Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 3, Number 40, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 5 January 1882 — Page 3

ftopjjance ‘SEecMn gte NAPPANEE. : ?. INDIANA WORLDLY PRIDE. Oh, why should the spirit of mortal bcuproud? —Knox. The feeble wrap the athletic in his shroud. —Youiik. Thyself but dust, thy stature but u span. —Prior. How insignificant is mortal man!—Kirk White. How fading are the Joys we dote tipon! —John Morris, We make the grave our bed, and then are gone. —Blair. Life’s a long tragedy, this globe the stage. —W atts. And the dreams in youth are but dust in age. -J.. Miller. There’s no contentment in a world like this. - -Willis, Beggars enjoy grhoro Princes oft do miss.—Greene. Man’s yesterday may never be like his morrow. —Shelley. For days Os joy ensue sad nights of sorrow. —Quarles. Think not too ineaniy of thy low estate. —O. W. Holmes. They also serve who only stand and wait. —Milton. Honor and sham*'from no condition rise. —Pope. The man forgets not, though in rags he lies. —Akenside. And oh!'believe me, who have known it b/*st. —Madden. ’Tin not in mortals to command-success, ' —Addison. Ye cannot know what ye have never,tried. —Hulwcr. What lutes impose that man must needs abide, —Shakespeare. Free will is but necessity in nlay.—-Bailey. To which the gods must, yield and we oh *y. —Fletcher. Man’s but the toy of omniscient power. —Stuart. A schoolboy’s tale, the wonder of an hour. —Byron. Grasp not at much, for fear thou losest all. Herbert. One statesman r£s >s on another’s fall. —lt. Brume. But wild ambition loves to slide, not stand. Jr- - --Dryd.-n. The steps of its ascent are cut in sand. ' —Ltopert Millhouso. Ah. fool, to exult in a glory s;> vain.—Beattie. How litil<- of life's beauty spall may remain. —Burns. Honor’* the darling of but one short day. —Sir 11. Woften. For the fashion of this World passeth ajvay. ■’ - -Bible. Why on such sands thy spirit’s temple rear? —Sigourney. A Bucrcd burden in this life ye bear. —Francis Kimball. The good begun by thee shall onward flow. —Wilcox, As falls the tree, ho lies It, so shalt thou. —Dana. Death is the port where all may refuge find. % —Sterling. Unenvled, unmolested, unconflned. —Goldsmith. —Mr*. 11. A. Lkmiwj. COUSIN CAROLINE’S DIAMONDS. My aunt, Mrs, Ouncral Musjrrove, is a very remarkablu' woman. Tall ami upright as a dart, with sparkling black eyes, and tlifck bandeaux of jet-black 'hair, with scarce a thread of silver visible in them, hlic might easily be taken for lift}', instead of sixty-live. She manages her largo estate herself, and does it admirably; in fact, the world calls her strong-minded. After the marriage of her daughters, and the ’establishment in life of her sons, she sold her house in New York and took up her permanent residence at Ravenswood, country-seat on the Hudson, which was within twenty minutes' drive of the Waterdale Station, and just an hour and a half from New York, by rail. Here she dwelt in a sort of stately seclusion, receiving constant. visits from one or the other of her married children. I was a frequent guest myself, being something of a favorite with my aunt, who used, severely, to remark that “Lizzy had no nonsense about her.” These family reunions usually took place at Christmas. Bui, one year, it chanced that Thanksgiving was selected, because one of my younger cousins was going abroad. It was a very brilliant attair, and all the famous Musgrove silver was sent up from the bank at New York for the occasion. The guests, however, only remained for a day.<= All had loft, either by the midnight train for New York, on the same evening, or by the earliest one on the following morning. By noon the next day my Aunt and I were left alone. Our first business was to count and pack the silver, which was always sent back, immediately, to the bank in New York. My aunt used to say that nothing would induce her to keep it in her house. Os her own t#wvants she felt perfectly sure. She hadrfour in Ml: her cook, Bridget 0’ DopmTv-an elderly Irishwoman, who hai}/lived witfrlier for years; her housemaids, Sarah and Susan, who were sisters; and, finally, an all-accomplished Swiss man-servant, called Victor Ducange, who was literally and truly a perfect treasure. There was nothing in the world that Victor could not or would not do. He took charge of the two carriage horses; drove my aunt out; waitcdj&table; and could, in an emergency, (wen make the beds or get up a dinner. He was always at hand, always noiseless, and never in the way. “ I got him quite by chance, too, my dear,’” my aunt said. “He used to be the head waiter at the Hotel Metropole, Geneva; but his healtli broke down from overwork, and he name to New York with the Carringtons when they returned from their last trip to Europe. Such recommendations as I had with him! George Carrington could scarcely -ay enough in his favor.”

