The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-08-23

Guilty In the matter; the rule OF the tlrm
is, unhappily, what have stated"
"Then the firm will take my last six
pence" she rejoined with tendy playful
ness; and from the most elegant of
porte monnaies -" she counted him out
he sum required, when its contents in
truth were quite exhausted. 81 am
lodging at De la Bots, the court hair.
dresser" she said; "my name is Mrs.
Montfort. However, l will not trouble
you to send the ring, as L shall have to
60 home to get some more money" and
she looked at him with eyes that seemed
to say, Cruel man, thus to reduce me to
restitution"
Then she rose and sailed down the
shop, carelessly glancing at this or that
| (chietly in the hair and mourning de-
partment) as she passed out. off she is
not on the square, she does it uncom-
monty well" thought Mr. Riddel; "per-
haps | have done her an injustice, poor
dear"
On the third morning after her visit
the widow called again, sailed quite
naturally up to our hero, and cast an
Choir under his eyes. "You will think, :"
she remarked, latter what [ said the
other day about gewgaws, that l am
very changeable in my tastes; but I am
not come this time upon my own &C.
count; | want to see some diamond
lockets for friend"
This is quite the usual course with
ladies and others who victimize the
jewelers.. They buy q ring for ten
pounds, and after having thus estab-
lished themselves-cast out their sprat
to catch herring-they patronize the
establishment in earnest.
Singular to say, however, this did not
rouse Mr.. Riddles suspicious. Notwith-
standing his pretense of indifference to
Mrs. Montforts charms, he had privately
sent to Della Bots, in the interim, and
found that the lady did reside at that
fashionable hairdresser's, and on the first
floor; ne had done it, of course, in the
interest of the firm, and in case she
should call again; but perhaps he would
not have been pleased had Messrs. Nation
and Bobby been made aware of his pre-
caution.
The locket that pleased her most was
all expensive one, perhaps too much SO
for her friends purse, she said. 1t was
very foolish of that lady, but she had
such a complete reliance upon her Mrs.
Montfort's) taste and judgment that she
had placed the matter entirely in her
hands. 1t was great responsibility
What did Mr.. Riddel think?
MIR. Riddles thoughts were alwa avs cut
and dried on such occasions He ex-
pressed his opinion that the locket
selected by Mrs. Montfort was certainly
the most elegant of all, and testified to
the sagacity of the lady who had such
confidence in her good taste. But as to
the price, Mrs. Montfort herself was the
only Judge as to the state of her friends
exchequer.
ooh, she's rich enough" smiled Mrs
Montfort, "and as open-handed as any
woman can be. Our sex are naturally
inclined to be little close" she added
with smile, "don't you think sop
Mr.. Riddel did not think so; he had
always found ladies very generous in
their dealings; in this lady's particular
case he felt more certain than ever that
the Iocket-and he let the light play on
it so as TO show the brilliants to the bes.
advantageous the very thing to suit
her.
81 think SO too" murmured the
widow; /" but then you see there's the
responsibility. Pll tell you what you
must do. You shall send all the lockets
to my lodgings for an hour or so, and
then my niece, who is staying with me-
shall give her opinion on the matter
and by her advice / will abide.'
Mr.. Riddel smiled, but shook his
beautiful head of hair. Every curl OF
lt-and there were thousands of them
express polished but decided negative.
We couldn't do it, madame, we really
couldn't"
"What! not leave the lockets for an
hour?"
NO. madame, not for a moment. Of
course it is mere formula, one of those
hard and-fast regulations, the existence
of which one so often has to deplore
but have no authority to oblige you as
you request. | can send the lockets, of
course-or bring them myself-but
whoever is in charge of them will have
orders not to lose sight of them. This is
an invariable rule with every customer
whose name is not entered on our books"
Instead of getting into a rage-genu-
Inc, If she was genuine, or pretended, if
she was swindler-the widow uttered q
low ripping laugh,
| Like the voice OF summer brook
| In the ieafy month of June
| Which, to the sleeping woods, all night
| Slngeth quiet tune"
only her teeth were much whittier than
the pebbles of any brook. "You tickle
me-" she said. (of course she was only
speaking metapholically,) $50 that
really cannot hel p laughing; it is so droll
that you should really think l came here
to steal lockets."
"My dear madame" said Mr.. Riddel,
"pray do not talk like that; if it rested
with me-" (sly dog that he was,) "you
should cary of the whole contents of the
shop to choose from"
You are very good, and very kind, +"
she said. g If any other person had ex-
pressed such doubts of me / should have
been terribly offended. But l quite un-
derstand how you are situated. Well,
you shall bring the lockets yourself, and
for fear you should think | have any
wicked design" she added with little
blush, "will you come this morning
1t will be equally convenient to my
niece, and you needn't be afraid of being
garrotted by daylight"
my dear madame" exclaimed Mr..
Riddle for the second time, and with a
deeper depreciation than before, chow
can you? Of course, l will come when
ever you please"
Very good; as my broughman is
here, l will drive you home in it." In
five minutes he had packed up all the
Jackets and was following her elegant
though stately figure down the shop.
There he goes with another Duchess"
WHISPERED Nation To Rolthv. " see how