The sunny South. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1875-1907, November 16, 1878, Image 1

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m ^WEfiS ecUxCTIOr, VOL IV J. H. & WB, b It*A.-LS, •[ *aopK]jroR^ ATLANTA, GA., SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16. 1878 ™ > Al ^ 1 ? 3 PK1< A nkum llflO 1 1NAD VANCE. BABY HAS GONR TO SCHOOL. The baby has cone to school; ah me! What will the mother do, With never a call to button or pin, Or tie a li ttle shoe ? IIow can she keep herself busy all day With the little ‘hindering thing' away ? Another basket to till with lunch. Anot her ‘good-bye’ to say. And the mother stands at the door to see Her baby march away: And turns with a sigh that is half relief, And half a something akin to grief. She thinks of a possible fnture morn, Wheu the children, one by one. Will go from their home out into the world. To battle with life alone. And not even the baby be left to cheer The desolate home of that future year. She picks up garments here and there, Thrown down in careless haste; And tries to think how it would seem If nothing were displaced; If the house were always as still as this, How could she bear the loneliness ? Necklace. A STRANGE STORY. A city lounger, whether an inhabitant of New York or London,becomes familiar with strange mutations of lortune. New faces, new enter prise, new stores, greet his daily observation. Alter awhile the old site puts on a new face, bangs oat a new sign. The former occupant and hid business disappear. No one knows whither—few eare, least of al! the idle loiterer seeking amusement in the changing diversity of the streets. Some tiuiei an o'd face reappears alter a lapse of years; of such an event we have a strange story to tell. Many years since, we were acquainted with a young man who opened a jaweller’s shop in Lend street, London. His name, for obvious reasons, wot conceal, but he shall be known to out rtadsrd ..o Ctiailbs SisluwmoH t.. accomplishments and family connections he was superior to the generality of the class who follow mechanical professions. Reverse of fortUDe caused young Stanwood to be apprenticed to a j tweiler; be became, in the course of time, au < xperienced judge and skillful setter of preoious stones; and 'aLL promise of support from a nu merous circle of acquaintances, opened—per haps prematurely, for his capital was of a trill- in 1 ' amount -a shop (.or as we would call it this side of the Atlantic, a store) in the leading thor oughfare of fashion. Business throve. T'ue shop became a favorite resort of iadies, who possibly might have been it flnenced by the naadsome person andcaptiva- tu»g manners of the young jeweller. Although Stan wood a capital was smalt— stock, therefore, necessarily scanty—yet,through connection with his deceased father’d mercauiiie friends, he was occasionally entrusted with diamonds and other prt cions articles to sell on oomuiissiou, and so was enabled to compete, in point ol attractive display, with his most substantial and wealthy rivals in trade. It is not every time a lady enters a shop that she makes, or intends making a purchase; often she resorts to the rich b zaars and mails of fash ions for the sake of spending, not money, but time. Our own lounging experience afforded ocular demonstrations of the practiee;but in the chbp of young S'anwood, vve thought it carried to an inconvenient excess; often rallied him on entertaining, sonrbvnely, his unprofitable visi- tois, and hinted the mutual attract! veness of flir ts ion. By his replies, we found our acquaintance had not lost sight of business, even in his polite and gallant devotions; the well-appointed equip- pges wuioh stood at toe door—though time was l. st with the fair owners - proved a ready and efficacious mode ol advertising, fully compensa tion for absence of purchasers. We placed more taiih in the declaration, as we knew he was at tached to a young lady, by whom the affection was returned: though it would have put her in experienced feelings to a severe trial if she had Bet-D what we daily witnessed—the specious, courtly, insinuating attentions of the handsome jeweller to the youth and beauty who crowded his establishment. One day there alighted, from a dashing equip age, two ladies whom Stanwood recognized—one as a peeress, her companion, the wife of a rich commoner. Alter minute inspection of many articles, which often caused him to leave the fair customers, in quest of jewelry in a different part of the shop, tuey departed without making any purchase, aud were ushered to the carriage by the obse quious jeweller. There was nothing extraordi nary or ud usual in such a proceeding; but in re placing in proper safety one of 'he trays, he rniased a