Old Bridget, however, heartily disliked him. “ That murtherin’ thafe of a Frinehman,” she used to call the invaluable Swiss. Keeping the peace between these two high functionaries was difficult at times. As' to Victor, he never seemed to heed Bridget at all. A shrug of the shoulders, or. at most, a glance of unutterable disdain, was the utmost notice that he took of her. The day after the Thanksgiving dinner my aunt came to my-room, where I was after the packing of the silver. “Only think, Lizzie,” she said, “here has Bridget gone and fallen ill to-d*y, bf all the days in the year, when, as you know, Sarah and Susiin have both gone down to New York to be present at their sisters wedding. There isn't a soul in the house to do anything except Victor.” “Bridget ill? Why, what can be the matter?” “ Goodness knows, child. She was as well as possible this'morning; but just now she came to me and said that she had such a ‘ whirling in her head, and such a trimlin’ in her legs, that she just had to go up to her room and lie down.’ It seems that Victor, who is a good soul, thought her looking rathei badly t his morning, ami gave her some of his prime Swiss bitters; lint since taking the dose she has gotten rather worse than better.” • , “ . Just then Victor’s discreet, tap was Heard at the door; and on being bidden to come in he entered, civil and obsequious as usual. * “If mailamc will permit me,” —hrr said, “ I will take charge of all tilings for a day or two. The maids will lie back to-moiTow evening; and as for mistress Bridget, she lias but a migraine —a sickness of the bile; she will be all light in a day or two. If madaine will tell me what she would like for dinner I shall get it ready for her.” “ Oh, thanks, thanks,” said my aunt. “ I really didn't like to ask you; but since you otter—” “ With pleasure,” retorted Victor. ‘ And now 1 will go and see about dinner.” The .short, balance .of the afternoon we spent in the library together over the life. I confess that I nodded more than once over my book; for I was tired with the day's work, and 1 suspect that iny aunt was just as bad. Anyway, it was something of a surprise to us both when we were summoned to dress for dinner a ceremony that Aunt Mnsgroye seldom or never omitted, but which she seemed inclined to shirk for once on that particular evening. “ I shall not go up-stairs, I think. Jio, Victor, you need not. take a light to my dressing-room. You can eoyne ulill call me whenever dinner is ready.” We reopened our novels again; and I was speedily absorbed But my aunt began to -fidget, being now -thoroughly aroused from tier drowsiness; and at last she declared that she must go up-stairs and wash her hands, and put on a clean collar and cuff's, if she did nothing more.

