and «-Loheng I hastened to him and said «Herr Richard Wagner He turned round to me. an my address, took from me the un 1 presented to him, It was trom Jone chatted a little about common-place ‘aifairs. Mr. Kraff seemed to no hurry to tntrodace his business, but calmly awalted a favorabie pause. He} took advantage, however, of the tirstone that offered. “Mr. Burche,” said he, addressing my uacle, 1 have come to see you abouta little matter that’s rather unpleasant, and, as it ought to be a | ho replied, p Al. of them w ting toa re in th black hatr, ew remarkubly-o With much surprise, my uncle assented The detective continued: “You remember, of course, that some monds belonging to Miss ,Whitelake, a young | friend of yours, turned up missing a year or so ago, and then were found again in a cartons sortof way. Well, Miss Whitelake said a: ward that the diatnonds that cam not the real article, and ehe th: ntleman, my client, was the person who stole 4, acknow Ps hem. It was a very mixed up case, but Lth ak ‘ These answers were given so frankly that, | [have it all untwisted now. T o wan very damaging character c titling difficulty remaining, which 1 think mat adm n they contained, they favored al can settle for us.’” ~ in my cousin's innocence. But the stub “Mr. Kratf paused; my uncle sal’ a word fact remained that he had watched t 1 listened with breathless anxiety for what w . moved admitted, it woal to come next. been next mpossible for anyone to ha hem out without his knowledge, much | ave been able to keep them long enough to ituted co: We talked the erfeits for the genuine, atter over again and again, ny further result. I could only tell Giles that T did not know w to th ant at L hoped to be able to prove him innocent With that I left him, and, by the first train atterward, returned to Ciearport vi. I now determined to do what I p ought | to have done at the first, namely, give my case into the hands ot a well-pract sy a little inquiry, I learned that one Fabius KTai was considered the most skillful man in this line to be found in Clearport, and to him I accordingly went. I found Mr. Krai to be a singular Compound of youthtuiness and exp rience. He was small and thin, and not ver attractive in appearance, and, thoagh ap- parently not over twenty-five years old, had the manners of a man of forty.” His gray eyes were keen and penetrating, and he had such a decided thict-taking air about him that I at once felt sure he was a proper person for my task. 1 told my story as briefly as possible, and he ‘istened with the closest attention. As soon as | had tinished, he expressed a lively interest in the case, and asked why I had not come to him at the first. I explained my motives, aud made a condition that any discoveries he might make should be kept strictly between ourselves until I shouid otherwise direct. Mr. Kraif’ assented, but continued to iament the loss of time. spoil many a good case, and it’s mighty lik yon've spoiled this one by waiting so long.” He was willin take It, an i | id he would do his best. Atter tienlars, and making a few notes in his memo. | randum-book, Mr. kratf promised that he would immediately cet to work, and wouid let me hear | from him as soon as he Nad anything detinite to say. I then left him. note from the detective, which ran as follows: ‘Can you teli me the name of the party that said the diamonds were not diamonds” I could not, and replied to that efiect. Mr. Kratl wrote again, saying that it was important tor him to know, and he would like me to in- | ‘(uire of Miss Whitelake. I woudered why he isked me to do this, instead ot seeing or writing her himself, and it was with attest deal of re- luctance that I undertook to comply. Aiter | what had passed between Hattie and niyself, it | Wasa hard tack to approach ber again, and it | was only atter spoiling three or four sheets of | paper that I gota letter at allin shape to suie €. I wrote thus: Miss WHitTRLAKE [am still pursuing my ine #8 of your diamonds, uiries regarding ‘The ofticer who is ng me wishes the address of the person who pronounced your jewels counterteit. Will you oblige me by torwarding it to— “Yours respectfully, ARTHUR BrReag.” In due course I received the following an- swer “ DEaR Mr. Berene. “1 have long wished to take back what I ce said to you, bat both pride and shame ekept me trom it. My conscience would have forced me to it sooner or jater, I h but Iam eo glad you have helped me, by