necklace of diamonds, of exceedingly great value, but. which his visitors bad not, ap parently, particularly scrutinized. The neck lace beiouged to a merchant, to whom it had be< n cousigued from Russia, and who, being a personal triend, and having a high opinion ol Sian wood's integrity, de med nis attractive and lasLi nable shop he best mart for the sale of snob an article. It was, therefore, placed in his Charge to find a purchaser. Breathless with emonon at the sudden loss, the jeweller stood leaning against the counter, euoe.voting to recall minutely every cirenm- stHDce of the visit. There was—(here could be no mistake! He had seen the necklace when dis play mg the tray ; he mimed it on reluming trom the carriage. Although he happeied to be alone without any assistant,it was impossible any dep redator coala have seized the opportunity ol his back being turned for a moment, as he had tak er the precaution ere Landing the ladies to the carriage, of locking the trays temporarily, under one ot the glass cases and retuiulug the key. The glass was uubroheu.aud the bolt of the lock was duly shut, when he returned. What shou.d he do 7 To put up with the loss >0, 178. He held aside the voluminous curtains from the doorway that opened into the library. . The neoklan.l wan I »n.ot nnr,a worth more than ail he posse; business, beyond personal an-, , citation during tno recOtd ,»ad vs ^?>7V« e .i ha -1.. < !. , “- a ”® ( ?- ,l i attr * ctive b,u un - I cultv persuaded by ample return.' " 1 n ' ‘You hear what Mr. o>wood was out of the question. The necklace was | repeat once more the perplexing story. The Kri - „ , . r — J ssei—the profitsof | gentleman betrayed considerable an^er and 9 u’. b J y i ,u ,'? Phonal aud necessary expen- , citation during the rec^l. ,, a d was? with diffi waif, the con- affirms,’ sain the nobleman, addressiajjf - his friend; ‘let me tel! you what I have done.’ When he had informed him of the nature and extent of the search which his house had un der-gone he added: The high rank of the parties placed them above suspicion. Their noted wealth removed ordinaty motives of temptation. His daring in solence and presumption, it would be termed, should he venture an accusation, must entail, in all but his own eyes, well-merited retaliation, aud certain ruin to his business. If his first ->tep were to seek the ladies, they would he judged, deny the appropriation, (perhaps, in deed, only one was guilty), and time would be afforded for effectually concealing or destroying the property. He deemed it most advisable to seek a private interview with the peer, lay open the state of affairs, and by promising secrecy, the whole matter might be arranged without a loss. It was a task requiring more than ordinary courage, even to state his case, but character, property, credit—all that was valuable—was at stake. Nerving resolution to a pitch of daring, he knocked at the door of his lordship’s gloomy, hut capacious mansion. On being ushered iDto the library, the peer—who perceived his embar rassment—by kindliness of tone and the urban ity peculiar to high station, succeeded in some measure, in puctiDg him at ease. After stammering awhile, the jeweler delivered the strange tale, which the nobleaiau heard with such composure that the other began to believe his lordship was aware of his wife’s propensities, and that the untoward nffiir would, for himself have a happier termination than his fears p.t first suggested. But this belief was illusory. A strong, burning indignation was suppressed under outward cahuuess of demeanor. As soon as Stanwood had conclued, the peer rang the bell, and on a servant’s entrance inquired if her ladyship had come home. He was auswered iu the affirmative. Bidding the man wait, his lordship wrote a hasty note to the magistrate of a neighboring police office, which he was or dered to deliver immediately without further communication with any party. ‘I would have you sir, take notice,’ leaving the door of the library open, as the man lingered a moment in the hall, ‘that my messenger has had speech with no one in the house —it may be important to the justioeof your case.’ The valet shorty returned, accompanied by a police-officer. Soon as the latter appeared the owner of the mansion commanded the outer door to be locked, and the keys to be given to the functionany. •Now restate your chaage in the presence of the officer,’ said the peer, addressing Cuarles Stan wood, The jeweler, whose thoughts began to take an unpleasant turn at the probable consequences of a charge he might fail to substantiate, repeated the history of the transaction. When he bad concluded, the nobleman, addressing the officer, recapitulated the main points, and requested that be wouid immediately commence a search through the house, in presence of Mr. Stan wood and himself, as rigid—or he himself would not be satisfied, and certainly the accuser would not be more contented—as though he were in the domicile of a reputed thief. He begged also, the officer aud accuser both to bear witness that np to the present moment her ladysaip was igno rant of the charge. We need not repeat the details of this domi ciliary inquiry—suffice it to say, the jeweler himself, both openly aud to bis own conscience, was forced to couft-ss that all had been done which the strongest suspicion warranted. The necklace was not found. •We will now. if you please,’ said the peer, casting a keen glance at the disconcerted jewel er, ‘pay a visit to my friend. His wife is as deeply implicated as her ladyship—though I have no control over his proceedings.’ The oommoner who lived in an adjoining street, happened to be at home when the visi tors arrived. In his presence, Stanwood bad to ‘A man whom ruiu frowns on may be excus ed some confusion ia bis actions,’" said Stan wood, rather sharply; ‘I consult you for the benefit of, vaur skill io future lecture on wnao i neio uo.,,... , et of the past is not entitled to much honor !’ The lawyer, with a smile at the excitable an ger of his client, declared he should not suffer from want of advice—but he viewed the case as ‘I do not presume to dictate what should be j nigh hopeless. As his own testimony was en- yonr conduct.’ j Itrely unsupported by other evidence, it was ‘My house shall undergo the same scrutiny,’ j useless to commence proceedings against the no- cried the commoner. j bleman or his friend; they hid already done Search commenced, wa3 carried on and coa- | more,than the law could have enforced, eluded as unsatisfactory—to Stanwood—as in j As for making it a jury case, it was imprsetica- the previous instance. j bio for want of witnesses, aud even if this diffi - ‘Cm you aid Mr. Stanwood further in the re- I culfcy were removed, sympathy would bsstroug- covery of his property—so far as wo or our fain ilies are concerned ?’ asked the nobleman. The officer repliel, that he had never, during his experience, made a more rigorous search,— and as it had been done promptly and unex pectedly, as he could assure Mr. SiaDwood that, so far as the two gentlemen and tbeir families vere concerned, there wa3 nothing further that could he done, aud, were they even of a disre putable character, nothing more could he at tempt or advise. ‘Have you, sir, now done with us?’ cried the peer, addressing the j eweler sternly, yet quiet- !y- Charles, distracted with his loss, stunned by the unavailing result of the search which seem ed to foreclose hope of recovering the necklace, and foreshadowing approaching ruin, replied that he bad no other remark to off-jr, or course to pursue, than repeat what he had asserte ! in the morning—begging par Ion of his lordship and friend for the nature of the unpleasant rev elation, which his own conscience and justice to his creditors, demanded should not be s ifled. ‘Well, sir,’continued the peer, ‘your further proceedings are of no moment to us. Whether we have done with you is a material question, which I shall take the advice of friends on ere I decide. If you ever did, or do now, entertain an opinion, that through fear of this disgraceful charge being made public; -we or I will speak only ol myself—1 should be induced to purchase your silence, banish the thought! Take tuefull measure of action which the law allows to sus picion, and let this officer be witness that I al- ford every facility.’ The commoner said that his lordship’s inten tions coincided with nis own. There was something so oppressive to a clear conscience in the quiet, dignified hauteur of the two friends, that tne spirit of the young man was aroused, and though be beheld ruin in ev ery shape, aud on evary side, stariDg him in the face, he piucked up courage to say that, iu the present state of the affair, advice might prove of benefit to ail parties—with that view, he would himself seek it; and meanwhile, he was as firm in his charge as they were in snbmitting t Lem uel v-s to the proof. Here ended the colloquy. In retaraiog home, chafed and distressed, Charles could not dismiss from his mind that he ought immediately to acquaint the own r of the necklace of the loss, yet ne could not summon courage—he clung to the hope that something might turn up to guide him out. ot the perplex ing labyrinth. He went straight to his lawyer. Tne solicitor shook his head—:t was a bad case 1 The parties were of such high rauk, undoubted wealth, so liber ll in their household expendi ture, that the ladies would appear, according to all ordinary judgment, to have no