The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-09

have often heard my mother speak of
them"
Fol moment the Captains face
fell, but he soon remembered that Il
fine collection of diamonds represents
very handsome sum of money. His
wife's legacy was not, then, to be de-
spised.
What do you think they are WORTH"
he asked, suddenly.
''Oh! | don't know; thousands and
thousands ofpounds, should imagine, y
replied his wife vaguely. Ned, just
think how well 1 shall look in them. l
have so few jewels. and"
MY dear girl, yon don't mean to say
that you intend to-to keep them?" he
gasped, as the dreadful possibility
dawned on his mind that Lila might
elect not to turn her costly legacy into
hard cash.
.'Of course mean to keep them"
she retorted, coolly. 20, Ned, you
don't-want me toto sell them, do
you?" she added piteously. as the Capt
aims brows drew together Ominously,
and an unpleasant light came into his
eyes.
you will do rs YOU like, of course,
he replied, irritably. They will be
yours and not mine. But how any
woman can care to deck herself ont
with diamonds worth several thousand
pounds when she knows what it is to
want money passes my comprehen-
sion"
Mrs. Valletort was usually the most
docile of wives, but she resented her
husbands angry words and was trebly
determined TO hold her own in this
matter. The Captain saw it would be
useless to argue with her, SO he turned
away with a half cOrtemptuous shrug
of the shoulders and muttered anath-
ema on the folly of women in general
and of his spouse in particular. 1t was
really too bad of Lila; few thousand
pounds would have set him on his tinan-
cial feet again. In due course. after
the numerous delays inevitable in all
legal matters. Mrs. Valletort came into
possession of her legacy. By her hus-
band s advice she had safe constructed
for the diamonds in her drcssing-rOom,
and the dingy leather cases containing
the Jewels were at once consigned to
this repository.
On the first available opportunity
Mrs. Valletort (whO had been burning
to display her treasures before the eyes
of her friends) donned her diamonds
and appeared in a blaze of splendOr.
At the ball TO which they went that
night Mrs. Valletort created quite a
sensation. The story of her godmoth-
er's costly bequcst had got about, and
every one was anxious to see the cele-
brated Belchambre diamonds. Women
secretly envied her, though they.
shrugged their shoulders as she passed
and wondered how long the jewels
would remain in her possession. Men
admired her charming face and grace
full figure so much that they forgot all
about her diamonds as they crowded
round her, eager to secure dance with
the prettieSt woman in the room.
Mrs. Valletort was in her element.
She enjoyed herself immensely, quite
ignorant of the fact that her husband
looked unusually morose, not to say
sulky, as she whirled past him radiant
in the jewels he secretly coveted. Cred
itors pushed the gallant Captain to
and he made one last APP
peal to his wife. but without success.
Il refuse part with my diamonds"
she said, coldly. 1T is unfair of you
to ask me to make such sacrifice"
Very well. my dear; then the deluge
must come" replied the Captain,
quietly. He turned and left the room.
The Captain did not allude to the
diamonds again, and things went on
much as usual at the Laurels. But
Mrs. Valletort grew nervous and fret
full and took to sitting a good deal in
her dressing-room. The Captain kept
his word; he never again preached the
subject of the diamonds, but he brooded
silently over it and grew more morose
and taciturn every day. He was deeply
offended by his wife's conduct and his
was aggravated by the con-
tinual worries which beset him. Morris
was obdurate and his other creditors
him with legal proceedings
if he failed to liquidate his numerous
bills. At last, driven almost to des-
peration, the unhappy man conceived
a daring plan. If he could not get his
wife's diamonds by fair means he would
get them by foul. He would steal the
Jewels. He had no sooner made up
his mind to do this than he resolved to
carry out the idea at once. He would
not give himself time to think about it,
for the word robbery" has an ugly
sound, and he did not care to say it
above a whisper.
One evening when his wife was din
ing with friend in town he found that
she had forgotten to take her keys with
her. The opportunity must not be lost;
so good a one might not soon occur
again. He therefore crept softly up to
the dressing-room with the keys in his
hand. Much to his astonishment he
found the window wide open, the fur
niture much disarranged, the door of
the safe ajar. and-the diamonds gone.
For some moments he stood aghast,
staring stupidity around. Then the
dreadful truth flashed on him. Burg
lars had effected an entry while he was
at dinner and carried off the jewels.
Before many hours were over the
news of another great jewel robbery
spread over the country and the serv-
ces of skilled detectives were enlisted. |
But weeks passed and no glimmer of |
light was thrown on the mysterious
burglary. With this calamity came |
another. Captain Valletort's creditors |
pressed him so hard that he was COM |
PEELED to take the initiatOry steps for
going through the bankruptcy court,
and his name duly appeared in the !
Gazette. After this the Valletort's
found it expedient to leave England for !
/ time. They resolved to spend the
winter in Florence. In that pleasant !
.itv they were soon the center of a