The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-08-28

down among carriage people, be-
cause she used such conveyance, she
must have been sanguine indeed. And
,so far. that was a, good sign, People
that came to rob on q scale worth men,
tfoning II am not thinking Of those
who Slipped any unconsidered trifle,
such as q ring or spray, into their
muffs; they were always detected and
bowed out of the shop into the arms of
a policeman in plain clothes who stood
ut the door)-people, I say, who
wanted to sUtndle. were always very
particular about the vehicle that
brought them. 2
What reused suspicion in the watch
full eye of Mr., John Riddel was the
widow herself Like Weller, senior
(though without his matrimonial ex-
perience to excuse it). he had a preju-
dice against widows-at least in jewell
ers' shops; nor, am bound to con-
TESS, was it,. altogether, without
grounds garb and the mien of
sorrow being the stalking horses under
which a good deal Of knavery is &c
complished. And then this widow was
SO bewitching TO look at that he was
naturally alarmed; from every neat
plat Of her beautiful hair, and every
fold of her modest suit of mourning,
there seemed to him to autter danger
signal. He was wont to declare, in
| deed, that he knew she was after no
good from the first moment he set eyes
on her; but that statement must,
think. be received with caution, IF
his face grew severe and his manner
painfully polite, as she came up to
where he stood, it was because he
knew that Boltby and Nation had got
their eyes upon him and were looking
out for some sign of weakness.
"Iwish to see some rings" she said,
in a soft and gentle voice; "mourning
rings" and then she took off her glove,
displaying the whitest little hand inn
aginable. 81 #sF 81 ~ II
Of course, he could not help seeing
her hand, nor yet her face, from which
she had put back her veil. 1t wore an
expression of sadness, but also one of
enfranchisement and content; it
seemed to say, s. My late husband was
very unworthy of me; but he has left
me free, and forgive him." Who has
not seen such widows, who wear their
weeds almost as if they were flowers,
and who have apparently selected
black as their only wear, because it is
becoming to themP
Mr.. Riddel said, "Allow me,
Madame" in his most honeyed voice,
and slipped Ceased" he called it,
and certainly it was very easy work)
ring after ring upon the widows
dainty finger. 81 hope am not hurt
ing you," he murmured.
"Oh, no." she sighed; "there was u
time, but that is passed now-when it
would have given me pleasure. /
mean," she added, hastily, and with
modest blush, "when rings would
have done so; but Jewels and gewgaws
have no longer any attractions for
me."s Mr.. John Riddel by no means
felt certain Of this, but he had an eve
for number, and would have missed a
ring from the tray in an instant,
though he had been exhibiting a
thousand. At last she made her
choice Gt was the most expensive of
the whole lot), and produced from the
prettiest little bag in the world-a
check-book. B.
pardon me, Madame, we do not
take checks except from-ahem-old
customers"
"Well, am not a very old Gus
TONER" she said, smiling. Ono;
but you're queer one," he thought,
''Or I'm much mistaken. "Still,
| should have thought in the case of a
lady like myself"
"Madame," said this crafty young
man, elf it lay in my power to oblige
you, there would of course be no diff
ficulty in the matter; the rule of the
firm is, unhappily, what 1 have
stated"
"Then the firm will take my last
sixpence," she rejoined, with tender
playfulness; and from the most ele-
CANT of ''porte-monnaies'' she
counted him out the sum required,
when its contents in truth were quite
exhausted. II am lodging at De la
Bois', the court hair-dresser," she
said; s'my name is Mrs. Montfort.
However, I will not trouble you to
send the ring, as I shall have to go
home to get some more money!" and
she looked at him with eyes that
seemed to say; "Cruel man, thus to
reduce to restitution"
Then she rose and sailed down the
shop, carelessly glancing at this or
that (chiefy in the hair and mourning
Department. as she passed out. s'If
she is not on the square, she does il
uncommonly WE'LL" thought Mr.. Rid
del; "perhaps have done her an in
justice, poor dear"
On the third morning after her visit
the widow called again, sailed quite
naturally up to our hero, and cast
anchor under his eyes. "You will
think" she remarked, latter what I
said the other day about gewgaws, that
I am very changeable in my tastes;
but I am not come this time upon my
own account; I want to see some
diamond lockets for friend"
This is quite the usual course with
ladies and others who victimized the
jewelers.. They buy ring for. ten
pounds, and after having thus estab-
lished themselves-cast out their sprat
to catch a herring they patronized the
establishment in earnest. ygssl
Singular to say, however, this did
not rouse Mr.. Riddles suspicious.
Notwithstanding his pretense of indif-
ference to Mrs. Montfort's charms, he
had privately sent to De la Bots, in the
interim, and found that the lady did
reside at thatfashionable hairdresser's.
and on the first floor; he had done it, Of
course, in the interests of the firm, and
in case she should call again; but per-
haps he would not have been pleased
had Messrs. Nation and Boltby been
made aware of his precaution. go.
The locket that pleased her most was
an expensive one, perhaps too much, 50
for her friends purse, she said. Il sas
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. TWAS great RESPONSE.
bility. What did Mr.. Riddel think?
Mr.. Riddles thoughts were always
cut and dried. on such occasions. He
4