The Dillon tribune., 1886-12-10
The VaIIetort Diamonds.

LII Il SlltS VA CIAAOAAAN ttApSCAaAASSACss >sAA~e
yet, somehow or other, they contrived
to show bold front to the world. !
Their pretty riverside villa at Twicken-
ham was furnished luxuriously. Cap
tain Valetort, who had retired from
the service some years before, drove a
dashing mail phaeton and pair; and
Mrs. Val.etort was one Of the best
dressed women in London. How it was
done no one knew. Captain Vailctort
dabbled on Che 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
gratifying his very expensive tastes.
Mrs. Valletort had no private fortune,
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 unfortu-
nate spec,,lations lately. etc, etc.
Still. in spite OF this, the impecunious
pair lived IN good style and were APP
parently prosperous. They were in iebt,
of course. 81. by some unknown means
they kept creditors and duns a. bay.
They did not entertain much. but as
Mrs. Valletort was extremely pretty,
and her husband had the knack Of
making himself agreeable III society and
made it Il ci.le never to borrow money
of his friends, the Val;etorts were
good t.eal in request ut dinners and
dances during IL, season. People we're
always glad to 50, them. for their light
hearted. semi-Dp,la.nian gayety was
1ndeyfully infectious, and no dinner
party at which they were present ever
went of badly. Captain Vail -"rt was,
besides, extremely popular ut his club
the Bayonet; and Charles Ftnton of
the Guards was in the habit Of saving
that he would rather lose money to Ned
Valletort than t. ::.y man ne knew.
It was fortunate lie took that view of
the matter. for the unhappy youth very
often rose 4 heavy loser when the cap
tain employed lis talents against him;
and it was equally fortunate that the
latter possesses. til, difficult art of Win
ming gracefully, FOR ecarte was his prin-
cipal means OF bringing grist to the
mill, and many men less philosophic
than young 'enton might have declined
to try their luck against such skill as
his. had it not been for the pleasant,
good humoled. nonchalant way in
which the captain pocketed the win
nings.
One morning the husband and wife
were seated 1T breakfast. when the
captain looked up suddenly from a
newspaper he ".i:; clrelessly reading,
and said with sudden eayerness, as his
eye caught an announcement among
the deaths"
"My dear. wasn't Lady Hramints
Belchambre godmother of yours"
ayes, but why Ito You ;lsk?"
"She's dead-died at Mentone week
ago."
Mrs. Valletort clasped her hands and
her eyes frightened.
20, Ned! wonder Tiff she has lef
me anything. I can't pretend to b.
sorry she is dead" she added half apol
ogetically, "because she was ever s.
old, and haven't seen her since I wa
achild."
"Ny dear Lila, don't think that I ez
pected you to dissolve into tears at tn
news" he interrupted with a sho1
laugh. ave always agree to be candi
with each other. You didn't care stra,
for Lady Araminta living. but if sh
has really done her duty as godmothe
by putting you down in her will for
handsome sum am quite willing thu
you should get up any amount {
enthusiasm for her virtue. But, ser
ously, do you think it likely she hi
done ao?"
IL think it just possible she may
said Mrs. Valletort. looking though
fully at the flowers on the table.
wish had written to her oftener."
1t is no good re!r-> mig anythi1
OF that sort now. MY dear. We sh:
probably hear in = day Or two from h
solicitors that is, if you are real
down fora !2gacy.''
"!t viii he II wonderful piece Of lu
If / am" remarked his wife, stirri
her co.rr'a thouyltfu..j. "We are area
fully si,ort Of money just now"
"Capt. Valletort assented.
EDO YOU think we could raise an
thing on my expectations? said Lii
looking up brightly.
81 am afraid not. Old Morris ma