Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-01

her lost diamonds. And where do you thinA.'
 ssIn the servants hall?' suggests he laughing.
 ssNo. Here. In this very room. worn by one of her guests.
 'Impossible!' Something in her tone removes the smile from Duran,s 1ins He turns to Lady Valworth. "A guest?', he says. a;aonoo. ,,
 Valworth, casting reproachful glance at her niece.
 ssNot that; only a little angry returns Millicent, with rather tremuious smile. "And why should what you have told us be hidden? Why, after all, are we to whisper of it in corners? We almost con- demn her in so doing"
 "Condemn! Whoy' exclaims Duran sharply.
 Instinct, love, what you will, has led him to knowledge of the truth.
 "Nadine," replies Lady Valworth in low tone, her eyes lowered.
 s'Who has dared'- He checks him. self abruptly by an effort that renders his face as white and cold as marble. "You can scarcely allude to Miss Roche when speaking of this matter, D he goes on, with a labored attempt to appear calm
 tsOf Nadine? Yes. But it is all a mis- take," says Millicent. Lady Valworth has seen diamond cross around her neck. But one cross of that sort is so like another! I for my part feel sure it is mere coincidence" "It is a point on which no doubt should be allowed to rest even for moment" declares Duran, his brow darkening. He looks round him. 'Miss Roche is at the other end of the room. Will you permit me to bring her here, Lady Valworth, and let you have a closer examination of this cross? You, too, Miss Grey? You know the cross in question?'' s'I have seen it-yes," :" says Millicent, slowly. eff you think it bet ter to lift this doubt from Lady Val worth's mind so-bring Nadine here. But upon one thing insist''-1ixing her eyes first on him and then on her aunt with an imperious glance--"that no thought of our suspicion is betrayed to Nadine. will not have her rt-offended''-
 She breaks off abruptly. She is agi- tated, and her eyes are troubled Could she know it, her agitation, kindly, womanly as it is-has made Duran her friend for life.
 "Certainly, no allusion should be made to-er- anything awkward, " puts in Mas sareene hurriedly.
 Duran has already gone in quest of Ma dine; and presently returns, bringing her to where Lady Valworth, Millicent, and Gerald Massareene are standing.
 The girl, flushed and lovely, forgetful for the moment of all her cruel future, and mindful only of the happy present that has given her Duran, advances toward the anxious, eXpectant group with smiling lips and wide, glad eyes. Upon her neck the fatal crOSs,iS rising, falling, glittering, as only the purest diamonds can. Milicent, her gaze fixed upon them, feels her heart contract If not Lady Valworth's cross, it is unfortu- nately horribly like it.
 Some few words pass between her and Nadine. The latter is too full of the hours passionate joy to heed the grief within her friends eyes. But Duran reads it. Lady Valworth, after one swift glance at the girls neck, lets her gaze sink to her fan, with which she per them.
 "Well?" she says then, addressing Mil licent.
 ''I acknowledge it is like your cross 50 like that it may be yours; and, if SO, no doubt this Paul Annerley bought it for her from wherever the thief sold it."
 "A city clerk!-to buy that jewelp'
 There is unbelief, keen and strong, in Lady Valworth's low tone.
 ''IOw else could he have obtained it? Who is this Paul Annerley? How should he have had access to your jewel case?"
 Miss Grey's tone is somewhat impa- tient.
 ''That is what I cannot say. I only know the cross is mine, replies her aunt doggedly.
 tIt resembles it. That I admit R11t I think time will prove to you that you are mistaken. It is probably only paste."
 "Paste of that sort is expensive for city clerk"
 Her obstinacy angers Millicent.
 "Then in all probability, as I said be- fore, it is mere glass-Spanish crystal what you will," she says, shrugging her shoulders. 1T can we'll believe it is bit of French jewelry. What cannot believe is, that Nadine has had any inter- course with thief.''
 "As you have said, time will tell," re- plies Lady Valworth, moodily.