The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-05

luNuriOus ana rlcn. tnOSc uldfnOnus III
her ears would have paid all his debts,
and he believed that she would relieve
his necessities in a moment had she
known Of them. But how impossible it
was to tell herl How inaccessible she
was. though he could have thrown his
arms around her as she stood therc He
felt "a helpless rage-an impulse TO seize
upon her and make off with her bodily.
If he only had had money-money, and
plenty OF it--there was nothing 50 wild
that he would not have ventured TO pro-
pose it To her. What u power money We
in this worldl
All this time he stood gazing at her
and saying not word.
"What is the matter with you, Percy
she repeated. What makes you look
so2 You are making everybody notice
u. Are you She hesitated.
Il am sober, if that's what you mean. -
he said IF we were alone would
show you what is the matter with me.
Good Godl Is there no place in the world
where we can be alone together for half
an hour
Some one touched him on the arm.
He turned savagely. 1t was only a gen
tleman who begged his pardon. lie had
left a cane standing against the counter;
il was not there; he apologized and went
off. Percy came round to the other side
of Sylvia and leaned on the counter, tax
ing her mun in his hands.
II can't stand this" he resumed. Il
never see you at all now. | have as
much right TO see you as any of youi
acquaintance. You keep out Of my
way
IF you would be content to see me as
; my other acquaintance debut you
know perfectly well how dangerous it is
And you could not have chosen worse
place than this She bent forward ano
added in a whisper, Il expect Mr.. Tun
stall may come in at any moment. II,
knew ! was coming here this morning
about the necklace, and said something
about intending to try and meet me. ID,
col 1t will only make it more difficult
hereafter"
1t cannot be moro difficult than it i.
already" replied Percy sullenly. 81
should like to meet him and have it out
with him, if he wants to say anything
What ia there he can say, for that mat
ter; He has no business to interfere
"You don't know him!
"IIe doesn't know me, if he thinksl
care for hint Why should we mind? Il
the worst comes to tho worst, it would
only throw us together l am ready fol
it-are you.'
Percy, YOU are crazyi How can you
talk SO, You viii make ME wish never
20 sce you again. Nothing of that sort
is possible. Incver thought Of such q
thing.
"Such things have been thought Of
and they are possible. You are not happy
as you are now, Sylvia and you know it,
Why not LEI society and responsibility 60
to the devil. where they belong, and en-
joy life IN our own wayi There are other
places in the world besides New York OF
1 America.
Here is the necklace, Mrs. Tunstall,
said the voice of the salesman. lie was
standing on the opposite side of the coun
ter, with the box in his hands.
She was thankful for the interruption
for she was becoming seriously alarmed
at Percy's manner; and. drawing the
hOx towards her, she opened II. Ii con-
,aincd necklace Of fine diamonds.
which had been selected some time be-
fore, and set according TO Mr.. Tunstalls
directions. She examined Inem and ex-
pressed her approval 1t is twenty-five
hundred dollars, is il notE she said.
"Twenty-fve hundred dollars re-
pcatod the salesman, softly.
She looked around for her muff. which
Percy had Just replaced on the counter
She slipped her hand in it and uttered
an exclamation. Then she sent a quick
glance over the counter and on the floor
Have you seen it, she said in star
died tone.
Il beg your pardon" said the sales
man. blandly. Percy maintained a
gloomy silence and an distracted gaze.
MY pocket book--and some money IN
bank notes had them in my muff, "
she exclaimed.
Have you"-- she went on, turning
to Percy.
He looked at her uncomprohendinsly
What ia it," he demanded.
My purse-and the money. Why,
YOU had my muf just now. Didn't
you
did have your mnff? WASN'T aware
If it. | know nothing about it, said he,
mconcernedly.
But o'n't lose tit must be found
it was right there" she exclaimed
again. 1T can't have disappeared into
nothing"
May | inquire if the sum was a large
oney put in the salesman, softly.
why. yesl there were twenty-five
hundred dollars and some smaller notes
in the purse. I had brought it to pay
for the necklace
BY this time several persons had col.
lected, drawn by the evident agitation OF
the handsome young lady; among them
was "A small bright looking man, with
N alert and confident manner. He sub
ected Mrs. Tunstall and Percy to keen
but unobtrusiye scrutiny.
Perhaps you put it In your pocket
Percy suggested, who. on hearing so
large sum mentioned, had begun to
arouse himself from his curious apathy.
She put her hand in the pocket Of her
lress and felt in it anxiously, then shook
her head.
NO, she said, "and, besides, | recol-
lect it all now distinctly. / put the money
in my purse when | went out this morn
ing. and put the purse in my muff, as
always do. When got here | took out
the purse and took the notes from it,
Pardon me. madam" interposed the
bright looking man at this point; IL am
connected with this establishment, and II
is my duty to investigate casesof missing
articles. Can you state what was the de
nomination of the bills representing the
sum OF money-twenty-fye hundred dol