Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-28

/ sand pounds would have set him on his
financial feet again.
In due course, after the numerous delays
inevitable in all legal matters, Mrs. Vale
I tort came into possession OF her legacy. by
her husbands advice, she had safe con-
! structed for the diamonds in her dressing
room, and the dingy leather cases contain
ing the jewels were at once consigned to
! this repository On the first available OPP
| portunity Mrs. Valletort, who had been
burning to display her treasure before the
eyes of her friends donned her diamonds,
and appeared in blaze Of spendor before
| her husband, who was awaiting her In the
| drawing-room.
How do look ?" said she, with tri-
umphant sweep Of her draperies, as she en-
| tered Mrs Valletort had lately ordered
much costly raiment on the strength of her
new possessions; for, she argued, it would
never do 10 wear such diamonds with half
worn gowns.
The Captain glanced at the glilterins
tiara on his wifes head, at ner magnificent
dress. and at the splendid jewels on her
you are positively dazzling, my dear"
he said, ironically. mo Hindoo idol was
| ever more bedzened."
THANK you, retorted bis wife, with
sweeping courtesy. THE compliment is
not graceful, but l accept it, nevertheless
| Please remember though she added, with
bitter little laugh, that Hindoo idols
| have many worshipers, and no doubt otLer
people viii see something to admire in me
! besides my diamonds"
At the ball to which they went that night
Mrs. Valietort created quite q sensation.
| The story of her godnother's costly be-
quest had got about, and every one was
| 81
diamonds. Women secretly enyied her.
though they shrugged their shoulders as she
passed and wondered how long the Jewels
would remain in her possession. Men ad-
mired her charming face and graceful figure
50 much that they forgot all about her dia-
monds rs they crowded round her, eager to
secure q dance with the prettiest woman in
the room.
Mrs Valletort was in her element. She
enjoyed herself immensely, quite ignoring
the fact that hel husband looked unusually
morose, not 10 say sulky, as she whirled
past him, radiant in the jewels he secretly
coveted. After watching her angrily for
some minutes the Captain sauntered into
one of the conseryatories. sat down in
dEsky corner, behind huge azllea in full
bloom, and fell to thinking of his financial
difficulties
Strange TO say, since his wife had inner
tied the Belchambre diamonds, he had had
q most persistent run of ili-luck. Every
thing went wrong with him; even his
noted skill ct ccarte seemed to desert HIM
old Morris, the money lender, to whom he
had recourse pretty frequently in the past
Ton the strength of his supposed expecta-
tons from a distant relatiye), refused to
advance him another pound, and total ruin
seemed imminent. With this threatening
cloud hanging over him, ii is not surprising
that the sight of his wife--decked out in
Jewels representing sum that would have
averted the coming storm for an indefinite
period-enjoying herself with provoking
light heartedness, was not one calculated TO
sOothe the Captains irritated temper. On
the contrary, it reused him 10 positive
wrath. He determined to have a serious
talk with Lila on their return home: he
would place their position before her in its
true light; lie would appeal TO her common
sense, and then, If she refused to adopt his
view of the affair, he would-the Captain
was at q loss TO determine the course he
would pursue ii his wife proved intractable.
But he was growing desperate, and resolved
to take some decisive step without further
delay. lie was too harrassed to talk TO any,
body, much less to dance SO he spent the
evening between the supper-roOm and the
a great deal at his taciturnity but consid.
erately LETT him to himself. Meanwhile,
Mrs. Nalletort more than atoned for her
husbands shortcomings in the matter of
loneliness. She was rs brilliant as her dia-
monds. Her merry laugh was so musical.
her smiles were SO bewitching, her pretty
face SO radiant with good humor, that she
was unanimously pronounced the belle OF
the ball.
The Captain wished to leave early. but
his wife was resolved TO remain until an
hour that was Z" early in converse sense.
The dawn was already breaking when they
returned to Twickenham. Tired as she was
1t would have been simply brutal to have
attacked her on the subject of her Jewels
then, and the Captain, with all his faults,
was not brute. The next day, however,
he seized the first opportunity of opening
the discussion.
Lila, | have something very serious to
tell you" he said, coming in the drawing
room, where his wife was seated at the
piano playing some of the waltzes they had
heard on the previous evening.
Mrs. Valletort did not take her hands off
the keys, but turned nonchalantly and
looked at him.
Don't tell il me, if it is anything disa-
greeable," she said, coldly. Talking over
she went on playing.
" For heavens sake Lila, stop that
noise" cried the Captain, irritably. Its
quite bad enough TO be ruined without be-
ing driven mad ~
Ruined" echoed Mrs Valletort, start
ing up and facing her husband. do you
really mean what you say. or are you only
trying toto frighten me?'
" ! really mean it,
Won't Morris advance anything"
Not a sou; and what is more. he
threatens to make it disagreeable for me if
] don't meet those bills next month-he
won't hear of renewing them. Now, Lila,
the long and short of the matter is this
you must let me raise money ON those dia-
monds of yours
"Oh, Ned-Ned Don't take those dia-
monds away from me-" she whilnpered.
piteously, bringing her han lkerchief out
and putting it ostentatiouSly 10 her eyes.
Come, my dear GIRL don't let me have
n scene. You know | hate 10 see you cry"
Lila was perfectly aware Of the fact, and
instantly several large tears rolled down
her checks and fell on the pianoforte keys
= Oh, Ned how unkind you are" she
sobbed, burying her face in her handker-
chief.
Unkind nonsense!" muttered the Cap
tain, uneaSlly. My dear Lila, do you
think | would ask you to give me the dia-
monds unless | were put to the last straits
for money? tell you if l can't raise sew
eral thousand pounds in the course of the
next few weeks [ am a ruined man."
= You have got over your difficulties be-
fore, Ned. You may do SO again without
selling my diamonds
Lila, l can't argue the matter further"
said the Captain, sternly. l tell you that
unless you make the sacrifice am ruined.
VIII you make it? Give me a plain an
swer-yes or no. shan't ask you again.
Mrs. Valletort looked at her husband
He was very pale, and his face had a hag-
gard, anxious look she had never seen there
before. For the moment generous i'm
pulse prompted her to fetch the Jewels and
place them in his hands; hut she recalled
the scene at the ball the night before-the
admiring and envious glances that had been
darted at her from dozens of feminine eyes
and then she pictured the triumph of her
women friends and the sneering remarks
they would make when the news got abroad
that she bad been compelled to sell her dia-
monds after wearing them only once. A
hard look came in her eyes as she turned
them on her husband.
" | refuse to part with my diamonds" she
said, coldly. q" 1t is unfair of you to ask me
10 make such a sacrifice
Very well. my dear then the deluge
must come" replied the Captain, quietly.
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