temptation. There war perhaps a mistake—at least the woild would say so. As his suspicions were so strong, he should have followed the carriage or have s»en the ladies in the first instance. Without giving any opinion on the guilt or innocence ot the accused, his client would have had more power over female fears, and doubtless have reaped more advantage, thau by running tilt against the virtuous indignation of the hus bands. ly in favor of the defendants, from the maout-r in w‘-ich they met the charge. The property must be somewhere. And all that he could do was to make the police acquainted with the rob bery, (of that by-the-by th v already knew some thing ) but with the exact description of the necklace, the facial cutting and weight of the precious stoues. mode of sotting aud other par ticulars. An accurate descripiion should also be distributed among the traie, to which might be added the offbr of a competent reward for the recovery of the property, on an appr iheusion of any party on whom it should be found. With respect to the owuer's claim, that was a matter of debtor and creditor, which would he arranged better by appeal to the party’s feelings, thau by a solicitors interference As Stanwood was, by bond, answerable for the return of the jewels, or their value, he could not escape from the penal ty. As to the threatened legal proceedings of tiie peer, and his untitled iriend, ha had not much to fear; though indirectly, in respect to his business connection, their hostility might prove extremely hurtful. The solicitor's advice, as far as practicable, was adopted, and Siauwood passed a miserable, res'less night. N-xt morning, on looking over the public journals, he found a tolerably distinot repre sentation of the affiir, though filled out with blanks, asttri-iksand iaueadoes.in lieu ol streets acid names. Ha who bad prided himself on the array of handsome equipages, blocking the wayside in front of his door, was doomed to loiter through the morning without a call, withouta customer. The afternoon prints repeated the morning ver sions, with additions descriptive of the magnan imous forbearance of the h.gh-spiritad noble man, etc., with a tiibnte of consolation to the injured dames, concluding with advice to tiie ladies in selecting iheir tradesman. Dinner and a ternoon papers discussed—alike indigestible—Stanwood was relieved from the solitary monotony of the morniug by a visitor, it was the owner of the necklace, who, Laving heard the reports which the papers circulated, came with anxious face, to ascertain whether the story referred to Cuarles Stanwood. It was but too true, as the jeweler, with rue ful visage, admitted ! •This happened yesterday morning,’ exclaim ed the merchant, in extreme anger: ‘and every one is to be informed of the loss, if you call it such, but m\ sdf! What construction am I to put upon such behavior?’ Siauwood answered, though not with clear ness, that so unfavorable construction could be justly applied—a man's honesty were not less,if uis courage were not always equal to the emer gency. Tne merchant, without commenting on this reply, inquired if he had not bwu at certain rooms, (w u .oh he named) on last Monday night alter play-house hours. Charles admired that he was present ‘Did you krov,’ inquired the creditor, ‘the name and character ot me tall man, with dark whiskers aud black cane with jeweled top,whom yon appeared so familiar with oo that nigh* ?’ The startled jeweler replied in the negative — he was a total stranger—bad never seen him be fore. knewnot his name. ‘Then I do,’ exclaimed the merchant; ‘he is a no ed gambler. Is it fair to ask whether von often frequent those rooms ?’ i Poor Charles began to believe that all powers human and transcendental, were leagued against him. With quiet and correct habits, such as would have commaoded respect from the most j rigid business man, or moralist, he had been in- j duced on that evening, having heard frequent- ! ly of the rooms, to venture on a glance by way j of curiosity, after leaving the theatre, in order j that he might not appear quite ignorant of life : arnoDg his acquaintance. When there, proba- | bly a Dew lace attracted the gambler’s attention ; whom he certainly knew not, nor had met there or elsewhere, before; as he no w solemnly assur ed the merchant. Tae proprieto *• of the necklace replied coldly, that be was glad to hear it; a party known to both, a vouDg man with more money than pru dence, had seen him there on the occasion; and knowing Stan wood’s responsible connection with the merchant, had wit enough to set his friend on his guard. From examination of the jeweler’s books and stock, it appeared that he wts far from being able, if everything were sold, to pay in full