The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-10-07


herself in rearing magnificent Spanish
castle on no more substantial founda-
ton than that afforded by the brief an
nouncement in the Times
Some days later long blue envelope,
addressed in a neat, legal handwriting,
was among the Heterogeneous heap of
letters, invitations aud bills Mrs. Valle-
tort found awaiting her when she came
down to breakfast.
80 Ned, congratulate mew she ex-
claimed, rapturously, when she had
mastered the contents of the letter.
That dear, sweet old thing has actual
B -"
Left you some moheyn' inter-
rupted the Captain, eagerly. ''My
dearest Lilla-'
''No, not money, but-her diamonds
positively all her diamonds" The
little woman's eyes sparkled as she
glanced triumphantly at her husband.
They are magnificent, l know, for I
| have often heard my mother speak of
| them"
Fol- moment the Captains face
| fell, but he soon remembered that a
fine collection of diamonds represents
very handsome sum of money. His
wife's legacy was not, then, to be de-
spised.
"What do you think they are worth?"
he asked, suddenly.
'.Oh! I don't know; thousands and
thousands ofpounds, Ishould imagine, "
replied his wife vaguely. Med, just
think how well shall look in them. I
have so few Jewels, and"
'sMy dear girl, yon don't mean to say
that you intend TOTO keep them?' he
gasped, as the dreadful possibility
dawned on his mind that Lila might
elect not to turn her costly legacy into
hard cash.
'Of course mean to keep them,"
she retorted, coolly. 80. Ned. you
don't-want me toto sell them, do
you?" she added piteously, as the Capt
aims brows drew together ominously,
and an unpleasant light came into his
eyes.
"You will do as you like, of course, :"
he replied, irritably. They will be
yours and not mine. But how any
woman can care to deck herself out
with diamonds worth several thousand
pounds when she knows what it is to
want money passes my comprehen-
sion."
Mrs. Valletort was usually the most
/ docile of wives, but she resented her
husbands angry words and was trebly
determined to hold her own in this
matter The Captain saw it would be
useless to argue with her, 80 he turned
away with half contemptuous shrug
of the shoulders and muttered anath.
ema on the folly of women in general
and of his spouse in particular. 1t was
really too bad of Lila; few thousand
pounds would have set him on his tinan-
cial feet again. In due course, after
the numerous delays inevitable in all
legal matters, Mrs. Valletort came into
possession of her legacy. BY her hus'
band advice she had safe constructed
for the diamonds in her dressing-room,
and the dingy leather cases containing
the Jewels were at once consigned to
this repository.
On the first available opportunity
Mrs. Valletort (who had been burning
to display her treasures before the eyes
of her friends) donned her diamonds
and appeared in blaze of splendor.
AT the ball to which they went that
night Mrs Valletort created quite a
sensation. The story of her godmoth-
er's costly bequest had got about, and
every one was anxious to see the cele.
brated Belchambre diamonds. Women
secretly envied her, though they
shrugged their shoulders as she passed
and wondered how long the jewels
would remain in her possession. Men
! admired her charming face and grace.
full figure so much that they forgot all
about her diamonds as they crowded
!. round her, eager to secure dance with
4 the prettiest woman in the room.
! Mrs. Valletort was in her element
She enjoyed herself immensely quite
ignorant of the fact that her husband
! looked unusually morose, not to say
sulky, as she whirled past him radiant
in the jewels he secretly coveted. Cred
itors pushed the gallant Captain te
; desperation, and he made one ]ast ap
peal to his wife, but without sue 'ess.
Il refuse to part with my diamonds, .
she said, coldly. 1T is unfair OF YOU
to ask me to make such sacrifice.
"Very well. my dear; then the delugt
must cone,'' replied the Captain,
quietly. He turned and left the room
The Captain did not allude to thu
diamonds again, and things went OF
much as usual at the Laurels. Blu
Mrs. Valletort grew nervous and fret
full and took to sitting good deal II
r her dressing-room. The Captain KEEP
J his word; he never again broached tn,
I subject of the diamonds, but he broodet
silently over it and grew more moros'
and taciturn every day. He was deepl,
offended by his wife's conduct and hi
irritation was aggravated by the con
: tinual worries which beset him. Morri
was obdurate and his other creditors
threatened him with legal proceeding
, if he failed to liquidate his numerou
| bills. At last, driven almost to des
r peration, the unhappy man conceived
! daring plan. If he could not get hi
wife's diamonds by fair means he woul'
{ get them by foul. He would steal tn
, Jewels. He had no sooner made VI
, his mind to do this than he resolved t
carry out the idea at once. He woul'
not give himself time to think about it
for the word robbery has an ugl