-44 No need for your disturbing yourself, child,” she added. 44 Shall I call Victor to bring you a light, aunt?” 44 No. I always keep a candle and matches on my dressing-table.” And off she went, with as light and active a step as though her years had been sixteen instead of over sixty. She was gone for some little time. In fact, dinner was announced, and the soup was waiting to be put on the table when she came hurrying into the diningroom. 44 Hr’-r-r-r,” she said, with a shiver, rubbing her bands together as she spoke, 44 how cold it is in my dressingroom. One feels it the more after sitting so long over that nice, warm fire, in the I hope that the soup is quite hot. , I am half frozen.” She really skeined so. I Could see that a shudder, now and then, passed over her, as though she were shaken by some’ inexpressible chill.. The soup, however, seemed to reanimate her, and she soon chatted away in as lively a strain as usual. Victor had achieved wonders in regard to the dinner. A delicious, clear soup, some; cold salmon with mayonnaise sauce, and a delicate salmi of chicken, with truffles, succeeded each other in turn, and were warmly praised, especially by my aunt. When the meal was about half concluded my aunt said, suddenly, laving down her fork: ‘•I declare, I had almost forgotten about my letter, Lizzie. You have heard me speak of my niece, Caroline West—my sister Margaret’s daughter—who lives" in Albany—the Queen of Diamonds, as I used to call her?” 44 Yes, aunt, often.” 44 Well,” continued my aunt, drawing a letter bearing' the Albany postmark, from her pocket, “when I went upstairs, just now, I chanced to remember that Bridget had brought me up two letters this morning, and that I had put them in the pocket of my dressing-gown without reading them. Afterwards, I Was so busy with, the silver, and flustered by her illness, that I forgot them. I happened to think of them while upstairs, abffit is well that 1 did, for Caroline is coming to-night to stay with us till the midclay express from Waterdale to New Yort leaves to-morrow; aucf, moreover, she is going to bring with her all her diamonds.” “All her diamonds? And for what reason ?” My aunt, in answer, opened the letter and scanned its pages. 44 Ah, here it is. She says: * 44 My husband has just telegraphed to me t hat we are to sail for Europe by next Monday’s steamer. lam going to brinjj my dia- . monds with to deposit at Tiffany’s, and, as I do not wish to remain all night at a bote', with such a mass of valuimle

jewels, I shall Kirturc to task your hospitality. I shall bring no baggage, only a small valise, with a change of clothing, and jay jewel-eases, Please meet me at the'Waterdale Station at a quarter past eight.’ That,” addedmvaiiqt, “is the hour at which the'Albany train stops there. So, Victor, I shall want the carriage at a little before eight. I am rather surprised.” continued my aunt, turning to me spoke, "that Caroline is willing to Travel with so much valuable property about her. Those diamonds of hers are worth, at the very lowest calculation, fifty thousand dollars.” “ Fifty thousand dollars! Aunt, you surprise me,” “ Did you not know that Mr. West has a perfect (iraze for collecting precious stones, particularly diamonds. Every time that he and Carrie go to Europe they come back laden with fresh treasures in that'line. She has a superb diamond necklace. Then, there is the bracelet that belonged to the Empress Eugenie, and the set of rose-pearls and brilliants that she bought at the sale of the Qtfeen of Spain's jewels, and the, pear-shaped diamond pendants from the Musard sale, and. ever so many more. And only our good Victor, here, to stand guard over all these treasures. Victor, I shall have to take out the General's revolvers to lend you for tonight.” “If madaine desires me to sit up all night, 1 shall be happy to do so, to keep watch over the house,” replied 'Victor, with his usual bow. J “-No need of perhaps it would be as well for you to sleep ontlie■ library sofa, with tjlio revolvers within reach. Now, let us be off'. -Lizzie, you must come with me for company.'”' J Site said these last, words just as Victor vanished out of thevdoor, earryftig with him the tray loaded with plates and glasses. I did not feel at all inclined to take a drive of over a mile, in the sharp frosty air, and was beginning a refusal, when a glance at my aunt's face froze the words upfm ny lips. I cannot describe her expression. I can eompare-it only to the countenance of a ghost-seer, who has beheld some hideous and malevolent, specter, invisible to all other persons present. She l9ld ojie finger oil her mouth, in token of silence, and the next, moment was hustling about, looking for shawls and lap-rugs, and discussing, in her usual clear, decided tones, as to what room she had best put Cousin ( aniline in, and whether the diamonds had n.ot best be Incited up in one of the silver chests till morning. I did not dare to question her. .Something very strange and terribly wrong was going on: of that 1 was convinced; but 1 did my best to follow her lead, and to talk easily and cheerfully wfiilst putting on my hatand fur-lined cloak which Victor hail brought in from the hat-rack in the hull before going to getVit the carriage. 