The Press., 1888-02-02
A LOST NECKLACE.

Charm1nG S1rl, very Hucu aDONe uoI SGdGAOA in life and her surroundings
 Her father was poor government clerk, and as both he and her mother had but little money, no friends and no social position, she could not oven hope that brilliant mar riage might some day transfer her from the terrible mediocrity of her life to something better and more in accordance with her re- fined tastes and aristocratic inclinations.
 Thoroughly disheartened, she married a junior clerk in the treasury department. She suffered bitterly, however, for she felt that she was born for 8 life of luxury and enjoyment, and chafed continually under the more than commonplace nature of her new surroundings, which were hardly better than her old ones.
 To live in dingily furnished lodgings was to her a torture. Everything around her iarred on her feelings of refinement aud on her violent longings for elegant luxury, while the meager dinners, eaten on coarse table cloth, out of common chinaware, and her scanty wardrobe, containing neither furs, laees nor jewels, were a perpetual source of misery to her. #-
 Besides this she bitterly felt the absence of flowers, draperies and bric-a-brac in her poor little rooms, and grew every day more and more discontented with her lot.
 What exasperated her still more was the fact that her husband, who was thoroughly commonplace, did not even seem to perceive 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 a piece of cheese, with 8 beaming face and good appetite, she felt like strangling him with her own little white hands, to punish him for his intense vulgarity and lack of sympathy. =.
 One evening, on coming home to dinner, her husband handed her, with triumphant smile, a large, official looking envelope, say ing: 'Well, my dear, here is something that will surely please you"
 It was an invitation from the minister of the interior to ball which his exceNency was about to give at the ministry.
 Instead of being delighted, as her husband had hoped that she would be, the poor girl threw the unlucky invitation on side table, with every token of disgust and vexation, saying: 'What am to do with thats"
 ''But, my dear," he replied, 'I thought that you would be so pleased. You are all ways complaining of not going in society. This is magnificent. opportunity of doing so, assure you. I had 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" %~
 EAnd what am I to wear, if l do go?' asked Renee, impatiently.
 Poor manl he had not thought of this, and he stammered: "Well, would not your black silk do, dear? With few alterations, would it not be good enough?" ,
 He stopped short, perfectly thunderstruck, for his wife had buried her head in the sofa cushions and was sobbing as if her heart would break.
 ''For heavens sake what is the matter with you?" he exclaimed in great distress She looked up with a tear stained face and an angry look about herseyes and cried: II cannot go there dressed like beggar. Give your invitation to one of your friends All their wives are sure to be better dressed than should be-
 Deeply chagrined beyond all expression, the unfortunate husband asked tremulously: Hook here, Renee, how much would pretty but simple dress cost2 Something that you might be able to wear again on similar occa- sions?'
 A blush of pleasure rnant1ed her face, and after rehecting for few moments she said hesitatingly: II am not quite sure, but think that it might be done for 400 francs"
 He turned slightly pale, for this was just tho sum which he had set aside with great difficulty to buy himself 9 gold watch. He replied, however: "A1l rightl you shall have 601 francs; but try and get handsome dress for the money, as it will be 8 long time be- fore can buy yoa another one.n
 As tho great day drew near Renee, although her dress was finished and was very pretty, l began to look sad and downhearted again. Her husband having inquired as to what might be her new trouble, she acknowledged rather shamefacedly that she was deeply hu- to 4o 4oA Al single jewel to wear. 5&ts *-sE4s* t.-.., She assured him that it would look 90 odd that sho would much sooner not go at all
 Thoroughly annoyed at her want of com mon sense, he told her to stick some flowers in her hair and on her dress, and assured her that it would look just as we'll as any jewelry. She refused to be convinced, however and went on lamenting in the most dismal way.
 'Well, my dear," he said at length. 'I do not see why, if you are so anxious to wear jewelry, you should not go and ask your old schoolnlate, Mme Forestier, to lend you some of hers for the occasion. She is very wealthy, and will, am sure, be delighted to be of service to you" ..-+s..as- '.ssss.1 g..g <
 Renee jumped with joy at the idea, and putting on her bonnet and cloak went straight off to borrow some of her friends jewelry. s-sss,-
 
 woman, immediately brought out her jewel box and asked her friend to choose what she liked best
 There were lots of bracelets, loclets and earrings, and poor Renee could not make up her mind, but kept trying them on before the glass, unable to decide what was the most becoming to her delicate stylepf beauty.
 While turning tho contents of the box ir- side out she suddenly discovered flat black velvet case, containing superb diamond necklace. Her heart began to beat violently as she pictured to herself the magnificent effect that this truly regal jewel would pro duce OF her white neck, and she tremulotsly asked her friend if she would consent to lend it to her.
 Mime. For estier very willingly assented. and Renee, wild with delight, rushed home to acquaint her husband with the result of her mission. E& -r Atlength the evening of the ball arrived, and Renee created positive sensation when she made her appearance in the minister's salon. Asga
 She was by far the prettiest woman in the room, and was so beset with invitations to dance, compliments and attention from all the gentlemen present that she did not allow her husband to take her home until o'clock in the morning. 4aeshs q
 They had great difficulty in finding a cab to convey them to their lodgings, and it was