The Van Buren press., 1869-12-21
/" Whv. YOU don't mean


A month passed, when ono cold Jan
uary day | was in the show room. an,
the same lady made her appearance alone
She still were her respirater, but looked
very pale, haggard and troubled Th'
bold look seemed to have gone from he
ewes and as l recalled my thoughts,
felt that had misjudged her, for she be
gan to speak tenderly of her husband
Mr.. Ross, who was lying very Ill at thu
hotel.
81 have brought back the cross to b'
repaired" she said, drawing the little mo
roccs case from her rich sable mun
"The ring was too slight, and it broke
from my necklet the second time it wal
worn. had marrow escape Of losing
it; but Mr.. Ross found it himself upor
the lawn, tr0dden into the grass.
thought / would leave it until we came
mp again. or course, you can repair it. ;
expressed my sorrow, and promised
to have it seen to at once.
You need not hurry for few days
Mr.. Ross is in town to consult Sir Ealing
Dean, and / fear he will send us to Ma
deira. This climate Is killing my poor
husband"
"Our friend was delighted with the
little bracelet, gift which Mr.. Ross wish.
es to supplement with something a little
more valuable. Perhaps could be al
lowed to select few things for you TO
submit to his choice at the hotel I
know his taste now pretty we'll, and il
will save trouble" '.r
Anything you would like to selec,
shall be sent ma'am," / said; and | then
proceeded to open and display te their
best advantage some very valuable brace
lets, which were one and all rejected.
Yes" she said sadly, "they are all
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 tails, it seems to have acquired an
indescribable tone that cannot explain,
except that it is artistic and dreamy"
is only fair to say" said the lady
smiling--at least, | could see that she
was smiling, in spite of her respirator--
"t that Mr.. Ross viii not purchase many
of these elegant ornaments. ! know he
would like watch and chain, and ring.
Perhaps, too, If he admired them. one Of
those pearl suites; but thought it better
to speak, us since his illness he has be-
come, not irritahle-but---but--perhaps
a little hard to please. and l should be
sorry if he rejected everything you
brought"
So inuch delicacy was displayed in
.hese remarks that could only courte-
TOO happy to has sfssttAf tAfs a.. .s 'hsald only be
on Mr.. Ross till we had hit upon some-
thing that he admired; and upon prom
ising to send the selected goods on tue
next morning at eleven, our visitor rose
to go.
II would ask you to send this after
neon," said the lady, on rising, I" but ]
don't think Mr. Ross quite well enough.
He saw our physician this morning, and
the interviews are always very trying to
his nerves.
placed the little cross in the work
mems hands for repair; and the next
punctually at eleven, was at
Moore's Hotel, accompanied by porter
with goodly assortment of jewelry. A
few words with the manager set me quite
at ease, though my inquiries were q mere
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. / was shown into the
room where Mrs. Ross was seated-this
time ~ithout her respirator. She rose
with q sad smile and mstiened me 10 q
seat; while putting on her rospirator she
went ints the next room, remaining alb
sent few minutes and then returning,
requested me to bring in my cases for
Mr.. Ross to see. l had left the porter
down stairs so, taking up the two small
leathren boxes. followed Mrs. Ross into
a slightly shaded room, where, looking
deathly pale, the gentleman whs had Wis
tied eur place OF business lay upon a
couch reading q newspaper. lie was at
tired in u blue cloth dressing gown, and
had small table drawn up to his side, on
which were bottle, glass, and a carratfce
which seemed to contain barley. water
He too wore respirator; but he remov
ed it for q few moments to take little
of the barley. water, and then carefully
replaced it, coughing hollowly the while
"Sorry to bring you into sick room,'
he said courteously "Sorry, in fact. to
bring you here at all, for ! would much
rather have chosen tho triae or swc
wanted at your shop. ! trust you have
not brought many things, though :"
He then listlessly examined first one
and then another ornament, as / opened
them out, but always with dissatisfied
air.
"Don't you like those, dear p said
Mrs. Ross, in rather disappointed tones
as / displayed in the best lights the pear
srite.
mot at all, said the invalid. "Toc
plain; almost vulgar"
"Might be allowed to suggest
said earnestly, "thnt to see pearls to ad
vantage, they must be worn. 1t n vel
known fact that pearls are gems which
show to as great advantage upon a dari
Is upon fair complexion; and If you'
lady
/ paused here, and glanced toward
Mrs. Ross, who smiled graciously, anc
tn en- clasped the bracelet round her shape
" wrist, the necklace over her fine throa
and placed the tiara in her hair--loo okins