The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-11-04

IeOpie were always asking each other
how the Valletorts kept their heads above
water. They were known to be in state
OF chronic impecuniosity, and yet, some
how or other, they contrived to show a
bold front to the world. Their pretty
riverside villa at Twickenham was fur.
nished luxuriously. Captain Valletort,
who had retired from the service some
years before, drove dashing mail phaeton
and pair; and Mrs. Valletort was one OF
the best dressed women in London. How
1t was done no one knew. Capt. Valletort
dabbled on the stock exchange. and was
one OF the best ecarte players going, but
neither Of these sources of income was
likely to afford him the means of crafty
ing his very expensive tastes. Mrs. Val
letort 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 appar-
emily prosperous. They were in debt of
course, but by some unknown means they
kept their 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 him
self agreeable in society and made it a
| rule never to borrow money of his friends
the Valletorts were good deal in request
at dinners and dances during the season.
People were always glad to see them, for
their light-hearted, semi Bohemian gayety
was wonderfully infectious, and no din
ner party at which they were present ever
went of badly. Captain Valletort was,
besides. extremely popular at his club
the Bayonet and Charles Fenton of the
Guards was in the habit of saying that
he would rather lose money to Ned Val.
letOrt 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 en-
ployed his talents against him and it
was equally fortunate that the latter DOS
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 pleasant, good-humored, noncha-
liant way in which the captain pocketed
the winnings.
One morning the husband and wife
were seated at breakfast, when the cap
tain looked up suddenly from a newspa-
per he was carelessly reading, and said
with sudden eagerness, as his eve caught
an announcement among the "deaths :: ="
my dear, wasn't Lady Araminta Bel
| chambre godmother of yours ?''
eyes, but why do you ask? ?"
"She's dead-died at Mentone a week
ago"
Mrs. Valletort clasped her hands and
her eyes frightened.
60, Ned | wonder if-if she has left
me anything. can't pretend to be sorry
she is Dead" she added half apologetcal-
| ly, because she was ever so old, aud /
haven't seen her since l was child"
"My dearLilla, don't think that expected
| you to dissolve into tears at the news" i"
he interrupted with short laugh. "We
always agree to be candid with each 9TH
er 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
am quite willing that you should get
up any amount of enthusiasm for her
virtue. But, seriously, do you think it
likely she has done SO %
" | think it just possible she may" said
Mrs. Valletort, looking thoughtfully at
the flowers on the table. Il wish had
| written to her oftener."
" 1t is no good regretting anything of
that sort now, my dear. We shall prob
| ably hear in day or two from her solic-
itors-that is, if you are really down for
a legacy"
cit will be wonderful piece of luck if
l am" remarked his wife, stirring her
coffee thoughtfully. "We 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.
81 am afraid not. Old Morris made
no end of difficulty about the last ad
vance,"
Mrs Valletort's pretty face clouded
but only for moment; her native light.
heartedness soon reasserted itself, and all
the morning she employed herself in
rearing magnificent Spanish castle on
no more substantial foundation than that
afforded by the brief announcement in
the Times.
Some days later long blue envelope
addressed in a neat legal handwriting
was among the heterogeneous heap of let
ters, invitations and bills Mrs. Valletort
found awaiting her when she came down
to breakfast.
COB, Ned, congratulate me !" she ex
claimed, 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 Lii.
"No, not money, but-her diamonds
positively all her diamonds" The little
woman's eyes sparkled as she glanced
triumphantly at her husband. "The cele
brated Belchambre diamonds. They are
magnificent, know, for l have often
heard my mother speak of them"
For moment the captains face fell
but he soon remembered that a fine col
lection of diamonds represents a very
fine sum of money. His wife's legacy
was not, then to be despised.
"What do you think they are worth
he asked, suddenly.
"Oh! don't know; thousands an6
thousands of pounds, I should imagine,
| ~. ID