The daily gazette., 1880-03-04
The Black Necklace.
BY e. w.

Hdu stHCc Dcoh auueu TWO Dr1ck wings,
very old, of course, but strong as a
fortress, and 80 valued by it's owners
that only death separated them from II
one by one. To that house, eighty odd
years ago, returned from France young
Milroy. He came home in haste. This
was why.
In Paris, where he had entered the
best society, he had met a lady whose
charms were very great. naturally, and
who also exerted herself to the utmost
to charm him. One style of beautiful
women always succeed when they
| choose to be fascinating. 1t was Mad
anne Villebelle's style. To be sure she
was madame, and had jealous savage
of French husband, with moustaches
longer than he was himself /; but when
lady forgets such facts, who is called
upon to remember them for her? She
smiled upon Allan. He at once enter
ed upon Irritation. At last he fell
desperately in love, and said things for
which she pretended to chide him, un-
til walking together in the garden.
Allan one day imprinted kiss upon
her cheek, and in the act caught a
glimpse of long moustache and a
watchful eye, like that of a tiger, be-
hind the shrubbery.
This set him thinking he had gone
too far. Why risk his happiness thus ?
Why voluntarily encourage a feeling
which could have no happy ending p
he babe adieu to Madame Villebelle.
and that night left Paris. He travelled
slowly and halted at a quiet little
country place. There, one morning. a
waiter of the hotel brought in the
latest Partisan news with monsieur's
chocolate. Had monsieur heard it -
NO" "Ah but it was terrible. Al
lady of position and rank murdered by
her husband from causeless jealousy.
But here was the paper"
Allan tore open the paper. The
murdered lady was Madame Vile
belle. N # u ma
His distress was terrible, but he con-
cealed it. Soon he remembered that
it was not only wife's throat that a
jealous husband desired to cut. and
took the first vessel for America, where
he arrived somewhat changed, rather
more given to falling into brown stud
les than when he left, but none the
less improved by travel in the opinion
of his family.
He had been absent four wears. Tn
that time his half-sis.ers. bnt little
children when he left, had grown old
enough to require accomplishments
A governess' was required for them.
and just then French governess was
the fashion. One was expected-nay.
she might have arrived in the vessel
which brought Allan himself. Allan
did not remember any young French
lady who looked like governess. He
did remember, hewever, something
which he could not well mention-s
sort of optical delusiOn, which had
thrice brought before him the face and
figure of Madame Villebelle as he last
saw her, only that there was an awful |
cash in her white throat. Once in a
calm once in storm, and once lust as
his native land appeared in view upon
the horizon. He had not been ouite
himself on that voyage home, to tell |
the truth, nor in condition of mind
70 observe young or old ladies. How
aver the governess had come over in
5he same vessel, or said she had, and
she reached the house next day.
A woman as beautiful as Madame
villebelle had been, and very, yery.
ike her, though no one knew that bnt
Allan Milroy. Like her, except that
he was pallid as death, while Madame
Villebelle was glowing, smiling.
limpling woman, all rosy life and mo
ion.
Mademolselle, the governess. was
ressed from head to foot in blacks and
boat her throat she wore a broad.
necklace, or, rather, band
I Jet--a strange, still ornament, but
ne she never appeared without. She
rent about her duties mechanically Il
he spoke very little; she never smiled:
ut she seemed, Notwithstanding, the
cry model of a governess, save in one
would never enter a
hurch door, or remain in the parlor
uring the hour of family prayer.-I-.
Tut for the references which had been
ad with her, this would have been
'rribly against the governess but
lese were all-sufficient.
SIS it probable" Mrs. Milroy said.
that she was Papist, and dared not
lin in Protestant worship" though
lie had once whispered under her
reath, when she was asked to enter. G
l am not ut to hear prayer or saw {
me-" and had turned even paler than
efore, as she fitted away, with her :
ice in her hands.
However, Azalie had a good accent
pure Parisian-and the very best !,
communications, as we have said be-
IRE.
Such a pale ghost, beautiful as she
as, it seemed at all impossible that 1
ny one should fall in love with her
ut, notwithstanding this, Allan Mil.
" soon felt himself under the infiu-
ice of sort of spell. 1t was not adj
ration it was not the glowing,
Irnest, passionate love of youth. It
as singular feeling, which he could
1t himself analyze.
Where she was, there he must be
hen she moved, he felt impelled to
low. He was conscious of her an.
zach before she entered room. She
ID but to look at hun, and he under
ood her wishes. Yet, with il all, he
1t sense ofguilt and terror, horror 1.
some unknown thing lying in wait N
r him amid the shadows of the future Is
wild beasts lie in the forest or the
ngle for the coming of their prev:
nscious of this, yet, withal knowing =,
other name tor the emotion with II
lich the girl impressed him than that