The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-08-27

the size OF the pearls 1DcTeaseu i'' s",~o
and after little hesitation, he decided TO
take it, when l saw that he was rewarded
by a quiet pressure of the hand from his
companion, whose eyes then met mime al
most mirthfully for moment.
"You're a nice creature, expect" NUT
tered TO myself; "coax him out of every
thing you fancy, and then laugh in your
sleeve" But my eyes were wanted to
guard the valuable assortment of jewelry
displayed, and they were back the next in
slant to business.
Where can [ send these, sir?" in
quired.
"Ah! we'll take Them" said the lady Z;
1--WE will not trouble you to send"
/ explained that it would be no trouble,
but they held to their determination; and
upon payment being requested, the gentle
man drew out check-book, asked for pen
and ink, and wrote a check for one hun
dred and ten guineas upon small city
bank.
Now it was that my lips became a little
tighter. and / felt that the principal had
had some cause for his suspicious; and
thoroughly on nv guard, L took the check,
and EXPLAINED that it was rule OF the es-
Establishment that goods should not be de-
livered until after check had been pre-
scented.
"Ah, quite right, quite right" said the
gentleman quietly, and without displaying
the slightest annoyance. 81 can easily
suppose that you are obliged to be careful"
But the lady looked angry, and returned
nv bow very distantly as ushered them
out, having promised to send the purchases
on to the fashionable hotel-Moore's, in
Brook street-at which they were staying
"All a farce, but well carried out" | said
10 the principal as he came up to me, and
/ showed him the check and the card given
me, bearing the name "Mr. III. Elliston
Ross" and in pencil, "Moore's Hotel"
"But We'll send the check all the same.
Here, johnson"
The principal shrugged his shoulders !:
and as johnson came up to where L was
carefully running over the various items
of jewelry, to see that nothing had been
stolen, l gave him the check, and he went
cityward
TO my great satisfaction, all was right (;
not a jewel missing, and the purchased
cases lying by me. Suddenly, a cold chill
shot through me. Had they contrived to
abstract the contents? l tore the lit
tie morocco boxes open but, no-all was
correct. Cross and bracelet lay upon their
white velvet beds; and so far, everything
was perfectly satisfactory. If they were
swindlers, we had escaped; and began to
wonder whether should get another in
yitation to dinner, chain for my watch,
and be told that was step nearer to the
junior partnership.
To our intense establishment, though, at
an hours end, johnson returned smiling
"All right, sir" he said.
"Why, you don't mean"
"All right, sir" he said. "Check cashed
in an instant: hundred and fifteen pounds
ten shillings."
1t is almost needless to add that the two
little cases were sent Immediately to the
hotel, and discussion followed respecting
unnecessary suspicion, and how very often
it happened that swindlers passed unno
ticed, while honest people were suspected
A month passed when one cold January
day was in the showroom, and the same
lady made her appearance alone. She
still wore her respirator, but looked very
pale, haggard and troubled. The bold
look seemed to have gone from her eyes
and as l recalled my thoughts, felt that
had misjudged her, for she began to speak
tenderly of her husband, Mr.. Ross, who
was lying very i'll at the hotel.
81 have brought back the cross to be
repaired" she said, drawing the little NOR
rocco case from her rich sable muff. "Tht
ring was too slight, and it broke from my
necklet the second time it was worn.
had narrow escape of losing it; but Mr.
Ross found it himself upon the lawn, trod
den into the grass. thought l would
leave it until we came up again. o.
course, you can repair it?"
expressed my sorrow, and promised tC
have it seen to at once.
"You need not hurry for few days
Mr.. Ross is in town to consult Sir Ealing
| Dean, and l fear he will send US TO Ma
deira This climate is killing my poor hus-
band"
The distant hauteur was all gone; and
in a lady-like, courteous manner, our Gus
toner bowed to my few sympathetic re-
marks, and hints of its being an unusually
trying season, &c.
"Our friend wasdelighted with the little
bracelet, gift which Mr. Ross wishes to
supplement- with something a little more
valuable. Perhaps l could be allowed to
select few things for you to submit to
his choice at the hotel9 | know his taste
now pretty well, and it will save trouble
Anything you like to select shall be
sent, ma am" said; and then proceeded
to open and display to their best advan-
tage SEINE very valuable bracelets, which
were one and all rejected.
"Yes," she said sadly, "they are very
handsome; but Mr.. Ross would not like
them, am sure, and it is useless to take
things on that he would not approve. His
taste was always good; and as his health
fails, it seems to have acquired an indie
scribable tone that l cannot explain, ex-
cept that it is artistic and dreamy"
brought out some plain but good pearl
and diamond ornaments in suites, one
suite in particular taking her attention.
"Yes; l like that. You might send
that"
at is suite made to order; but il
could be made again in very short time,
| said
"That would not do" she said, "unless
it could be supplied in afortnight."
Il think We could get over that diff
Guilty." said with smile and then brace
lets, rings, chains, and watches-certainly
the most chaste and elegant we had-were
| selected and put aside.
at is only fair to say" said the lady,
smiling-at least, could see that she was
smiling, in spite of her resp. rator,-" that
NIL ltooo hob VI tHCSC
elegant ornaments. / know he would like
a watch and chain, and ring. Perhaps,
too, if he admired them, one of those pearl
suites; but thought it better to speak, as
since his illness he has become, net irrita-
BILE neutrality-suspicious. a little hard to
please, and should be sorry ifhe rejected
everything you brought"
So much delicacy was displayed in these
remarks, that could only courteously as
sure her that we should only be too happy
to attend again and again upon Mr. Ross,
till we had hit upon something he admired
and upon promising to send the selected
goods on the next morning at eleven, our
visitor rose to go.
"Iwould ask you to send this afternoon"
said the lady on rising, but don't think
Mr.. Ross quite well enough He saw our
physician this morning, and the inter
views are always very trying to his
nerves"
1 placed the little cross in
the workmen's hands for repair ;
and the next morning punctu-
ally at eleven, l was at MoOres Hotel, ac-
companied by porter with a goodly as
sortment of iewelry.
A few words with the manager set me
quite at ease, though my inquiries were a
matter of form. Mr. Elliston Ross lived
in Yorkshire, owned coal mines and was
in town to visit the court physician, Sir
Ealing Dean; had been there once before
for the same reason; perfect gentleman :;
his lady quite an angel,-waited on him
night and day.