1 do not think that. Victor was over fifteen minutes in bringing the carriage around; but short as was the interval, it appeared to me endless. My aunt, meanwhile, occupied herself with putting on her wraps as quietly,, and methodically, as though she hail been going on a shopping expedition at Stewart’s, or for a drive in Central l’ark. Her face still kept its white, set aspect, however; and when I ottered to go upstaj-s to get her a pair of gloves, she refused, with more .vehemence than was usual to her. At last Victor appeared at the door and announced that the carriage was ready. “ All ready, you say?” said my aunt. “Then we will lock the front-door, and do you take charge of the key, Victor. You have seen to the windows and to the other doors, I suppose?” “ They are fastened, madame.” . “That is well. And now to the'Ration.” That drive —that drive! I have felt ice .anil marble, in my day; but anything so mortally, penetratingly cold, as was the hand wherewith my aunt clasped mine, I' have never yet encountered. I commenced to interrogate her, in a whisper; but that frozen palm was at once pressed to my lips, and I forbore. Some danger threatened us, even then, it seemed. So we went on in perfect silence, the carriage lamps easting quivering gleams of light on the dark shrubs and leafless trees by the roadside, and filling every shadowy nook witli vague images of terror. That drive -how interminable it seemed—how welcome shone the glimmering lights of Waterdale when iirst we discerned them in the distance. Then came the streets and houses of the little town; and, finally, Victor checked the horses in front of the brightly lighted station, with its usual group of loungers, and its waiting porters and railway officials. My aunt sprang from the carriage, and I followed. The next moment she had caught Victor by the collar with two frenzied hands, crying, as she did so, in shrill, piercing tones: “ Help, help! This man is a murderer!” In an instant all was confusion. The horses plunged and reared, ancTVictor, after tfije surprise of the first moment, wrenched himself loose, from my aunt’s grasp, and leaping to the ground Would have effected his escape, hail not gome half-dozen strong men started forward in answer to my aunt’s appeal. In the twinkling of an eye he was seized and securely pinioned. Then came the eager question, from a dozen mouths: “Who is it that ho has murdered? W Irnm has he killed, Mrs. MusgroveP” “My poor, old, faithful servant, Bridget O’Donnel. And his accomplices are even noAv waiting in my house to murder my niece and myself, on our return." A cry of It >rror aroso from the by-

standers. My aunt looked around, with a dazed air. “ I think—Lizzie—that we are saved,” she said, vaguely; and then she fell insensible upon the ground, in the first 1 and o"ly swoon that her vigorous na- ■ ture had ever known. We did not. return to Uavenswood that night, as may well lie imagined. A . detachment of the Waterdale police was j sent by. the local authorities to.take charge of the house and its contents, f and also to superintend the removal of the corpse, of poor old Bridget. My aunt and I took refuge at the Waterdale Hotel, where we remained to await tile response to the telegram that was at once dispatched to her oldest son, who was a lawyer in extensile practice fn New York. But it was many- days before her nerves had so far recovered their tone as to permit of her giving me a detailed account of all that hail'taken place oh that rhemorable evening’. Her story, when she did tell it, ran as follows: “When I left you, Lizzie, to go upstairs ami- make some changes in my dress, I had no light, asyou may remember. When I reached my dressing-room I was unable to.find the candle and matches—some one had displaced them; but as the moon was shining very brightly 1 contrived to wash my hands and change my collar without ringing for a light, as I had at first, intended. Then I started to come down stairs, feeling rather surprised at Victor had not lighted the halt lamp; but 1 attributed bis negligence to the fact that he had had so much extra work to attend to. —When 1 -reached the foot of the stairs I became aware of voices in the butler’s pantry—the voices of several men, talking in a sort of half whisper. I was startled, and I paused to listen, slniek at once with .the idea that., thieves had pained admission to the house. Standing on the mat at the foot of the staircase 1 could hear every word that they said. They were completing their arrangements to murder you and me, Lizzie, and to carry off the silver. I distinctly recognized Victor’s voice, ami,his peeuliap foreign pronunciation., His confederates (there were two of them; so far us I could make out) were anxious to ‘ finish up the job at once,”, sis oneof them phrased it: but Victor opposed it. The lioji.se was too near the road, he declared; there might be screaming, and any unusual noise might be heard by some passer-by. ‘ Best wait till the women are sound asleep,’ he urged, • ill their bedrooms, and then dhe matter could be settled without any f rouble.’