Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-04

time without her respirator. She rose with
a sad smile and motioned me to seat; while
putting on her respirator she went into the
next room, remaining absent few minutes ;
and then returning, requested me to bring in
my cases for Mr.. Ross to see. I had left the
porter down stairs +; so, taking up the two
small leathern boxes, followed Mrs. Ross
into a slightly shaded room, where, looking
deathly pale, the gentleman who had visited
our place of business lay upon couch read
ing newspaper. He was attired in blue
cloth dressing-gown, and had small table
drawn up to his side, on which were bot
tie, glass, and carafiee which seemed to
be barley-water. He too wore respirat0r !;
but he removed 1t for few moments to
take little Of the barley-water, and then
carefully replaced it, coughing hollowly the
| while.
"Sorry to bring you isto a sick-room,"
he said, courteously. "SOrry, in fact, to
bring you here at all, for would much ra-
ther have chosen the triHe or two wanted
at your shop. trust you have not brought
many things, thought
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 ?" said Mrs.
Ross, in rather disappointed tones, as dis
played in the best lights the pearl suite.
"No; not at all, said the invalid. "Too
plain; almost vulgar"
| "Might be allowed to suggest" said
earnestly, "that to see pearls to advantage,
they must be worn. 1t is "a well known fact
that pearls are gems which show to as great
| advantage upon dark as upon q fair com
| plexion and If your lady
paused here, and glanced towards Mrs.
Ross, who smiled graciously and then
clasped the bracelet round her shapely wrist,
the necklace over her fine throat, and placed
the tiara in her hair-looking almost regal
as she stood before us.
You see the difference" said, dIawing
back.
''Yes, yes" said the invalid, impatiently;
"they look well enough on her; but they
are for quite q girl. Take them off, Lila"
Here, Lila, give me a glass Of sherry.
Confound this thing, it almost chokes me-"
He tore off the respirator and hurried to the
other end of the room.
For my sake, d;ar, u heard her whisper
to him, as, stepping lightly across the room,
she picked up the resprater and brought it
back.
swell there; get out the sherry, then,"
he said, pcttishly, as he took back the In
stiument.
''No, no, dear; Sir Ealing said"-
Confound Sir Ealing! if am to die, let
| me die comfortably, and not be tortured TO
death. Get out the sherry, say-the port
too"
l saw tear trickle down Mrs. Ross's
| cheek as she fetched couple of dccanters
| from side-board where they stood with
glasses.
Haven't you some cake, or did you send
| it down 2" he said impaliently.
" have it here, dear" said Mrs. Ross,
softly; and she placed q portion of small
poundcake ON the table.
'Give me glass of sherry" he said, i'm
patiently. mo, not that glass-the other
MIL don't know your name-try that
sherry." He slipped little. "You'll find
| it very good"
never take wine in business hours.
Won't you try the port, then ?" he said
would much rather moi" replied.
"a little cake y suggested the lady.
l bowed, and declined, when Mrs. Ross
readjusted her husbands respirator, leaning
over the while.
'.Now, let mc see that bracelet" said Mr..
Ross, pointing to one upon the table. "But
are these all you have brought?"
Yes, sir, said; ''but Can easily bring
a fresh selection though had brought
over two thousand pounds worth.
''Hem, yes" he said; ''of course do
you like that bracelet, Lilla?'
''Yes," said Mrs. Ross; 81 picked il out
particularly yesterday. That emerald is SO
beautiful"
'.Putit on, he said, curtly; and she clasp
| ed 1t upon her arm.
''IIow much ?" he said shortly.
"Thirty-five guineas," replied.
"Dear," he said very dear. The bra
celct we bought at the shop was far more
handsome, al the same money"
mo love; it was sixty guneas," said
Mrs. Ross.
"Ah. was II ? l forgot, be said carlessly.
swell, lay that aside don't want you TO
come for nothing"
He turned over the various rings, asking
the prices of nearly every article had
brought, when suddenly throwing himself
impatiently back, he exclaimed: Good
heavens, Lila, this room is insuiTerable !;
throw some Of that vinegar about"
Mrs. Ross smiled family; and taking q
flexible tube from the mantepiece, She
pressed it, so that in fine shower finely
scented aromatic vinegar difused a refresh
ing perfume through the room.
"That's BETTER" he exclaimed,-No
show me those pearls again. How much
did you say they were?'
"Four hundred guineas the suite," l said,
hastening to lay them before him.
"There, take them away !" he exclaimed.
al can't afford four hundred guineas; four
hundred shillings more likely. That con-
founded doctor is running me. Let me look
at the watches or, stay, let me look at the
pearls again. No; never mind. | won't
have them unless you will take half the
money. l believe you jewellers get most
terrible profits Show me The watches"
was Fastening to place the half dozen l
had with me in his hands, when he ex-
claimed again "Insuiierable! Have you
any more of that vinegar, Lila? 7"
Mrs. Ross nodded; and taking cut
glass bottle from her pocket, she placed il
with handkerchief by his side
"No, no" he said, giving me back the
watches. "sprinkle the room with another
, of those tubes, Now, youl I'll have that
little plain watch. I'm getting tired Of this.
, Let me have chain to match-a fine one,
, mind-the thinnest you have-and that will
do for to- day."
As selected four or five chains, after put
ting the watch aside, Mrs. Ross took up
! another tube, unscrewed it, aud then ap
pcared to be taking especial notice of the
chains which bore across 10 the invalid.
"Those are sweetly pretty" she exclaimed
AS she spoke she stood close to my side
/ when the invalid exclaimed impaiiently
"There, pray be quick, dear !" and at ont
: and the same moment he poured out thu
contents Ol his uOttlt upon his nuHuhci
G chief, and felt a fine spray of a peculiar
S odor playing right in my nostrils. l startet
i back, gasping and astonished, when, leapinl
+ from the couch, the invalid exclaimed
t "Good heavens, sir, you are unwell !" ant
he covered my face aud nose with the We
! handkerchief, forcing me backwards into
/ chair.
. believe that struggled, but only feeble
i for strange, delicious, enervating languo
d was stealing over me l saw things misiily
/ but still with an understanding mind, seeiD
1t though unable to move hand or foot, tha
/ the invalid was bending over me, while MI
1t Ross was hastily placing the various article
d of jewelry in her pocket. saw all thai
u but in a dreamy, untroubled way, for
seemed then not to be of the slightest const
10 quencc--not to concern me. Then hav
S. some recollection of an intensely cold sens;
10 tion as of water being poured upon my fac'
III while my next impression is of hearing
d; closing door and the click of lock. H3v
ID long remained in that condition ! new
lr knew; but by degrees awokc to feelr
of deadly nauses; my head swan, my ten
:" pies throbbed, and everything gaZed upt