The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-11-26
SELECT READING.
THE VALLETORT DIAMONDS.

nea0s ABOVE wafer. lney were KNOWN
to be in a state of chronic impecuDios
ity, and yet, somehow or other, they
contrived to show bold front TO the
world. Their pretty riverside villa at
Twickenham was furnished luxurious.
ly. Captain Valletort, who had re-
tired from the service some years be-
fore, drove dashing mail phnton
and pair and Mrs Valletort was one
of the best dressed women in London.
How it was done no one knew, Capt.
Valletort dabbled on the stock ex-
change, and was one of the best escarto
players going, but neither of these
sources of income was likely to afford
him the means of gratifying his very
expensive tastes. Mrs. Valletort had
no private fortune, but she, too, spent
great deal of money, although she
was always telling her friends she was
dreadfully hard up, for Edward had
made several unfortunate speculations
lately, etc, etc.
Still in spite of this, the impecunious
pair lived in good style and were ap-
parently prosperous. They were in
debt of course, but by some unknown
means they kept their creditors ard
duns at bay. They did not entertain
much, but as Mrs Valletort was ex-
tremely pretty, and her husband had
the knack of making himself agree
able in society and made it rule
rever TO borrow money of his friends
the Valletorts were a good deal in re-
quest at dinners and dances during the
season. People were always glad to
see them, for their light hearted, semi
Bohemian gayety was wonderfully in
fectious, and no dinner party at which
| they were present ever went off badly.
Captain Valletort was, besides, ex-
tremely popular at his club-the
Bavonet aud Charles Fenton, of the
guards, was in the habit of saying that
he would rather lose money to Ned
Valletort than to any man he knew.
1t was fortunate he took that view of
the matter for the unhappy youth very
often rose very heavy loser when the
captain employed his talents against
him and it was equally fortunate that
the latter possessed the difficult art OF
winning gracefully, for ecarte was his
principal means of bringing grist &c
the mill, and many men less philoso-
phic than young Fenton might have
declined to try their luck against such
skill as his, had it not been for the
pleasant, coed humored, nonohalaL,
way III which the captain pocketed the
winnings.
One morning the husband and wife
were seated at breakfast, when the
captain looked up suddenly from 8
newspaper he was carelessly reading
and said with sudden eagerness, as hi.
eye caught an announcement among
the "deaths y
"My dear, wasn't Lady Araminlt
Belchambre godmo,her of yours p
"Yes, but why do you ask p
"She's dead--died at Mentone |
week ago
Mrs. Valletort claspcd her hands
and her eyes frightened.
80, Ned I wonder if-if she ha
left me anything. l can't pretend t.
be sorry she is dead she added, hal
apologetically, "hecause she was ever $
old, and ! haven't seen her since | wa
child"
"My dear Lila, don't think that
expected you to dissolve into tears a
the news" he interrupted with a shol
laugh. "We always agree to b
candid with each other. You didn
care a straw for Lady Araminta living
but if she has really done her duty g
a godmother by putting you down i
her will for handsome sum, l al
quite willing that you should get u
any amount of enthusiasm for ht
virtue. But, seriously, do you thin
it likely she has done so?'
81 think it just possible she may
said Mrs. Valletorl, looking though
fully at the flowers on the table.
wish had written TO her oftener"
SIT is no good regretting anythiu
of that sort now, my dear. We sha
probably hear in a day or two from HI
solictors--that is. if you are real
down for legacy"
ut will be a wonderful piece of luz
if am" remarked his wife, stirrir
her coffee thoughtfully. ave a
dreadfully short of money just now
Captain Valletcrt assented.
"Do you think we could raise an
thing on my expectations :" said Lii
|; looking up brightly.
81 am afraid not Old Morris ma
no end of difficulty about the last a
vance
Mrs, Valletort's pretty face cloude
: but only for moment; her natl
light-heartedness soon reasserted itse
and all the morning she employed hi
self in rearing magnificent Spani
castle on no more substantial fount
ton than that afforded by the brief q
! nouncement in the Times.
. Some days later long blue env
8 ope addressed in neat legal har
!. writing, was among the heterogeneo
4 heap of letters, invitations and b
!. Mrs. Valletort found awaiting
J when she came down TO breakfast.
Z "Oh, Ned, congratulate me y she
Q claimed, rapturously, when she |
!. mastered the contents of the lett
J, "That dear, sweet old thing has actt
Y. ly-"
Y "Left you some money" interru
cd the captain eagerly, "My dear
Iilla-H
"No, not money, but-her diamol
positively all her diamonds"
Z. little womans eyes sparkled as
glanced triumphantly at her husba
o. HThe oelebrated Belchambre diamor
= They are magnificent, | know, 70
have often heard my mother speak
|, them"
a. For q moment the captains face
but he soon remembered that a
collection of diamonds represent
ID very fine sum Of money, His wi
:. legacy was not, then to be despise'
ds "What do you think they are wo
eY he asked, suddenly,
om "Oh! don't know thousands
ste, thousands of pounds, Ishould imagi
aI ain replied his wife, vaguely "Ned,
~ think how well ! shall look in then
,s have 80 few Jewels, and"