The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-02-01

way out OF TINS trouble! surrey, L shh!l
not he forced TO insult the girl whom l
have promised to love and helpw
Her bitter reflections were interrupted
by the appearance of her maid, who had
heard the count leaving the room.
us there anything else, miss, to do for
your"
Valentine was now thoroughly indif-
ferent.
"There are some ornaments there, Marie,
that am to wear"
'Oh, how lovely, miss! l never saw
such brilliant diamonds; and these pearls!
Oh, they are exquisite! Which will you
wear?'
''Oh, do not know; any of them, you
can decide; you know more about these
things than do"
"rhey are all so lovely, miss! and either
set will match your dress. Will you look
at them and make a selection?"
IL do not care to see them, Marie. What
do you think most appropriated"
well, these diamonds would be lovely (;
but with your complexion. pearls are con-
sidered more becoming"
"Oh. indeed" Valentines voice was full
of scorn.
The maid glanced at her, and saw the
alteration in her color and expression.
perhaps, miss, you would like this one |;
it is very pcculiar, bnt certainly very
beautiful; it is made Of rubies, emeralds,
and sapphires."
.Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, did
you sayr Valentine sat up suddenly and
looked behind her at Marie, who, still
leaning over the box, was adlniring the
stones.
"Yes, miss, and such brilliant ones.
Perhaps you would prefer this"
"Rubies, emeraltls. and sapphires! How
the words startled me! must I've very
nervous when even the mention of those
stones alarms me. i suppose many neck
laces were made after that design, and no
doubt my mother owned one of them"
But this mental explanation was not
entirely conclusive. Valentine looked at
Marie.
THAT necklace has no medallion, no
locket, Marie"
"Oh. yes, miss, it has-a lovely medal
lion set with diamonds"
"But the clasp has no diamonds2"
Eyes, miss; three very large diamonds
"Three large diamonds"
Valentine sank back in the chair, seeing
nothing, only conscious of creeping SEN
sation of horror that seemed to paralyze
her. The maid noticed her movements,
and hurried to her.
"You are not well, miss. Shall l call
your father2"
Valentine stared at her, dimly catching
her meaning.
mo, no." she gasped. "Leave me for a
little while, Marie; will ring when am
ready"
No sooner had the girl closed the doc
after her, than Valentine rose and hurried
to the table. The box was a strong one,
square, with metal-bound corners, and a
curious, complicated lock. Valentine ex-
amined it, and then nerved herself to look
at its contents. Each article of jewelry
lay cleaning on its dark cushion. Valen-
tine glanced over the diamonds and pearls,
and stood transfxed before the oft-des-
cribed necklace.
Yes, there was the clasp; below it hung
the medallion; the different gems blazed
and sparkled with their borrowed lights
like living eyes piercing her soul.
as this the necklace" she cried,
snatching it from the cushion, and clutch.
ing it tightly, as if fearing that it would
suddenly disappear from her sight. "Oh,
what is the matter with met am fool
to let my Imagination thus torture me!
haunt me! Emeralds, rubies, sapphires!
The clasp with three diamonds! the me-
dallion! What shall do7 If l do not
discover the truth, shall go mad! The
duchess! She can decide the question! I
will go to her! But stop! Suppose it
should be the necklace that she gave
Madeleine!"
Valentine shuddered; the necklace
shook in her trembling hands.
"What am sayingY Should it be Mad
eleine's necklace-the one that the soldier
said was taken with the money and the
other jewels-what then2 Let me think,
What did my father sayi Why, that the
papers and jewels had never been out of
his possession-never! Then, il this were
Madeleine's necklace, how could it come
with these other ones! Impossible! am
letting my fears destroy my reason. OF
course. this was my mother's-is now
mine. But stay; why did he stagger away
and tremble 80 when he heard her name7
Why does he keep me from herr Why
cannot be satisfied that this is indeed
mine7 Must / live with this haunting
fear always in my hearth And what did
l promise Adrienne2 That would work
with her in finding clew to her fathers
innocence. Shall put this away, hide it,
forget it2-this, the soldiers last hope
let Adrienne die of broken hearth
Never! I will keep my promise, come
what will! will know the truthw
The sound of a heavy door opening and
shutting brought Valentine back to the
interests of the moment.
Trembling. pale, and wld-eyed with
the contemplation of her own thoughts,
she turned and saw the duchess.
The duchess had entered by the garden
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