The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-08-07

pect of her husbands failure was less
appalling to her than the secret he
must learn if the necklace ever came
into his possession. And now that 1t
was gone, and he could no longer de-
pend upon it as a means of raising the
money he required, she could but hope
that he would find some other way of
doing so. But she was not prepared
for Mr.. Allonby's utter despair; and rs
she truly loved her husband. she found
her feelings put to strain which it
would be impossible for her to hold out
against long.
1t was the evening of the third day
since the mysterious robbery, and not
the slightest clue had yet been found
to lead to the thief Mr.. Allonby rose
from the dining table, at which he had
with difficulty continued to eat suffic-
lent not to give cause for remark on the
part of the servants; and as he retired
TO his study his wife followed him. 1t
must have been evident to anyone who
had looked closely at her face that she
had made up her mind to some deter
mined but very painful act. She
knocked softly, entered the library,
and then closed and locked tho door,
and in another moment she was kneel-
NC at her husbands feet in a passion
of wild sobs and tears.
81 cannot bear it, she said. "Ar-
thur. dearest and kindest of husbands,
/ caunot bear to see your suffering
YOUR despairr'
''Eise. my darling" said Mr. Allon-
by tenderly. ''It is no fault of yours;
l shall bo u ruined man in two days
more-two short days-only forty-eight
| hours between me and ruined fortunes
and n disgraced name. All! That's
| the worst. l must drag others down
in my fall, and tho cruel world which
misjudges ill fortune, and thinks the
rich man is always in tho wrong us
soon as he is poor, will make little diff
ference between me and common
swindler. There's where the pain is;
but no matter. You are still left to
me, and you will believe in me, won't
you, darlingp"
'Oh, Arthur, yes! and l will save
you, too, ii you will let me, and forgive
rue. Promise me that you will forgive
me, Arthur! You must forgive me, my
husband, for am determined to speak
if it kills me. Before l met you, Ar
thur. had fancied myself in love with
!
wasn't, really, never, never. l was q
mere girl, only seventeen, and l was
deceived in my feelings rs much as in
the character of tho man l fancied my
self in love with. We were engaged,
and several letters passed between lis.
| | learned that the man to whom | had
promised myself was false and con-
temptible scoundreL. broke my en-
| gagement at once, returned his letters,
and demanded my own. He swore he
had burned them. But the man had
lied to me as should have known, and
about six months ago he forced himself
into my presence, and with my foolish
letters in his hand, demanded n thou
sand pounds as the price of them. At
FIRST refused indignantly, but when he
threatened to take the letters to you,
and to demand his own price for them,
yielded to despair. Ipromised to buy
my letters from him. When he was
gone, bethought me how to raise SO
| large q sum: for generous as you are to
me, could not ask you for so much at
once; and besides. l shrank with loath-
ing from going to you for money for
him. pawned my diamond necklace,
and celebrated manufacturer of imi-
tation stones made me one so exactly
/ like it that no one for a moment sus-
pected the deception. There are the let
ters, Arthur; read them. They are alb
surd. that's all. But you will find
nothing in them but the love nonsense of
silly girl" And with cold, trem-
bling hand. Mrs. Allonby held out the
little packet of letters for her husband
to take.
Arthur Allonby did take them. but
without single glance at them he
flung the packet into the blazing fire;
then turning to his wife he folded her
fondly in his arms. and kissed her ten
derly.
''My sweet wife, could you imagine
that would doubt your word so far as
to look at that silly noHsense-much
| like any other school girls letters. I'll
! be bound. But never let me know the
! name of that contemplate hound. l
fear could not bear it with patience.
And now, dear, come with me to the
money lenders; l will redeem your dia-
monds, and | may yet be able to wealth
er the storm.
In less than an hour the genuine dia-
monds reposed in Moses Lewis safe,
and Arthur Allonby felt that ruin and
the scandal of great though honor
able failure were averted.
g Weeks and months went by; the case
was but another added to the list of
mysteries that had baffled alike the
skill. the diligence, and the patience of
the police.
The financial crisis had passed. Hun
dreds of men were ruined, and tho
firms that had successfully weathered
the gale were beginning to feel calm
and solid again, as if the tempests of
hard fortune had never blown against
them.
Among the most successful was the
firm of Arthur Allonby & Co., and on
the anniversary of the great diamond
robbery Arthur felt that ho could afford
to repay Moses Levi, with all the usu-
rious interest demanded. and once
more enjoy the satisfaction of seeing
his wlfe's necklace glittering on her
round white throat. And so he did,
although the public had no share in the
display; and once more, as of old, MIR.
Allonby locked the casket containing
his wife's diamonds into his iron safe.
Happiness sometimes disturbs a
mans rest as much-though not SO
uAAlOOJ oAA lAOAi olAo
Arthur Allonby lay awake that night,
counting the hours as they struck. un-
til all the inmates of his house were
fast locked in sleep. He was just drop
ping asleep when his wife sat up in
bed, looked moment with wide-open,
unwinking eyes at the night light. and
then deliberately rose.
Arthur saw at once that she was fast
asleep, and he watched her with a
beating heart. She went directly 10
the hiding place where he kept his safe
key, and having taken possession OF 1t,
took her own bunch of keys. unlocked
her escritoire. and pressed the knob OF
secret drawer; and as soon as 1t was
opened Arthur saw what by this time
he fully expected to soe-tho stolen
necklace. In fit of somnambulism
Mrs. Allonby had robbed herself, and
now, in 9 similar curious mental con.