The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-09-26


Don't joke, Dan. I'm little sore
on the subject of my poverty"
81 am not joking" replied Dan, snap
ping spring with his finger; "what do
you think Of thatP" And he handed him
little blue velvet case.
Wills eyes widened.
'Phew! how did you manage that on
seventy-flve month? It's beauty"
Andrews chuckled.
"You like it?"
81 should say so. How would stones
like that do for earrlngs?"
20, let up, Dan. "Where's the use
Of talking about it? That's carat, isn't
it?"
"Right you are. But you can get the
same if YOU wish.
80, some instalment scheme, sup.
pose"
Andrews restored the ring to the case
and the case to his pocket.
mot exactly"
And he forthwith proceeded to ex-
plain.
That night Mayreli said to his wife,
-;'Pll try and manage it, Dot"
"What? Not the earrings?"
eyes"
"Oh, yeu darlingp'
And the very next daT he brought
them up.
Didn't they sparkle on their bed of
snowy velvet, though? And weren't
they besutiesp Actually larger than Mrs.
Kingsleys too.
Il am glad you like them, Dora"
'Like thelnP'
And her eyes were brighter than the
gems.
And maybe she didn't rejoice in them
and keep them wrapped in chamois skin
when not in use. And perhaps she
didn't return Mrs. Kngsley's visit. If
you think she wore poke bonnet or a
veil you're mistaken.
And for one whole month home was a
paradise of serenity for Will Mayrell.
But one day going out in hurry Dora
hastily put in her earrings. She could
not have fastened them securely, for on
her return she found herself minus one.
OF her grief, distraction, who could
write? Straightway down stairs went
she and advertised in all the dailies.
But she did not give her real name and
address. She must not let VIII know
till Il has been discovered. He would
feel so badly about it. No; no, she
would conceal the fact of her loss from
him till she could tell him of her repos-
session in the same breath. She offered
Sl5 reward and came home tagged and
heartsick. But day by day passed and
never word came there of the missing
Jewell She staid at the house alto
gether now She bad no heart for shop
ping or calls.
Her hope of everrecoverfng her preci
Gus earring grew fainter daily. she
could not bear to look at the poor lonely
one laid so carefully away.
Going ont to the theatre with win one
evening he said, suddenly;
why, Dora, you haven't got your
earrings in. Are you tired of them all
ready?'
80, noe' shcexpiained, with fever
ish laugh, but l can't wait for them,
Come, do hate to be late"
And wiz, having read tie oft.repeat-
ed advertisements and noticing the un-
adorned pink ears, had come to his own
conclusion. But he only smiled and
was silent--eXcept for this one reference
to divert sUspiciOn--like the wise fellow
he was. And when two weeks had
passed and doubt had begun to settle in
to despair, little Mrs. Mayrell began to
wonder if she could, by any economical
strain, replace the lost trinket unknown
to VIII. She might have managed it If !
they had not been such very brilliant
stones, and so large, tool They must
be worth an enormous sum- How W.Il
had managed to get them in the first
place had rather puzzled and frightened
her when she let herself think of it, but
then viii always did things on a grand .
scale When he made gifts at all,
They must be worth three hundred
dollars at least. Several had valued
them at that--noHe less. She would .
take the one in her dressing-esse down
to Mackin, thechief jeweler, tell him OF
her loss, and learn from the lgwest price
at which il could be replaced.
And this she dd the very next day.
Mr.. Mackin examined the earring as
she falteringiy Inquired what one exact
ly like it would be worth,
1.-TWO fifty, madam"
Ah, even more than she thought! ]