The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-02-16
"Who is to tell Mrs. McElroy ."

the result of Mr.. Smiths search, :"
said the colonel. "Then, if it is real
ly irrevocably lost, l will pay for it if
l can"
"Oh, you can't!' said Miss Mira
bau. at is an heirloom.
The colonel thought there were
some looms on which nothing but
despair was woven, but he looked at
Miss Mirabeau.
"Let US take it calmly, and go to
the opening tonight
ooh, mop said the careless Emily,
shivering, 81 can never face Mrs. Nc
Elroy until l learn the very worst. ]"
The lace fichu was found, but the
fan was not; and the colonel and
Emily walked about like two sus-
pected murderers. Their visit to the
exhibition were made furtively, and
like undetected criminals they shun-
ned Mrs. McElroy. Strangely enough,
that irate lady did not make any in
quiries for her fan, and it was OBJ
served that she did not come to the
exhibition, all of which was omin-
Gus.
Nothing is more sweet than mu-
tual Joy. Col. Beauclerc would never
have found out how charming Emily
Mirabeau could be had it not been
for the anxious and mysterious Sc
cret which now bound them together.
They grew intimate with policemen,
employed detectives, and were to be
seen together in pawnshops. Wber-
ever a stolen fan could go, there to-
gether, did this handsome and I'M
usual couple go. That fan must be
found.
However, this was not the worst
of it. The colonel came one day with
a paper in his hand. His martial
brow was clouded.
"Read that" said he to Miss Mira
beau, almost assuming an after
breakfast martial air. "Read that,
emily" until this minute.
1t was a low paper, one she had
never seen before, still it was print,
that was the terrible fact. The iron
machinery of the patent printing
press had caught up their trouble,
and was to blazon it to an unsym.
pathizing world. The paragraph
read thus:
"Those .conversant with a certain
gay set in this city cannot have failed
to hear that losses have occurred,
quite unaccountably, in the most ar
istocratic circles, and, indeed, we fear
that some of the deposits Mt the
noted exposition have not all found
their way to the glass cases. A
striking looking individual, with pre-
maturely gray hair and certain So
called beauty, great favorite with
the ladies, and the possessor of
foreign name and title, is more than
suspected Of being little better than
q thief"
"Oh, DEAR" said poor Emily, quite
crushed, $50 we have got to that!"
"'Dear, did you say?" asked the
colonel, "and we ?" and he looked
volumes.
"At any rate" said she, 81 can
prove your innocence. Let me write
to this paper and tell the whole sto-
ry," and she moved toward her desk.
"No," said he, "that would de-
light them too much, that would be
putting on the cap"
The great exposition came to an
end, and everything was sent safe
~ home to it's owner. Not a loss of
any kind occurred, excepting that of
Mrs. McEroy's fan. The colonel had
spent no end of money to find it, but
the thief remained concealed. Both
he and Emily had lost flesh and COL
or, but their faces looked as if they
had found something else of great
value.
They sat, hand in hand, and eye to
eye, in Mrs. Majoribanks' parlor.
Mrs. Majoribanks was their mutual
friend, and the repository OF their
two secrets.
II have found wife, if l have lost
q FAM" said the colonel, tenderly
looking down at Emily. just then
Miss Lomax was announced.
"Ah, WE'LL" said she, "we are
through with the great work-aren't
you glad, Mrs. Majoribanks? How
do you do. Emily? Good morning,
colonel. Why, how happy you oil
look!"
Mrs. Majoribanks told her of the
engagement, and congratulations
followed freely.
"But," said Emily" we shall not
announce it until that dreadful fan is
found"
Fan found!' said Miss Lomax,
"why it is found. l saw Mrs. Nc
Elroy at the party last evening and
she had it in her hand"
"What? Where? Howl" said the
colonel and Emily and Mrs. Majori-
banks, all in a breath.
81 don't know" said Miss Lomax,
who had evidently not beeni in the least
excited or moved by the loss of Mrs.
McElroy's fan, which had SO agitated
these two people; 81 only know she
had it, and was telling the usual story
about it's being an heirloom, and the
disquistion which followed about
Vatican, and the Spanish school,
don't you remember? and she said,
showing it to Count de Fois, Just to
think, this fan was not considered
good enough to be exhibited"
Now Emily and the colonel were in
q new dilemma. Had Mrs. McElroy
advertised for her fan, and had she
recovered it through the police? If
so, they were still guilty, and ought
to find out whatreward she hadpaid,
and what expenses she had incurred,
for which they, the careless and now
happy couple, were undoubtedly res
ponsible. The colonel breathed freer
and deeper as he reflected that he had
not to pay the $40, 900. Mrs. Maj
oribanks promised to make diplo-
matte visit, to ascertain, if possible,
how Mrs. McElroy recovered the fan.
1t was fortunate for all parties
that this lady liked to talk, and that
she told her story without much
cross-questioning.
eyes," said she, eyes you were very
successful. did not think you took
very good care of your things,