The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-09-18
THE DIAMOND NECKLACE.

THE DIAMOND NECKLACE.
She was one of those beautiful pirJs
born as if.by mistake of destiny, into 4
family OF lahorers. She had no dowry,
no prospects, no way of becoming
known, loved, and married by a ricl
and distinguished man; and she gave
he hand TO a petty clerk Of the Burcal
OF Public Instruction.
She was as wretched as adisinherjted
princess. a woman's beauty and
grace take the place of birth and fam
lily. Her native refinement. her in.
stinct for elegance, her facile wit, are
n seal of royalty, and make a daush-
ter Of the people equal with the great
est lady.
She suffered constantly from the
wretchedness of her abode, the bare
ness Of its walls. the age and r~gliness
Of its furnishings. She dreamed Of 81
lent ante-chambers. hung with Orien-
tel staits and lighted with lofty bronze
lamps; OF great drawing-rooms draped
With ancient silks, and of coquettlsll.
perfunied little parlors. for long and
intimate talks with close friends.
When she sat before the round table.
covered with a thrice-used cloth. oppo.
site her husband, who uncovered the
soup-tureen with the delighted excla.
matlon, .Ah, good soup! there is moth
ing better!' she thought Of delicate
dinners, Of cleaning plate, Of tapes
tries to people the walls with ancient
pers0nages and strange birds in the
depth OF enchanted forests; she
thought OF whispered g~allentries Q
ceived with a mysterious smile. while
tha 1air listener partook of the rosy
nesh q q trout OF q wood-hen's wing.
2 no dresses, no jewels, moth
Ing j; and that was all she cared for
all she was made for. She had no ir.
resistable longing to charm, to be en-
wed, q admired, and coIrted. She
g days IN weeping with regret and
despair.
One evening her husband came
home with a proud look bearing an in
yitation to a ball at the residence of
the Minister Of Public Instruction.
instead of being delighted, as he
had hoped, she threw the invitation
sPiteiully to the floor, murmuring:
What do you expect me to do with
.Why, my dear, I thought YOU
would be pleased. You never 90 ont.
and this will be a fine opportunity. i
been at infinite pains to get it. /"
She looked at him with irritation.
and demanded lmpatiently:
sWhatd you expect me to put on
NV backpn
He had not thought Of that He
stammered:
why, the dress you wore to
theater. 1t looks very we'll to
He stopped, stupefied, overwhelmed.
at seeing his wife in tears. Two
great drops rolled slowly from the
corners OF her eyes to the corne of
her mouth.
What is the matter, dearpn he
began.
But by a desperate effort she
overcame her distress and an
swered calmly, rs she wiped her wet
Nothing. Only, / have no dress.
and, consequently, Izcannnot 90 to
ball. Give the card TO some
friend whose wife is better fitted out
than L.
He was in despair. He tried once
more:
sLet us see, Mathilde. How mach
would a suitable dress cost; something
which would be useful to You
On other occasionsP"
She reflected a few seconds. count.
up the sum, taking also into the
question the amount which she coulI
ask for without calling forth an I'M
mediate refusal from her economical
husband.
At last she replied, hesitatingly:
~ cannot tell exactly, but it seems
@ me that ! could get along with 400
He turned quite pale, for he had
'aved just that sum. intending to buy n
gun and join som hunting parties the
'ollowing summer. He replied, how
,ver:
very well, / will give 0 400
But you must get a handsome
The day of the ball drew near and
Mathilde seemed sad and anxious. She
not been like herself for
days. To her husbands in
IuirY as to what troubled her she
eplied:
! inaye no jewels, not a single stone
o YEAR. / shall make a very mean an
/ had almost rather moi 90
t all.
But he exclaimed:
How foolish you arei Go to your
Nine. Forester, and ask her
. lend you some Jewels. You
re quite intimate enough with her to
that.
The next day accordingly. she told
or perplexity to Ter frie.d.
Mime. Forester brought a large case
rom her cabinet, and told Mathilde to
Ike her choice.
She looked at bracelets, at
earl necklace, and a Venetian
ross. She tried on the jewels be-
1re the mirror, and could not make
p her mind to give them up. She kent
Have you not something elsep"
Suddenly she discovered in a black
attn box, = magnificent chain of dia-
londs. and her heart began TO beat
18th inmOderate desire. She seized
with trembling hands. She clnsped
around her throat, oyer her HIGH
ress, and looked at herself in costa
Then she asked, h~esitating, full
{ trouble
Can you lend me that. only thatp"
5s.syVhy, yes: certainIy.5 b
She rushed to her friend, embraced