News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-02-02
A Lost Diamond Necklace.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF A,
SILvESTRE.


SILvEsTRE.
Renee Maizeroy was delicate, pretty
and charming girl, very much above her
station in life and her surroundings.
Her father was poor Government
clerk, ard as both he and her mother had
but little money, nc friends and no so
cial position, she could not even hope
that brilliant marriage might some day
transfer her from the terrible mediocrity
OF her life to something better and more
in accordance with her refined tastes and
aristocratic inclinations.
Thoroughly disheartened, she mar
ried a junior clerk in the Treasury De
partment. She suffered bitterly, how
ever, for she felt that she was born for
a life of luxury and enjoyment, and
chafed continually under the more than
commonplace nature Of her new sur
roundings, which were hardly better
than her old ones.
To live in dinghy furnished lodgings
was to her torture. Everything around
her Jared on her feelings of refinement
and on her violent longings for elegant
luxury, while the meagre dinners, eaten
on coarse tablecloth, out of common
~chinaware, and her scanty wardrobe,
containing neither frlrs, laces nor jewels,
were a perpetual source of misery to her.
Besides this she bitterly felt the alb
sence of dOwers, draperies and bric-a-
brac in her poor little rooms, and grew
every day more aud more discontented
with her lot.
What eXasperated her still more was
the fact that her husband, who was thor
oughly commonplace, did not even seem
to parcieve the numerous deficiencies
of their life, and when, on coming home
from his office, he would sit down to a
dinner consisting of a thin soup, boiled
beef and potatoes and piece of cheese,
with a beaming face and a good appe-
tite, she felt like strangling him with
with her own little white hands, to pun
ism him for his intense vulgarity and
lack of sympathy.
One evening on coming home to din
ner her husband handed her, with q tri-
umphant smile, large, official looking
envelope, saying; "Well, my dear, here
is something that will surely please
you.
It was an invitation from the Minis
ter of the Interior to ball which his
Excellency was about to give at the
Ministry,
Instead of being delighted, as hel
husband had hoped that she would be,
the poor girl threw the unlucky invita-,
ton on Il side table, with every token OF
disgust and vexation, saying: "Wha'
am to do with that"
'But, my DEAR" he replied, 81
thought that you would be so pleased
You are always complaining of not going
into society. This magnificent oppor
tunity of so doing, [ assure You. ha6
the greatest difficulty in obtaining this
invitation, and I went to all the trouble
of doing SO only in the hope of giving
you pleasure.
''And what am I to wear if / do gO?'
asked Renee, impatiently.
Poor man! he had not thought Of this
and he stammered: ''Well, would mo-
your black silk do, dear? With n few
alterations, would it not be good en-
Ough?"
He stopped short, perfectly thunder
| struck, for his wife had buried her heaC
in the sofa cushions and was sObbing as
if her heart would break.
''For heav0n's sake what is the matter
with you 2" he exclaimed in great dis
tress.
She looked up with tenr- stained face
and an angry look about her eyes an(
cried: 81 cannot go there dressed like {
beggar. Give your invitation to one O.
your friends. All their wives are sure
to be better dressed than I should be. :"
Deeply chagrined beyond all expires
sion, the unfortunate husband asked
tremulously: ''Look here, Renee, how
much would n pretty but simple dres'
cost Something that you might bt
able to wear again on similar occasions
A blush of pleasure mantled her face
I and after rejecting for few moments
she said hesitatingly: 81 am not quite
sure, but think that it might be done
for 400 francs"
He turned slightly pale, for this wa
! just the sum which he had set aside will
| great difficulty to buy himself a golC
watch He replied, however: "Al
| right, you shall have 500 francs; but tr7
and get n handsome dress for the money
us it will be long time beforeI can bU.
you another one.
As the great day drew near Renee, al
| though her dress was finished and wa
very pretty, began to look sad AM
dOwnheartcd again.
Her husband having inquired as t.
! what might be her new trouble, she &C
llnowledged rather shamefacedly tha
! she was deeply Inundated to have to 6
to the ball without a single jewel t
wear.
She assured him that it would look St
odd that she would much sooner not g
| Mt all.
Thoroughly annoyed at her want Q
common sense, he told her to stick som
flowers in her hair and on her dress an
assured her that it would look just n
we'll as any ieweIry. She refused to b
convinced, however, and went on Ia
menting in the most dismal way.
"Wcli, my dear" he said ut length
Il do not see why, if you are so anNlou
to wear iewclrv, YOU should not go an
net vour old scho0lmate, Nine. Forester
| TO lend YOU some of hers for rthe occasion
! She is very wealthy, and will, am sure
he delighted to he OF service to you.
Renee Jumped with Joy ut the ldei
and putting on her bonnet and cioa
went straight off to borrow some OF ne
friends jewclry. -.
Nine. Forester, who was kInt
amiabIe woman, Immediately brougl
out her iewel-box and asked her irlen
to choose what she liked best.
There were lots of bracelets, lockei
and earrings, and poor Renee could nc nc
| make up hey mind, but kept tryl3n
them on before the glass, unable to az
eide what was the most becoming to ne
delicate style Of beauty.
While turning the contents OF the 20
inside ont size suddenly discovered fla
black velvet case, containing super
liamond necklace. Her heart began
beat violently as she pictured to herse
| The magnificent effect that inns Li, IIGi
! regal level would produce on her whli