* Fin Ally, this point was decided, according to his suggestions. “ At/ffiis stiige in their conference I quitted my post and slipped noiselessly up-sttfjra, ray intention being to awaken Bridget, nnu to send her out of the house through 1 one of the front%rawingroom windows, to go and seek for help, while the villains were still plotting in the pantry. ■* I reached her room and entered. ‘ Bridget,’ I said, softly. But receiving no answer, I thought sfie was still sleeping, and I approached the bed. The moonlight, shining full upon the pillow, revealed to me the face that rested on it—it was the face of a corpse. " Why I did not lose consciousness at that dreadful sight I cannot comprehend; but Providence seemed to sustain my strength then, as afterwards. I drew near and investigated the cause of the poor creature’s death. .It was not far to seek. Around lier neck was tightly twisted a gaily-colored silk handkerchief, one of a half-dozen that I had myself given to Victor. I stole from the room, heart-sick, and well-nigh despairing. There we were, two helpless women, shut up in the house with a band of assassins, and with no avenue of escape at hand: for, of course, our movements would be watched, anil any betrayal of our consciousness of danger would be followed by our instant murder. “ And then, Lizzie, as if by inspiration, there Hashed across my brain the idea of the scheme that afterward so fully succeeded—the story of Caroline West's purposed arrival with her celebrated diamonds. The bait proved irresistible to the villains, or rather to their master-spirit, Victor, as I had hoped and intended. Only one more* woman to put to death. Jewels, valued at over fifty thousand dollars, would be the reward of that extra murder. But can you realize what agony of mind I endured when you talked of refusing to accompany me to the station?” My story is ended. Victor Dueange was tried and condemned for the murder he had committed. His confederates escaped capture, having probably been on the watch for the return of the carriage, and so were warned of the approach of the police. My Aunt has sold Ravenswood, and now lives in New York, with a burglaralarm in her bed-room and a braoe of loaded revolvers always within her reach. There are silver threads in her thickrfsoft hair, that was so lately as darkSfts a raven’s wing; and her once strong nerves have never, I think, refained their tone since those terrible ours, from whose impending peril we were so mercifully preserved by Cousin Caroline’s Diamouds.— Peterson's Magazine. .—Let no one suppose that by acting a good part through life he will escape scandal. There will be those even who hate him for the very qualities that ought to procure esteem; There are some folks in the world who are not willing that others should be better than themselves. —A young Oil City lady recently visited New York, and when she re- j turned home, related to her friends how | she stopped at a “palatable hotel anil went up and down stairs in aeulti votor.” Her parents should cultivate, her. —(Ht City Derrick.

INDIANA STATE NEWS. Validity of License Ordinances. In answer to a letter of Inquiry from a fen of Indianapolis, Attorney-General Baldwin recently gave his opinion on the rights of .cities in taxing saloons and their power to enforce the collection of such tax. The questions propounded were: 1. Can towns and cities require a license for th'* sale of intoxicating liquors? Answer. Yes. 2, (Mil th*y enforce the same in view of seo* ti on <57 of the criminal code of 1KS1? Hesiod: “ A suit is now in progress to test the constitutionality of this section, and if the Supreme Court should hold it unconstitutional, of course the answer would be yes. Section (57 reads: Whenever any act is made a public offense against the State by any statute and the punishment prescribed, then such act shall not bo punishable by any ordinance of any incorporated city or town, and any ordinance to that effect shall be null and void, and all prosecution for any such public offenses as maybe within the jurisdiction of suoh incorporated cities or towns by or before such authorities shall be under the State law only. “ The only method a city or town has to prevent violation of the ordinances is l>y a proceeding to assess and collect fines for such violation, which proceeding the Supreme Court has held now for twenty-five years to be an action of debt. I think such ordinances, when they cover the same subject matter as a criminal statute, are void.” In summing the case up he answered: “I am of the opinion that, ns city and town -licenseor<linances,aro now drawn, the majority, if not all of them, are vitiated by the sixtyseventh section of the'criminul code. But, I think city and town licenses could be legally exacted and enforced when they are made supFleinentary or in addition to county -licenses. need hardly remark that'such ordinances should be drawn by men of legal education, and with all of the temperance statutes in mind (for several of these are affirmative statutes, and not like section 12, above-cite'il;, otherwise section 07 might vitiate the attempted work. I Tipcat. this opinion is'based upon the constitutionality of this section. If the Supreme < ’ourt holds it unconstitutional, then the existing city and town license ordinances are valid.” *

