W----, in a State which shall be
nameless, received two shocks.

Small affairs, concerning small people, could never have thrown
W---- into such a state of excitement, for she was a large and wealthy
town, and understood what was due to herself.

She possessed many factories, and sometimes a man came to his death
among the ponderous machinery. Not long since one "hand" had stabbed
another, fatally; and, still later, a factory girl had committed
suicide.

These things created a ripple, nothing more. It would ill become a town,
boasting its aristocracy and "style," to grow frenzied over the woes of
such common people. But W---- possessed a goodly number of wealthy
families, and some blue blood. These were worthy of consideration, and
upon these calamity had fallen. Let us read an extract or two from the
W---- _Argus_, a newspaper of much enterprise and exceeding veracity:

MONSTROUS DIAMOND ROBBERY--BOLD BURGLARY.

This day we are startled by the news of a robbery in our midst, the
like of which it has never been our fate to chronicle.

When the servants at Wardour Place arose this morning, they found
confusion reigning in the library, desks forced open, papers strewn
about, and furniture disarranged. One of the long windows had been
opened by forcing the shutters, and then cutting out a pane of
glass, after which the bolts were easily drawn.

Miss Wardour was at once aroused, and further examination disclosed
the fact that her dressing room had been invaded, and every box,
trunk and drawer searched. The beautiful little affair, which has
the appearance of a miniature combined desk and bookcase, but which
contains a small safe, that Miss Wardour believed burglar proof,
had been forced, and the jewels so widely known as the "Wardour
diamonds," stolen. Quite a large sum of money, and some papers of
value, were also taken.

Most of our readers are familiar with the history of the Wardour
diamonds, and know that they represented a fortune.

The burglary was effected without noise, not a sound disturbing
Miss Wardour, or any of her servants, some of whom are light
sleepers, and they have not a single clue by which to trace the
robbers.

Miss Wardour bears the loss with great calmness. Of course every
effort will be made to recover the jewels, and capture the thieves.
It is rumored that Mr. Ja