ste, to do itnow. You know my dreadtu sition to doubt everybody. L repent it bitter~ , and Lam heartily sorry [ ever deubted you, the ha * Delays are dangerous, sir,” he said; “Jelays | enough, however, to under- | iuestioning me closely concerning all the par- | | The day alter this interview, 1 received a |“ iuake restitution. | counterfeit diamonds to this town, and hand | them over to Miss Whitelake, making bel | did not know you, buthe remembered absat | ing. The detective’s voice was a little firmer t {ore when he resumed “Mr. Burche, appearances gs, but I gotahead of th Harrison Burche, you are th deceitfal cali. Mr Great Heaven! can it be?” I groaned : My uncle made no reply, b u lara, 1 ix chair, a pictare of heipl 5 Last week ¢ “1 see you are uot disposed to contradict w i spanedeione it { say.” resumed Mr. Kraff, ‘but it will bo mthanlew ain os ter fohave a fair wuderstanding of this case we're all together here. We'll h as among ourselves, wh generous le of going to court. i'll be the | sro, vi a Ss young gentleman shall be the 1 said I could not gw the generous Myevidence is, that ayear or | jonor waa 7 . =o ss Whitelake asked youto get her a] «Why, bis Bavarian majesty sent me that certain set of Diamonds from Messts. Harley ly gift,” he ta f . and Brother, Jewellers, of Clearport. You Lewis?” 1 exclained, but tought them on or about the first day of May, he interrupted, gayly, “you th D. 18—. (n the same day you took these | what most p ¢ belie that the King « me diamonds to Monsieur Gambre, of the city | sre enemien ther ing in that re oresaid, and engag: a m to take their settings and put back a first-class imitation in place. He finished the job recording tuorder and,on the 15th day of May, you brought the od m ont of either, 1. Bat if we quarrel some remain friends. The king gave 4 thousand dollars for me heatre tore.” All this conversa n had been carr ihe presence of several carpenters. H ner gaye them some instructions, and th acted me round the theatre as far as it was finished, I was especially struck with the colossal di- mens he stag “But this will reqaire an immens. i exclaimed No fewer than three | of course, that they were the real seen and asked you to get. Monsie Camre the jewelry. “and described the man that Vrought it. “1 managed to get a good pictare of you to show him, and he say Mr. Judge,” asked the detective, t me, “what do you think of the eviden: My uncle saved me the troubie of orchestra, answer- ndred performers, = 4 said Richard Wagner, gravely. «1 have written ith a suddegeftort he roused himseit from | :ny operas for vast orchestras. ‘Tanuhauser his esperate calmness, and plemlec wy first opera bere, will have a band of th $ are me, Arthur; | am guilty pove number of instruments. There w My horror and indignation began to give way y for the wretched man betore me. was s0 strongly tempted by need of money:”” venty-five violins, and twenty-five tromh th ne n will people, for the first ime, learn what | intended with the overtare.” 0 he continued,” you cannot tell how strongly: I've “Will not the expense be very heayy’”” I | repented bitterly enough, but Inefer was able | asked. “For the musicians and singers? No. Tha) We at once sent for Hattie. She was, of course, surprised zlad to see me again.’ I proce: o tell her what had passed between my uncle and myselt “Itis true, Hattie,” he faltered; Iam guil- ty?” “Lam not much surpris have more than half suspe time.”? 1 was fully vindicated Now, what was to be done with the erimic We, of course, shrank from the idea of haw ing him over to the officers of the law, and ar misgivings we ht have had in regard to our now more applications for gratuitous coopera- tion from first-class singers and musicians that I can use. Joachim will lead t violins, Loszt will preside at the organ. And,” he added, with glowing face, ‘that organ will be a superb one more powerful and melodious than the one at Ulm, although it will not be quite so large hat organ will be a present, too,” be added gays said she,“‘for I d you tor some the destination of manentiy?” |e ntitto the mation in iss tition that ev eras ¢ here grand ¢ “1 8 replied, gra nee, for two German ¢ nty were quiete’ by the r tion that ia his . Thus my opera: © remorse & hail alread ete | institution inthe tr all the punt would be of ny use nstitution hat no Weagreed to bury his sccret with ourselves. | country can boast of; and the annual No one el-e knew ot