Wichita eagle., 1888-01-20
A LOST NECKLACE.

$780,
Renee Maizeroy was delicate, pretty and
charming girl, very much above her station
In life and her surroundings.
Her father was a poor government clerk
and as both he and her mother had but little
money, no friends and no social position
she could not even hope that brilliant mar
Ifage 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 inclirations.
Thoroughly disheartened, she married a
junior clerk in the treasury department.
She suffered bitterly, however, for she felt
that she was born for 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 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 nloager dinners, eaten on coarse
table cloth, ont of common chInaware, and
her scagty wardrobe, containing neither furs,
laeee nor jewels, were 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
moro discontelted with her lot
What exacperated 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 dinner consisting Of a
thin SOUP boiled beef and potatoes and a
piece of cheese, with a 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, large, official looking envelope, say
ing: "Well, my dear, here is something that
will surely please you.
II was an invitation from the minister OF
tie interior to bell which his e1ceaency
was about TO give at the ministry.
Instead of being delighted, as her husband
Rad hoped that she would, be, the poor girl
threw the unlucl,y invitation on side table,
with every token OF disgust and vexation,
saying: "What am | to do with that:'
"But, my DEAR" he replied, II thought
that you would be SO pleased. You are al
ways complaining Of not going in society.
This is a magnificent opportunity of doing
SO. assure YOU had the greatest difficulty
in obtaining this invitation, and | went TO
ell the trouble of doing SO only in the hope of
giving you pleasure"
siAnd what am I to wear, if / do got"
asked Renee, impatiently.
Poor man! be had not thought of this, and
he stammered: We'll, would not your black
silk dc, deara With few alters tons, would
it not be good enough!'
He stopped short, perfectly thUnderstruck,
for bis wife had buried her head in the sofa
cushions and was sohbing as if her heart
would break.
s'For heavens sake what is the matter with
yo,i!" he exclaimed in great distress.
She looked up with a tear stained face and
an angry look about her eyes and cried: II
cannot go there dressed ike beggar. Give
your invitston TO one of your friends. All
their wives are sure TO be better dressed than
i should be-"
Deeply chagrined beyond all expression,
tho unfortunate husband asked TREMENDOUSLY:
sLoo, here, Renee, how much would a pretty
bttt tpSGf hcClliStAliLlfS tuc.S you
might be able to wear again or similar occa-
sious"
A blush of pleasure nantled her face, and
after rejecting for a few moments she said
hesitstingly: Il am not quite sure, but /
think that it might be done for 100 francs"
He turned slightly pale, for this was just
the SUN which ne had set aside with great
difficulty TO buy himself gold watch He
replied, however: "All right you shall have
500 francs; but try and get handsome dress
for the money, as it viii be long time be-
fore can buy you another one"
As the great day drew near Renee, although
her dress was finished and was very pretty,
began to look sad and downhesrted again.
Her husband having inquired as TO what
might be her new trouble, shc acknowledged
rather Enthusiastically that she was deeply hui
INFLATED 10 have to so 10 the ball without s
single jewel to wear
She assured him that il would look 90 odd
that she would much sooner not 60 at all
Thoroughly annoyed ut her want of COM
mon sense, ne told her 90 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 10 Ike convinced, however and
went on la1nenting in the most dismal way
We'll, my dear," he said at length, II do
not see why. If You are SO anxious TO wear
jewelry, you should not go and ask your old
schoolmate, Mime. Forester. to lend You
some Of hers for the occasion. She is very
wealthy, and will, am sure, he delighted to
be OF service TO YOU"
Renee jumped with joy al the idea, and
putting on her bonnet and cloak went
straight OF 10 borrow some of her friends
jewelry.
Nine Forester, who was kind, amiable
woman, Immediately brought out lIer level
box and asked her friend TO choose what she |
liked best.
There were lots of bracelets lockets and |
earrings, and poor Renee could not make I'D |
Der mind, but kept trying them on before |
The glass. unable to decide what was the |!
most becoming to her delicate st yie OF beauty. \
While turning the coptsnts OF the box in |
lido out she suddenly discovered fist. black /
velvet case, containing superb diamond |
necklace. Her heart began to beat violently |
Is she pictured 70 herself the magnificent |
effect tEst this truly regal jewel would pro- |
luce on her white neck, snd she TREMENDOUSLY /
asked her friend If she would consent TO lend /
t to her.
Mime. Forester very willingly assented. |
and Renee, wild with delight, rushed home |
% acquaint her husband with the result of |
her mission.
At length the evening of the bail arrived. |
Nd Renee created positive sensation Ehea |