Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-12-09


that it would be quite impossible for him tc
explain the thing to her How could he tell
her he would buy them back again She
would tell him that she should never have a
moments security in them afterward.-
"What Z" he could hear her say, "my EN-.
erAlds my beautiful great emeralds Sell
my jewels II can't be that understand
you. To be sure" I" with that sweet, incon-
sequential way Of hers. 81 knew you were
only teasing me My precious emeralds, in
decdr
And he could hear himself answering,
Indeed am not jcsting, meant what |
said"
"Meant wha, You saidl" he was sure she
would reply "Meant that you must sell
my emcralds Why don't you sell the
house 2"
" Because real estate is low with little
pcrsistency, needless of the intended sarcasm.
" and the house would not bring a third as
much as the jewels And my losses, my re-
verses--l-l have seen the fabric of for
tune il has taken years to build, fall in a
day ?" Not that out Of an imaginary CON
versation, never taking place, Mr.. Rothley
would have been capable Of using the least
fine language.
"And fallen so low" she cries, that YOU
must pledge your wiie's trinkets fallen so
low that we are in the same plight as those
miserable creatures who are found with
pawn tickets on them Oh, take them
take the wretched things she cries. with
lofty scorn ~ will never touch them again
Oh, why was ever born What have I
ever done 10 be disgraced so ? I'm sure |
never expected this when | was married.
Don't touch me don't speak to me Ineyer
dreamed of such an outrage And 10y that
time his thinking had thrown Mr. Rothely
into a wet chill, and he set up in bed sure
that he never could tell his circumstances 10
Mrs. Rothely, and ask her for the help her
jewels could afford.
There she was now, sweetly sleeping, in
the moonlight that filtered between the cur
tans aud siyered all the rich room, her long,
dark lashes resting ON her rosy check, a
smile parting her lips-as she remembered.
perhaps, some OF the fatuites whispered by
her last partner at the ball. lie felt glow
of resentment taking the place of the cold
chill of the moment before, and he suddenly
said TO himself that he would not have her
Jewels. aud she should never be the wiser
lie could not. he would not he thought, hu.
initiate himself before her hy craving such a
favor What power he had, what supre.
macy, he felt to be due to his granting fa-
vors not begging them. lie would not yield
the position, he would never place himself in
such an abjcct light Not while this other
course was open for what was there easier
than now, while she was wrapped away in
this soft nmbus of sleep, to steal across the
moon-hghted room, TO secure the casket, tc
lock the safe, and keep the key--that she
might fancy she had mislaid it'll he could
put the casket back again with every splen
did diamond, with every cool, rich emerald
in it replaced by as skillfully cut crystals a.
cunning hands could set there, after which
the key could easily be found again The
law would take them if he didn't and would
never give them back again as he would,
Easy is the descent. The whole affair
shaped itself in a swift drama to his eyes, tc
his hand. And then it was done. And il
in the morning Mr.. Rothely looked worn ant
haggard, it was not because he had moi
slept, and had not been muttering in hi
sleep, when by and by his wife, leaning OF
her elbow, bent over him to hear the word
he said it was not because he had not fell
that he was on the mending hand, so far a
his business difficulties were concerned
Not, indeed, that a hundred thousand dol
lars ready money would liquidate tentl
part of his obligations, but that, on that hy
drostatic principle of balancing an immens,
weight with mere trife, ON which much o
the affairs of Wall street is modelled h,
saw that he would be able to pull through.
1t was busy day for Mr.. Rothely-i
dreadful day in some respects, delightful
one in others, for he raised his money an,
he saved his name. Yet no one would hav
supposed it had been delightful in anything
who had seen the gray aud dreary look h
cast about him as he entered his house an'
observed his wife Fastening to meet him
lie shrank away from her welcome befor
he knew what he did, and then could bu
think OF the toad squatting in Eden am
shrinking from the presence of the visiting
white sprite there; for certainly there wa
an air OF Eden about this place to him--a
was soft and bright; luxurious warmth am
delicate beauty everywhere aud wherevc
his wife was, there were flowers in abur
dance, since Mrs. Rothely was much lik
Lady Teazle after all, and never considers
it her fault that flowers were dear in winter
"Oh, Mr.. Rothcly" she was exclaiming
as She hurried down the drawing-ruom
"What do you think The key is gone
| have looked for it everywhere, and hav
had all the servants up to examine then
and the room has been swept, aud the furn
ture moved, and Susette has taken ever,
thing out of the wardrobe drawers an
shaken it and put it back again. and yet
can't be found l'
what are you talking about, my dear ?
/ said Mr.. Rothely, with well-assumed bewi
! derment ITO what does it refer ?"
4
tion TO what he said. "Oh, am so worrie
about it And am positive | locked tn
door of the safe and put the key in il
place. She had done nothing of the kin,
you know.
Yes, am positive ! saw you do it" sal
Mr.. Rothply, absently, she too much excite
to remember that he had done nothing
the kind either
a." | think | shall have TO call in the police
she cried. IL shall not be able 10 sleep on
moment tonight. shall be thinking $,
masked faces. and hear felt shoes, and sha
be on the watch for burglars and eveIythin
terrible ~ and the tears were choking her.
"Oh no, my love, shall be here" sal
Mr., Rothely, re-assuringly.
''Oh, | know. You, Of course" said Mr.
Rothely, dashing off her tears. 81 But thi
won't hinder them. Why, they blow chlor
form though key-holes, and smother you wit
pillows, and il you scream they shoot Mr.
Ever has Just been telling how she lay sti
and held her hand over Mr.. Ewer's mout
and saw the men going throughh is pocket
without daring to breathe"
Mrs. Ever thought she gave Z
alarm 2"
"Oh, yes, finally, when they went to Il
drawer where she keeps her diamonds, "
know. Oh, dear, dear me II ! could ON
find that key shall vex myself into
fever | am all tired out, and have bee
so afraid you would say it was careless"
! Careless, my love- Not in the lea
And as for the key, never mind il. 1t W
turn up; that's way things have. If
) will be a comfort to you, promise to sit
in the hall with couple of loaded revolve
all night" And then he laughed and we
+ up stairs.
How good he isl" said Mrs. Rothe
"Never 10 whisper word about his oy
: great troubles because he saw mine.
doesn't know what heard him saving q
there never was such husband %
, For two or three mornings after that
2 having neglected 10 send up the men W
could remove the safe-the first thing tn
' saluted Mr. Rothely's eyes as he open
! them was his wife, with her pretty lace G.
I askew, and a shawl dragging from h
e shoulders reflected in two or three long m
I rors, and going over the room in a renew
t search, while she talked vigorously to h'
: self. :" II is getting TO be worse than Bit
! boards key" she was sighing ." sha'I
I wait another day before callingin the poli'
"a 4