it, tor even ( ne-s in itwill be something like the heard no names, or any particular and would likely never see my uncle again if the latter did not put himself in the way. Bat little more remains to be told. Yo ames in ancient Greece; vais of art; tributes to ympathet graud, enins which w wo throughout the worl: tle m The wa e glowed with enthusiasm as readily imagine that, alter the mystery of t he mteened <5 Soot spemae. | diamonds had been solved, I hada strong dis- | “Te: us co home.” he sail, after a briet position to make up with Hattic, and. she had | anse; and we walked slowle Main Street jong before repented of having oubte La} [Menage : | had’no trouble in regaining my former place in tor I feel surenow that you had nothing todo | sith the loss of the diamonds. ver suspecting you. AS nobody knows that I accnsed you of taking them, and as { am now perfec!) satistied that you did not, there is no need to go to any more trouble about them. Indeed, f would ranch rather vou should not. 1 think {now really know the one that is to blame, and ir I am right, it will be better for us not to see it prov -ened, and believe me to be _ “Your tnend, “Hattie.” This letter gave me an entirely new suspicion. After charging me with an infamous crime, why did Miss Whitelake want me to stop in my «tlorts to clear myself” Might it not bs that abe self hal invented the whole story about ‘he falsiticasion of the diamonds in order to »reak olf our engagement? Badly as I had been treated by Hattie, I had never before sus- pected her for an instant of any greater fault | than the one which has already been repeatedly mentioned, and I was horror-stricken at the new turn the mystery of the diamonds had taken in my mind. I hurried to Mr. Kraft and showed him the letter. He smiled and said, in a confident way, that it was just the kind of an answer he h expected; and I then understood why this wily man had got me to question Miss Waitelake in- stead of doing it himsei ** You see a little way into this?” queried he. “You suspect that Miss Whitelake's story is net true,” T replied. It may be true and it may not,” he answered, with characteristic caution, “nd our first busi- ness is to find that out.” “The only reason | know for inventing the story,”’ said 1, “ would have been to get rid of me. Is it possible she should do such a think when there was no need of it; when she could have accomplished her wishes without it!” Imost anything is possible,” replied Mr. Kraft, “ but it won't do to be too sure of what is and what isn't. There might have ben a need of doing it according to her way of think- ing, and there might not. Had she a fancy to any other young man besides you “Not that I know, uniess it was my cou-in Giles, and he says she never cared anything about him.’ Mr. Kraff kmitted his brows a little at this, and then fell to rubbing his forehead gently, as though that was his customary way of de- veloping ideas. He soon rubbed out a conclu- sion. “It might have been,” said he, “ that she bad some strong reason for wanting to marry this gentleman you speak of, and still liked you ® great deal better all the time. Well if you had stayed where she was, she might not have been able to keep up her resolation, and the only safe plan was to get you away and keep you away.” My distress at this confirmation of my suspl- clons showed so plainly in my face that the de- tective immediately added: “Wait a little, Mr. Burche—wait a little; we dont know any thing about the case yet.”” His words encouraged me. A new gleam of hope came intomy mind for the woman 1 had that L took the diamonds only for a jest, and that, for all I know, I put thers back again. It false ones were put in their place, it must have been done while I had them in my desk. How- ever that may be, 1 swear to you that 1 am in- nocent. He looked so distressed and so honest that all my sympathies were moved for him. Birt believe you, re realized. A of timber, bridging a narrow culvert, had become unsound, aud par- tially given way under the last train that had passed over, and the railbad been 80 broken i HH i was high i 4 & & les,” I eried, *f would fain and I will hard to doit. Let me hear your fi yeney k ot safe rf «« Well, you know you got your safe not long beens the diamonds were bought.” + Yes.” *« And don’t you remember we had quite an argument about the lock? You said it could a pombe bs opened by anybody unless he whew the << which it had been