The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-11-13

OOTt lOuuQ AW0ItIuk AACA " hAoA1 S.sS $1,000
down to breakfast.
20 Ned, congratulate mel" she exc
claimed, rapturously, when she had
mastered the contents of the letter.
"That dear. sweet old thing has actual
lv -
LEFT you some MONEY!" inter-
rupted the Captain. eagerly. my
dearest Lila"
mo, not money, but--her diamonds
all her diamonds" The
little woman's eyes sparkled as she
glanced triumphantly at her husband.
t.The celebrated Belchambre diamonds.
They are magnificent. l know, for l
have often heard my mother speak of
them"
Fol a moment the Captains face
Tell, but he soon remembered that
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! l don't know; thousands and
thousands of pounds, Ishould imagine, 4"
replied his wife vaguely. ''Ned, just
think how well shall look in them. |
have so few jewels. and"
my dear girl, yon don't mean to say
that you intend tote 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.
s.Of course mean to keep them"
she retorted, coolly. 20. Ned. you
don't-want me toto sell them. do
your" she added piteously. as the Capt
aims brows drew together ominously.
and an unpleasant light came into his
eyes.
"You will do 40 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 il 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, so he turned
away with q half contemptuous shrug
of the shoulders and q muttered anath-
ema on the folly of women in general
and of his spouse in particular. 1t was
really too bad of Lila; q few thousand
pounds would haveset him on his finan-
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 nus.
band s 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
If her friends) donned her diamonds
and appeared in a blaze of splendor.
1t the ball to which they went that
night Mrs. Valletort created quite
sensation. The story OF her godmoth,,
er's costly bequest had got about, and
every one was anxious to see the cele-
brated belcham6re 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 lace and grace,
full figure 80 much that they forgot All
about her diamonds as they crowded
round her, eager to secure dance with
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 to
desperation, and he made one last APP
peal to his wife, but without success.
Il refuse topart with my diamonds"
abe said COldlv at il unfair OF Won