St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-09
THE VALLEToRT DIAMONDS.

water. Iney were known to be In state
OF chronic impecuniosity. and yet, somehow
or other, they contrived to show bold
front to the world. Their pretty riverside
villa at Twickenham was furnished lux
uriously. Capt. Valletort, who had retired
from the service some years before, drove q
dashing mail phaeton 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 ecarte
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 for
tune, but she, too, spent a great deal of
money, although she was always telling
her friends she was dreadfully hard up, for
Edward had made several unfortunate spec
ulations lately, etc., etc.
Still, in spite of this, the impecunious
pair lived in good style and were appar-
emily prosperous. They were in debt, of
course, but by some unknown means they
kept creditors and duns at bay. They did
not entertain much, but as Mrs. Valletort
was extremely pretty, and her husband
had the knack of making himself agree
able in society and made it a rule never to
borrow money of his friends, the Vale
forts were good deal in request at dinners
and dances during the season. People
were always glad to see them, for their
light-hearted, semi-bohemlan gayety was
wonderfully infectious. and no dinner
party at which they were present ever
went off badly. Capt. Valletort was. be-
sides, extremely popular at his clnb-the
Bayonet; and 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 heavy loser when the captain
employed his talents against him; and it
was equally fortunate that the latter pos
sessed the difficult art OF winning grace
fully, for ecarte was his principal means of
bringing grist to the mill, and many men
less philosophic than young Fenton might
have declined to try their luck against such
skill as his, had it not been for the pleas
ant good-humored. nOnchalant way in
which the captain pocketed the winnings.
One morning the husband and wife we're
seated at breakfast, when the captain
looked up suddenly from newspaper he
was carelessly reading, and said with sud-
den eagerness as his eye caught an an
nouneement among the deaths"
my dear, wasn't Lady Araminta Bel
chambre godmother of yours?"
Yes, but why do you ask?"
''She's dead-died at Mentone a week
ago."
Mrs. Valletort clasped her hands and her
eyes frightened.
90 NedI 1 wonder tiff she has left
me anything. l can't pretend to be sorry
she is dead, she added, half alphabetically,
because she was ever so old, and haven't
seen her since was child"
My dear Lila, don't think that I eX-
pected you todisSolve into tears at the news, "
he interrupted, with short laugh. I'VE
always agree to be candid with each other
You didn't care straw for Lady Araminta
living; but if she has really done her duty
as godmother by putting you down in her
will for handsome sum L am quite willing
that you should get up any amount of en-
thusiasm for her virtue. But, seriously, do
you think it likely she has done SOP"
Il think it just possible she may" said
Mrs. VaIletort. looking thoughtfully at the
flowers on the table. Il wish 1 had writ
ten to her oftener."
1T is no good regretting anything of
that sort now, my dear. We shall proba-
bly, hear in a day or two from her solicitors
that is, if you are really down for a
legacy"
sit will be a wonderful piece of luck if l
am" remarked his wife. stirring her coffee
thoughtfully. I'VE are dreadfully short of
money just now.'
Capt. Valletort assented.
do you think we could raise anything
on my expectations" said Lila, looking up
brightly.
Il am afraid not Old Morris made no
end of difficulty about the last advance"
Mrs Valletort'S pretty face clouded, but
only for moment; her native lightheart-
edness soon reasserted itself, and all that
morning she employed herself in rearing
a magnificent Spanish castle ON no more
substantial foundation than that af-
forded by the brief announcement in the
Times.
Some days later a long blue envelope, adj
dressed i'll neat, legal handwriting, was
among the heterogeneous heap of letters,
invitations and bills Mrs. Valetort found
awaiting her when she came down to break
fast
80! Ned, congratulate me-" she ex-
planned, rapturously, when she had mas
tered the contents of the letter. THAT
dear, sweet old thing has actually -"
LEFT you some money! interrupted the
captain eagerly. My dearest Lila"
No, not money, but-her diamonds
positively all her diamonds" The little
woman's eyes sparkled as she glanced tri-
umphantly at her husband. The cele-
brated Belchambre diamonds. They are
magnificent, | know, for have often heard
my mother speak of them"
For moment the captains face fell, but
he soon remembered that a fine collection
of diamonds represents very handsome
sum of money. His wifes legacy was not,
then, to be dispised
what do you think they are worth?n
he asked suddenly.
20! don't know; thousands and thou
sands of pounds, l should imagine :" replied
his wife vaguely. Ned, Just think how
well shall look in them! | have so few
jewels. and"
MY dear girl, you don't mean to say
that you intend TOTO keep them," he
gasped, as the dreadful possibility dawned
on his mind that Lila might eject not to
turn her costly legacy into hard cash.
"Of course l mean to keep Them" she
retorted. coolly. %, Ned, you don't
want me TOTO sell them do you?" she
added piteously, as the captains 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 COM
prehension."
Mrs. Valletort was usually the most do
Gle of wives; but she resented her hus
bands angry words. and was trebly deter
mined to hold her own in this matter. The
captain saw that it would be useless to
argue with her, so he turned away with
half contemptuous shrug of the shoulders,
and muttered anathema on the folly of
women in general and of his spouse in par
ticular. 1t was really too bad of Lila; a
few thousand pounds would have set him
on his financial feet again.
In duo nnIrSa oftar tho 1a11,aaroI,r 4 III