Indiana Items. The Bureau of Statistics has prepared a table which, though somewhat ancient in date, shows the amount of fruit raised in the State in 1880. There were O.HSfijKW bushels of ajvples, 50,240 of pears and 009,308 of pt^fChes. Henry Lewis, an express messenger on the Louisville, New Albany- & Chicago Railroad, was thrown from his car door by a I • r keg rolling against him, the other day, when near Lafayette, und hadlv injured. The State Geological Department was recently presented, wit li a splendid specimen of lepidodendron from Orange County. It has hetni announced that a lady named MeDulTy, living in Cofiintown, Delaware County, has fallen- heir to property in*''Virginia* which is very valuable, besides the comfortable little sum of $30,000 in cash. Oscar Noe, a school teacher af, Warren, revenged himself upon, a successful rival in a love-match a few days ago by liritiu the store of the bridegroom and destroying the residence where the bride was stopping. At Indianapolis recently James Green rod, aged son of-Timothy Greenrod, was found hanging in his father’s stable. It is thought the lad was playing*“circus.’’ when by some means his neck became ehtarngled in the noose. This, is the second incident of a similar nature within a few weeks. The Coroner at Indianapolis held 532 quests during the year ended November 30. The other day Elijah Huffman, of Dearborn County, left a huge potato atjthc rooms of the State Board of Agriculture,] and explained that it was raised under straw. He first covered the seed with an inch oK<Jirt, then with four inches of straw. Potatoes planted thus require no attention, and the crop is said to be reliable in any kind of a season. The Indianapolis grain quotations are: Wheat—No. 2 Red, *1.515&1.&5J*. Corn—No. 2, 02@63c. Oats—47(<s4Bc- The Cineiimati quotations are: Wheat—No. 2 Red, sl.36!^ (a; 1.37. Corn—No. 2, Qats—No. 2, 47C;<$48c. live—No. 2, Barley, $1.04#/1.04 *. The number of dogs in the State, as shown by the reports filed in the Auditor of State’s ofljee, is nearly 180,000. Reports to the State Bureau of Statistics show that the annual cost of agricultural implements and farm machinery in Indiana is $3,647,833. Elder S. G. Lowirtson returned to Indianapolis a short time ago after serving for two years as missionary to the Island of Jamaica. The warehouse of the church furniture works at Richmond was damaged $14,000 by fire recently. Five business buildings and most of their contents, at Sullivan, weyc destroyed by fire m few nights ago. Total loss, $513,000. A rise in the White River at Bedford the other night did considerable damage. Thousands of acres of wheat were under water and hundreds of kuw-log* that were lying near the river banks were swept away. Lucius Rym a leading citizen of Terre Haflte, died suddenly hi his pew in the Congregational church, on the 25th, and those assembled for worship followed his remains to his house. \ L At a meeting of the Indiana Horticultural Society, held in Munvte recently, the following officers were elected: President, Sylvester Johnson, of Irvington; Secretary, W. H. Ragan, of Clayton: Treasurer, Daniel Cox, of Cartersburg. The following Vice President were elected: First District, J. B. Elliott, of New Harmony; Second, Dennis Willey, of Charlestown; Third, C. M. Hobbs, of Bridgeport; Fourth, I). E. Hoffmann, of Winchester; Fifth. L. B. Custer, of Logansport; Sixth, I. D. W~Nelspn, of Pprt Wayne. Walter E. Savage was recently awarded $3,000 damages from the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad for being put off a train at Aborte Station while drunk. Mary French, living in the family of M. Walton, near Shelbyvllle, was burned to death in a fireplace the other night, she having fallen while iu an epileptic fit during the absence of the family. The managers of thft Southern ludlana Penitentiary submitted their annual report to the Governor a few days ago, The warden shows 518 convicts iu the prison; received during the year, 225; discharged, 200; deaths, 9; total expenses, $74,881; earnings on contract labor, $57,007.04; average cost per convict per day, 89 3-20 cents; daily number men employed, 425; convicts received since opeuing of prison, 7,260; 22 percent, this year cannot lead or write, and 60 per cent, ate married. The Directors report the discipline of the prison as •teadily improving. 4