set, and Isaid I believed that, by Nome Ms, ona feel a little jar in the knob when the stops in- side fell into their places, and so epen it with- knowing anything about the figures.” aa FE Fy i i 8 Ei PE a rine once loved so dearly. “It Miss Whitelake went tothe length you suppose posaible to get rid of me,” said 1. should she ae Bon Sees my cousin wi er If she did refuse,” replied Mr. Kraff, ‘that can be answered easy enough. She might have your cousin wasn’t th> man repented, or mayhe iu the case after all. & thief than to find out that Hattie Whit herself was the author of my trouble. Aft:ran assurance of further active investi; Mr. Kraff! left him, and went home distressed about the of the than I had ever been vu. at hte office, could never find him at re Again I ask you to forget what has hap- | Forgive me for | i} | For a bttle while he carried out these instruc- siegeaahly middle of which here Every now and then a citizen passed us. A olan ee 5 ot them greeted Richard Wagner with affection- My uncle left Fairfield with his family soon | \tereverence. The people of Baireuth seem to after his guilt was discovered, and we never | understand how much lustre the great enter saw him again. He died ina few years after prise of Wagner will shed upon their hum leaving hia old home. e city. They have already made him an hon Indue time Hatti : + “4 - ry citizen of Baireuth, a @stinetion conferred Whitelake becam? Mrs. Arthur Burche. Wath this important evertmy | {2 hoone except him and Bismarck, story ends. Joun H. Syty iy At Wagner's house I was introduced to his —_—_—__---ee--_—__ wite, a beautiful and accomplished lady, a BOBEY’S TROUSERS. to hereminent husband. She is | d ceshier, She showed me th ove-mentioned letter from the king of Bay ria, and allowed me to copy it. It was very brief, and to the point. HOHENSCHWANGAU, October 15, 1873. “My pear Wagner: Here are three hun- ‘red thousand dollars more for your opera- bouse. Thatsum, I trust, will “eo “‘And when will the opera-house be [ asked. “If I live,” replied Wagner, solemnly, ‘on the Ist of May, 175. It cannot be done before. nm that occasion we shall have an audience such as bas never been assembled in a thee stre before. Already bave I invited all wel known operatic composers, even my bitterest enemies. Nearly all of them have answered that they would be present. Of course, the hings and emperors will be here, too. it will beagrand festivalfor little Baireuth. Three ew hotels will be built by that time.” And thus the great man chatted on. I left him with the impression that he is the most genial, energetic, and modest of all the It is not wise to do or say anything toa child under an injunetion not to tell. Here is a story in point, which was reported to me from the laaies at Finisk, Perkshire (1853). A High- land family of some diguity, vuc not much means, was to receive a visit from some rela- lions for the first time. Great was the anxiety and great the efforts to make things wear a re- ~pectable appearance before these assumedly- fastidious strangers. The lady had contrived to get up a pretty good dinner; but, either from an indulgent disposition, or from some defect in her set of servants, she allowed her son Bobby, a little boy, to be present, instead of re~ manding him to the narsery. But little was she aware of Bobby's power of torture. Bobby. who was dressed in a new jacket and a pair of butt-colored trousers, had previously received strict injunctions to sit at taple quiet- ly, and on no account to join i conversation. tions by sitting pertectly quiet till the last guest had been belped to soup, whereupon, ducing a slight lull in the general conversation, Boboy rg pho it Thad ever met with in my 1 want some soup, mamma.’ minent composers wget ™ : ay ‘You can't be allowed to have any soup, | OE masical carver—From th< Leipsic Musical Bobby. You must not be always asking for | “#2¢'(¢-¢y thing’ Al ma. “Ir you don’t give me some soup immediate- ty, Pll tell you!” The lady seemed a little trondied, and instead of sending Bobby out of the room, quietly yielded to his demand. Soup being renewed, and fish introduced, there was a fresh demand. “Mamma, I want some sea-fish” (a rarity in the Highlands. “Bobby,” said the mother, ‘‘you are verv for- ward. Youcan’t get any fish. Yuu must sit ietly, and not trouble us much.” Well, mamma, if I don’t get some fish, mind I'll tell you"? “OQ Bob! you're a plague!” and then she gave him