, 1889-08-02
A PAIR OF THEM.

Mrs. Horshaw was unusually fond Of
her diamonds. Why not? She had not
worn them long enough for usage to rob
possession of its first sweet flavor. The
power, pleasure and i%nsipidity of her
new life were, s. to speak, in the swad-
ding clothes of novelty as yet. In fact,
about the only relic of old times left to
Mrs, Horshaw was Mr.. Horshaw. and
he did not count for much in society's
opinion, except as the husband of Mrs.
Horshaw.
Late in the morning after the Proph-
cts ball Mrs. Horshaw was surveying
the contents of her jewel case in the
privacy of her boudoir. There was a
ring at the front door, and q house maid
announced: ga man from Jacard's,
mum"
deringly. "However-send him up"
Presently a gentlemanly young man
entered, his hat in one hand and a small
portmanteau in the other.
Pardon" he said, "but Mr.. Horshaw
left word hat you might want to make
a selection, and as we had only a few of
this style left we-at his suggestion
concluded to submit them to you for in
spection at once"
He had opened his satchel and taken
out several sets of pearl jewelry of a
rather unique design. Mrs. Horshaw
seemed astonished.
but l do not care for pearls" she said.
Il cannot see why my husband should
have left such directions. AT Jacard's
they certainly know my preference for
diamonds"
Mrs. Horshaw fingered them careless
ly, then looked fondly at her really fine
diamonds. The man adjusted an eye
glass and examined them critically.
81 can easily see" he said CALAMITY,
"why madam does not care for pearls.
These are indeed perfection. But, if ]
mistake not, these bracelets now-to be
surel That reminds me. Your husband
desired us to match them with some ear
rings we have in stock"
"Yes-I do need another style of ear.
ring. But it was very good of Mr.. Hor.
shaw to think of that himself"
Mrs. Horshaw looked at the man du.
biously, whereupon, with another bow,
he presented one of Messrs. Jacard's bust
ness cards.
"I-er-suppose you wish to take one
of these bracelets back?"
with madam's permission, yes. Fol
comparison, you know. AS it will take
but n short while to match them, l will
leave a set of the pearls until my return
Such grandiloquent demeanor was
quite overpowering to Mrs. Horshaw'.
still virgin conceptions of eastern polite
requirements. She declined to receive
the pearls, but he, having pocketed the
bracelet, would not hear of it and de,
parted with a final bow and flourish.
Two hours later Mr.. Horshaw, coming
home to lunch, was thanked by his wife
for "being so unusually thoughtful"
"Why, L haven't been near Jacard's,'
said he, when he caught the drift of hel
remark.
Mrs. Horshaw felt a tinge of alarm
then she remembered the pearls.
at is all right, / guess. The man is t.
be back directly; besides he left a Lowell,
set of pearls as security. Thought Tdb,
more apt, to buy them, 1 suppose"
left pearls, chi Well-we'n set
when he comes back"
But he did not come back. They wait
ed until A o'clock, when Mr.. Horshaw
taking the pearls along, went to Jacard'
wan Athhy hHSANAh5os OHC Vi w bdlGn
men looked at the set and her shool
his head.
1.-THE poorest grade of imitation. Hop,
you did not think them genuine"
Mr.. Horshaw gave his wife's version
of the whole affair.
Evidently a case of gross swindling,
said the salesman. I'VE nave no sucl
man in u employ, and goods lik,
these" he eyed them CONTEMPORARY
W never handle On any pretense."
There seemed nothing for it but to in
form the police, which Mr.. Horshaw die
forthwith. Then he went home and lee
tured his wife, who, aside from grie.
over her loss, felt quite Inundated a
having given her husband such gooC
grounds for asserting himself, a privileg,
he seldom acquired in his present posi-
ton as an a~ppendage of a woman o
fashion.
On the following morning Mr.. Hor
shaw vas in the library writing letter
when a servant handed him this card:
g ~,