Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-07-22

IQc place.
How insanely glad I felt that it was
my lot to show the jewels, watching all
the time the changing expression of the
lovely eyes and the glitter of the golden
hairi
The lady wanted the best-of course
she did; nothing but regal jewels be-
fitted her royal style of beauty. / showed
her all. with fierce wonder at my
heart whether she were choosing for her
bridal, whether she were merely ex-
amining previous to some gallant young
officer or grand noble criving up and
finishing the bargain, as his wedding
gift to his bride.
There was superb necklace upon
which she had fixed her attention for
some time.
81 must own to a weakness for dia-
monds," she said, with winning laugh,
raising her eyes from the jewels and
resting them on mine in lingering
way, that set all my pulses madly beat
ing.
II do not wonder at il, madam" /
said, with an imbecile smile. "The
glittering stones must suit you well.
They must borrow light from you,
though they cannot add to the"
Here / stopped short. | felt a hot
flush rising to my face. What! was /
making fullsome compliments to a
woman / had never seen before-a GUS
toner merely? wondered she did not
seattle me with glance like heat
lightning. ! was relieved to hear her
laugh.
"You should praise your Jewels, not
your customers" she said, lightly, and
it seemed to me her eyes looked kindly
into mine, as if she read my heart.
And what right had I to care for her
glancesP
thought of Lisa with tinge of re-
proach. Bah! I said the next moment,
because / am to be married must
never feel that woman is beautiful
again? I can admire her as piece of
statuary or picture.
"Yes, I may say have a passion for
the splendid stones" she went on, gayly,
'' though they are so cold and white and
hard-so soulless, as one might say.
My husband INDUCES me-"
All, ye gods, her husband!
HE has promised me anything |
choose for the anniversary of our we'd
ding. Fancy, it is the first, you see.
Perhaps when we have passed several
of these milestones he will not be so
complacent."
II should think time would only in
crease his rapture" | stammered.
-'Oh, you are very gallant ]" with a
charming gesture. fsYou should be a
courtier; but I must not allow you to
say such things to me. Ten thousand
rubles-with the earrings? /? All, it is a
great price, but / think he will not
grumble."
" He should not r' I said. emphati-
cally.
MOP" with playful look; sc but he
must see them. first. He is SO busy can
never have his company. His position
is so confning you know. But of course
you do not know"
She took out card from silver fila
gree case.
"MADAME PIERRE BERNHoFF."
Who had not heard of Doctor Pierre
Bernhoff and his celebrated institution
for the insanep So skillful, so success
full was his system that patients came
from far and near-or, rather, should
not say these patients came; they were
always brought.
But man who had made such a
reputation must be old, thought, and I
cast..a glance that was half-pity on the
blooming woman who had, perhaps,
sacrificed herself for a home, position
and wealth.
l suppose that young man is saneP"
she asked, with lance at Alexis, who
was in the throes of composition, and
rolling his eyes in an imbeeile manner.
"Oh, yes as sane as poets usually
are, !" | answered, with laugh.
"Then | suppose you can leave the
place with him while you bring this
lovely set to show my husband? My
carriage is at the door,"
There was no trouble about that. AL
though Alexis was in the clouds, he was
very wide-awake when a customer en-
tered, if he was in charge; otherwise,
he laid down all responsibility.
We drove through the Nevskoi-that
corridor of palaces and churches-past
the splendid Alexandra theater and the
Place Michel, with its English square,
so refreshingly green in summer.
All. here we arei" she cried, as the
carriage stopped before great. gloomy
looking building. g am sorry to have
given you so much trouble"
The next moment she had opened
the door OF a room at one side of the
hall.
eff you will step in here moment /
will go and see where my husband is.
| cannot always send a servant after
him. because there are times when he
must not be interrupted. | think be is
in his office. Where are the jewelsp"
| had held the case in my hand till
this moment.
| can show them to him and he will
decide in three moments. Between you
and me, he knows nothing whatever of
diamonds. Of brains-diseased brains.
he knows considerable, but his ignor-
ance on other points is Dense"
With a gay laugh that seemed to
stir up shudGering echoes in the silence,
she took the case in her hand and went
out, shutting the door behind her.
Lit was large room, and somewhat
vault-ike, l thought, in appearance.
There was great Russian store of white
china in one corner that looked like
sarcophagus of an archaeological pat
tern, with pinnacle and spire. There
was much-gilded picture of st. Nicho-
las on the wall-that patron saint who
is found in every Russian house.
/ did not find much room for specu-
latiOn in that room, or food for thought.
Indeed, l had gotten all through, and
was going the rounds again and again
rather impatiently.
Perhaps the lady had not found the
Herr Doctor, or he might be hesitating
about the price. Impossible to look
~, bor fono + +bouob+ ond I,..-1. ----