de mands, including the limit price put on the necklace. Bui as he offered to make immediate inventory of effects, and showed every disposi tion io act honorably, the merchant was much softened, and went away with the declaration that he would allow fair time for the discovery of the property ere he pressed his claim; and that an additional reward, on his behalf, should be advertised. I’here were vet two parlies whom he was most anxious, yet dreaded to encounter. This was the lady to whom he was attached, and her fath er. Air. Benson was a retired merchant, aud had higher notions of his daughter’s future po sition than as a wedded partnerof a shopkeeper. He was, therefore, extremely averse to the match although he could not object to Stanwood, eith er in respect to deficiency or personal accom plishments or morals, nor yet on t’ue score of means, as the business of the jeweler, though comparatively in embryo, promised to realize Us_owia.ir bar-isome fortune, interposed decided obstacles to a union, would, on attaining her majority, exercise its privilege, as guardian of her own happiness. Tae jewel er, as we have intimated, was of respectable fam ily, his father having been a merchaut of repute. It was at the house of a mutual acquaintance — uo other than the proprietor or consignee, of ! the lost necklace—that the lovers first, met; the father, therefore,had no plea ofapproach against the daughter,from the way in which tuey became acquainted. So be thought tit, ou reviewing all the oircuMstinees.more especially that the time would arrive when his consent or denial would be required, and the Swain s increasing income, rendered application to his purse unuece-esary, to yield at discretion, and the addresses of Stan wood were permitted. The first hint of a storm in that quarter occur red in the evening, when Cuarles, summoning courage, ventured a visit to the bouse of his ex pected father-in-law. He was informed at the door that both Mr. and Mrs. Benson were not at home, which, from circumstances, he disbe lieved, and cons 1 rued into a denial. His strong hopes had ever been bnilton the depth of Clara’s affection; on that rook he now relied, and re solved to seek an interview, and, if necessary, explain at an early hour in the morning. By putting in practice this resolution, he in fact, stole a march on Mr. Benson, who was sur prised on returning home from a morniug walk to learn that Air. Sianwood was ia the drawing room with his daughter. Thither the retired merchant stole, deeming it uo breach of deco rum, under peculiar circumstances, to listen in the back drawing-room to what was utt6red in me front. He heard from the lover, sighs, pro testations, vows of unalterable affection, mixed with complaints of cruel fortune. These were in response to the cruel interdict which her father had placed against future intercourse. A week ago, Mr. Beuson s iuj unction would have been laughed al by the j oweler, and disregarded oy his daughter. But times were change i, and Stanwood, who had no home to offer, felt the change bitterly, yet he struggled against his hard lot. ‘It rests with yourself, Miss Benson,* exclaim ed Charles iu agony, ‘whether I am to be treated as a criminal, I have had property stolen from my possession, and every one turns from me as thougu I were tho thief. Lat me bat meet with pity in one dear bosom, and I will bear misfor- tuue bravely, proudly?’ The low voice of Clara was heard murmuring a disclaimer of accusation. Her father, she said, bad uot asked her t) give up her attachment — he would find he had no power to extort such a surrender—but she had promised—what she could not refuse an old parent—that, as there were rumors affecting .VIr. St»n wood’s character (which she had no faith in) as well as a certain ty ot his complete ruin, she would postpone tur- ther intimacy for the space of twelve months, to allow interval tor the truth to appear. •And what were those rumors affseting his character ?’ demanded young Stanwood with ea gerness. ‘Let me ans wer that question,’ cried Benson, throwiug open the folding doors. Charles conld not deny having held conver sation with a professed gambler, in a disreputa ble locality; though in vain urging the excuse, mat he had been led there for the first and on ly time, having often been jeered for his ignor ance, even by young men of high standing and character. His excuse might be certainly fair, as Mr. Benson admitted, yet appearance with such company st >od in very disagreeable opposition with the mysterious disappearance of the dia monds ! He was also forced to confess insol vency, if the jewels were not forth coming, and whether recovered or not, his business in Bond street—as one but siightiy acquainted with the