St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-10-16
ALMOST A BURGLAR.
now Mrs. Valletort Saved Her
Husband from Crime.

People were always asking eact
other how the Valletorts kept theil
heads above water. They were known
to be in state of chronic impecunios
1ty. and yet, somehow or other. they
contrived to show bold front to tn,
world. Their pretty riverside villa a,
Twickenham was furnished luxurious
ly. Captain Valletort, who had re.
tired from the service some years be.
fore, drove a dash;ng mail phaeton and
pair; and Mrs. Valletort was one OF
the best-,lressed women in London.
How it was done no one knew. Capt.
ain Falletort dabblcd on the Stock EN-
change. and was one of the best ecartc
players going. but neither of these
sources of income was likely to afford
him the means Of gratifying his very
expensive tastes. Mrs. Falletort had
no private fortune; but she. too, spent
a good deal of money, although she
was always telling her friends she was
dreadfu!ly hard up. for Edward had
made several unfortunate speculations
Lately. etc. etc.
Still, in spite OF this, the impecuni-
ous pair lived in good style and were
apparently prosperous. They were in
debt, of course, but bv 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 agreeable in society
and made it rule never to borrow
money of his friends, the Valletorts
Were a good deal in request at dinners
and dances during the season. People
were always glad TO see them. for their
light-hearted. scmi-bohemian gayety
was wonderfully infectious, and no
dinner party at which they were pres
ent ever went off badly. Captain Val
1etort was. besides. extremely popular
at his club-the Bayonet: and Charles
Fenton. of the Guards. was i'm the habit
of saying that he would rather lend
money to Ned Vallctort than to any
man he knew. 1t was fortunate he
took that view of the matter, for the
unhappy youth very often rose heavier
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 to the mill, and many
men less philosophic than young Fen
ton might have declined to try their
luck a second time against such skill
rs his. had it not been for the pleasant.
good-humored. nonchalant way in
which the Captain pocketed his win
nings.
One morning the husband and wife
were seated at breakfast, when the
Captain looked up suddenly from a
newspaper he was carelessly reading.
and said with sudden eagerness, as his
eve caught an announcement among
the deaths
'My dear. wasn't Lady Araminta
Belchambre godmother of yours?"
''Ies. but why do You ask?'
'sShe's dead-died at Mentone a
week ago"
Mrs. Valletort clasped her hands, and
her eyes frightened.
80. Ned. | wonder if-if she has
left me any thing. can't pretend to
be sorry she is dead" she added half
apologetically, .'because she was ever
so old, and | haven't seen her since
was child
My dear Lila, don't think that |
expected you to dissolve into tears at
the news" he interrupted. with short
laugh. I'VE always agree to be can
did with each other. You didn't care a
straw for Lady Araminta living: but if
she has really done her duty as q god
mother 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 SOP
Il think it Just possible she may."
said Mrs. Nalletort. looking thought
fully at the flowers on the table II
wish had written to her oftener.'
1T is no good regretting any thing
probably hear in day or two from her
solicitors-that is. if you are really |
down for legacy"
1T will be wonderful piece of |
luck if l am" remarked his wife, |
stirring her coffee thoughtfully ..We |
are dreadfully short of money just |
now
Captain Valletort assented.
''Do You think We could raise any
thing on my expectations" said Lila,
looking up brightly.
I'm afraid not Old Morris made |
no end of difficulty about the last ad-
vance,"
Mrs. Ealletort's pretty face clouded.
but only for a moment; her native |
1ightheartedness soon rcasserted itself.
and all that morning she employed
herself IN rearing magnificent Spanish |
castle on no more substantial founda-
ton than that afforded by the brief an
nouncement in the Times.
Some days later a long blue envelope,
addressed in neat, legal handwriting.
was among the heterogeneous heap Of |
letters, Invitations and bills Mrs. Valle- |
tort found awaiting her when she came /
down 10 breakfast.
20 Ned. congratulate mer; she ex- |
claimed. rapuuously. when she had |
mastered the contents of the letter