The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-04-27

beat nasty retreat
His state of agitation and nervous
apprehension may be easily imagined,
for it seemed inevil able that the decep
ton he had practiced would be expos
cd The widow could not fail to re
cognize her own bracelet, and would, of
course, call on him for an explanation.
The situation was embarrassing, to say
the least, and might lead to awkward
consequences. Mrs. Bramwell Jay, in
her natural disgust and indignation,
would in all probability break off the
engagement on the spot, and the story
would be known all over London. Mr.
Fempany got no sleep that night, and
became more and more uneasy every
moment. 1t suddenly occurred to him,
in the midst of his mental perturbation,
that he had committed an act of felony
punishable by law. 1t was an awful
reflection, and caused Mr. Tempany to
break into a cold perspiration. Tne
disagreeable contingency-however re
mote---of finding himself in the dock,
had the effect of spurring his imagina.
tive powers, so that, inspired by sheer
desperation, he at ,ength concocted a
story which he hoped might serve his
purpose. The consequence was, that
when, in the course of the next day, he
received peremptory note from the
widow, requesting him to come and call
upon her Immediately, he was able to
keep the appointment with an outward
appearance of calm.
"Mr. Tempany, this is most extraor.
dinary!' said Mrs. Bramwell Jay, after
a very cold greeting. "Arny has been
here this morning, and | find that the
bracelet you presented to her is mine |!
gave it TO you to take to the jewel
ers.'
"Nonsense! exclaimed Mr. Tenn
pany, with a well -feigned start of sur
prise. sit is impossible!"
''lmpossible Why, here it is said
the widow, producing the ornament.
"There can be no mistake about it. |
will swear to it. OF course Amy re-
turned it to me, and | have lost no time
in asking you for an explanation.
"What an odd circumstance-quite
ludicrous | must speak to Bevis. lie
evidently gave me back your bracelet
in mistake for the one | had bought,
said Mr.. Tempany, speaking quickly
and nervously.
"Who is Bevis?" inquired Mrs. Bran
well Jay. "Do you mean the jewelel
in Sackv street,"
"Yes, | never opened the case after
he handed it to me across the counter
but sent it direct to Mrs. Bullivant,
explained Mr.. Tempany, gaining conf
dence. 81 recollect it was the same day
that / left your bracelet to be repaired
1t is clear how the mistake arose"
"Still it seems extraordinary! re
peated the widow, evidently only hal
convinced. "The jeweler must be
very careless man, and deserves a gooC
scolding. Suppose we go at once ant
ask him what he meant by it? The car
riage is at the door, and | am dressed
for my drive, as you see.'
pray don't trouble, Theodosia. /
[ | really think you had better stay a
t home on a cold day like this" erie,
Mr. Tempany, with fearful eagerness
II will call on Bevis at once-this il
/, stant-but there is no occasion for yo
5 to go.
'Oh, l should like to go, and shaI
f enjoy the mans confusion" returne
a the lady, rather sharply. Besides,
t am curious to see the bracelet you hav
chosen for dear Amy"
l Mr. Tempany was so utterly take
Y aback by this sudden and unexpecte
4 whim of Mrs, Bramwell Jays that h
+ could not find another word to say. ii
followed the lady meekly to her ca
e riage and took his seat beside her, fee
: ing like criminal being led to execl
n ton. This i'll timed visit to the jewe
; er's must, h. felt, inevitably complet
/ his discontinue, for Mr.. Bevis woul
5 naturally deny all knowledge of II
> bracelet. 1t really seemed the onl
course open to him was to confess ever
' thing on the spot to avoid needless e!
d posure and disgrace, But Mr.. Tempau
e could not bring himself to acknowleds
r his deceit unless he were absolute
y obliged, and during the drive he resol
cd as last chance to hurry into IL
i shop alone, on pretense of inquiring
e Mr.. Bevis were within, and take II
! opportunity to whisper a word of war
d ing in his ear. No doubt the Jewel
was open to bribe, and would NAL
+. no difficulty about screening him,
his desperate state Mr. Tempany too
n heart at this idea, and even tried
d converse With the widow with appare
II eqnanimity.
e. But alas! his little scheme was fri
: trated by the accidental circumstan
of the coachman taking a wrong tur
" ing, so that when the carriage stoppt
the aide OH which the widow sat W
- nearest to the pavement, The to-
man, too, was unfortunately We
Is smart youth, aud descended from t
III boX with such alacrity that the c.
W rlage door was open before Mr.. re
er pany had recovered his surprise at h'
ID ing reached the jewellers. The con
quence was that the widow alight
It. first and stepped into the shop, VIII
Mr.. Tempany, feeling that the fa
III were against him, and that no was p
Mt sled by relentless Nemesis, follow
," after her in state of despair
It. "Mr. Bevis, how came you to ma
e, such an extraordinary mistake? You
I'd Mr.. Bevis, presume ?" said the W
ow, approaching the counter
)" "Yes, madam" said the Jewell
e. quietly rWill you be seated' WI
e, lhiStake?"
ia Mrs, Bramwell Jay explained W
At fatal precision, while Mr., Temps
or stood by hursting with desperate
to gernoss 10 put in warning word.
d shoer force OF will and mesmeric in
ence he succeeded in catching Mr. B
w is eye during the recital Now,
ed Bevis, the jeweller, was shrewd Ii
ri. man, and glance at the agonized
ny preston on Mr. Tempanys eager
az bloodless face sufiiced to put him
the alert. He knew the unhappy G
ir tleMan by sight, and also by rep
ia ton. and thOuuh their transactions