the tish. A little further on in the dinner, Bobby ob- serving his papa and guests taking wine, was pleased to break in once more, “Papa, I would like a giase of wine!” By this time, ‘aa might well be supposed, the attention of the company had been pretty well drawn to Bobby, about whom, in all probabil- ity, there prevailed but one opinion. The father was irritated atthe incident. “Bobby, you must be ywiet; you can have no wine.” “Well, papa, if I don’t get some wine, mind 1'll tell you. “You rascal, you shall have no wine! “You had betier do it,” answered Bobby, firm- ly. “Once, twice-——will you give the wine? Jome, now, mind I'll tell you. Once— twice——"? The father looked canes and lashes at his progeny. er however, was not to be daunted. ‘Here goes now! Once, twice—will you do it? Once, tvice, thrice! My (rousers were made out of mother’s old window-blints!”” Stiff English party dissolves in unconstrain- able merriment.—Dr. Rober! Chambers’ “Scrap ” Tae Wit ov A Witty Man.—The late Ieaas O. Barnes has been the subject of i goot stories, one of which has not yet found its way [Virginia City Enterp nik, of McGinnis’ Station, at the six-mile Canyon, has » hog which. ¥ Mr. Me mouth of F though quite young, stands about 3 feet hig and is as slender asa race-horse. It not on’ has astonishingly long and slender legs, but r ices in the possession of a snout about half as ong as bis body. It is peculiarly marked, be- ing as black as acoal from its fore legs to the end of its nose, while the remainder of its bodv issnow-white. Itisa * pet, and never ix 50 happy as when in the bouse playing with the ebildren. By ruaning with the children «nd dogs it has learnt todo many things a hog has s-idom seen to do, asto jump fences and the like. The owner says he has not a fence on his ranch that the hog can not jump. The hog takes great interest in strangers and likes to get ac- juarmted with them and have them play with nd notice him. Atunny thing happened to a couple of our citizens—James Kelly, the soda man,and Tommy (uinlan, who were down the anyon and stop for a short time at McGin- vis’ place. They saw but little of the hog till they were driving away and knew nothing of its playful habits. Great was their surprise. therefore. to see @ long-legged, long-nosel weast start after them on a keen gallop. bat when the creature came up with them and at a angle bound landed himeeif. owl rear of the soda-w: , our friends t the beast was possessed of a devil aot eaiaaen their time bad come. As the hog landed in the wagon Quinlan landed out, tumbling into a big mud- hole, but Mr. Kelly did not dare let go the rei! and so was left alone with the enemy. He opened a rapid freon the animal with sod: bottles, and the playful ‘ker eonsidering this rather rough treatment bounded out of the ve- hicle as gracefully as oes frye and gal- loped back to the ranch, & crowd of men stood laughing at the pranks of piggy. i rus re ay lari take a last The Religion tm Persia. Aremarkabie movement hes for somes time deen going on in Persia, which indicates that even that country t+ not free from a religious ike that which has been agitating @ uch of the more civilized w rm vie long been ing bet we © and the Mooles. bat no ox could fer time be w undertakes te the origin of a mew creed, rdace & momentors ct are of t he x Aly The cre ¥ contrary te the Mosie nie net believe in any prophet ¥ Worship the Almighty. There are planst attained ick A Teer re r th e Supreme Being, trat t " bas spree! so far its tt : several save noblemen, w o have joined it. “Now it appears t b Sadre Arm, or Grand Virler, is also an advo cate of the new religion—a fact of w! hb the big Moolas and pries o 8 ant. it need . priests and Kazees 0 ences of the spread h g tuction to the Moslem faith t « - vatied upon the t© emb h t Why ————— “CHAPTER” “THE “L.48T." REMAINING STO OCR GRAN CLOSING OUT SALE HAS BEEN EMMINENTLY AND WILL BE ¢ UNTIL OUR ENTIRE STOCK OF FINE CLOTHING IS CLOSED OUT. St CCESSFUL NTINVED 30 TO 45 PEK CENT. DISCOUNT LITTLE ABOVE HALF PRICE. CHANCE. | CLOSING SALFS, FINAL | HEAVY DISCOUNTS, 30 TO 45 PER CENT. BELOW REGULAR PRICES BUY Now. HABLE BROTHERS, Nereh Fine Clothiers, Corner Tthand » Streets METROPOLITAN DOLLAR STORE. pic tile Plated Oaaste Breakfast Kuives and 650 romos tramed, Pocket. Books and Long Walieu Vases and Btatuettes Umbretlas and Canes, Brashes veling Bachets = Shaw! 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