The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-06-04


to her tomorrow. And then | want
you to promise me something. 1t is
my wish to give a dinner-party in
honor of Miss Gwynne and yourself,
and | should like TO have her wear
that dress at it. For intend to sail
for Europe in a very few weeks, and
want to Judge the effect of my gift be-
fore | 60"
Il have no doubt that Constance, as
well as myself, will be charmed TO ac-
cept your invitation, Mrs. Weir"
And with a final goodnight, the
young man departed saying to himself
as he did so: IL misjudged Celeste,
after all. Few women would be capa-
BILE OF so much generosity and kind
feeling toward a rival;
The beautiful dress-pattern was dull,
forwarded to Miss Gwynne. accom-.
panied with a charming little note
from Mrs. Weir. The two ladies ex.
changed visits. and were apparently
quite delighted with each other. The
dinner party was arranged for the first
week in January. and Miss Gwynne
readily promised to accede to the de-
sire OF her hostess that she should
have the green dress made up TO wear
Oh that occasion. Every one to whom
the delicate, cleaning tissue was
shown, quite marveled at its lowell
ness, and Constance, with her rose
leaf complexion and golden hair, was
pronounced inst the type OF beauty to
do it justice.
The dress was sent home few days
before that fixed for the dinner. The
dressmaker had indeed promised it for
New Years day, but an unusual amount
of illness had developed itself among
her work-girls. and several of them
were laid up with acute headaches and
sore Threats. so the charming toilette
could not be completed on the day first
appointed.
"In fact. Miss Gwynne." SAID the
last fitting of the dress, al should
really be inclined TO think that there
was something uncanny about this
stuff. Every body that has touched il
OF has had any thing 10 do with it has
fallen i'll. You know we say in Ireland
that the fairies are the enemies of
every body that wears a green garment
OF any kind"
But Constance laughed the enmity of
the good people to scorn. and was quite
delighted with the effect of Mrs. Weir's
wedding gift.
Two days before the much-talked-of
dinner party, Mr.. Seabright. whilst
seated in his Office, had a card brought
TO him. 1t bore the name of Felicie
Lenoir, and also in pencil the words:
ION a matter of life and DEATH
"Show the lady in" he said, TO the
Office boy.
She entered-a pale. stylish-looking
FrenchwOmen, very simply dressed,
but with the proverbial neatness and
OF her cOuntrywomen.I
She closed the ofiice-dOor behind her.
and taking the seat indicated 10 her by
the lawyer, she said, in faultless En-
glish, though with strong French
accent:
"There is plot on foot against the
life of Miss Constance Gwynne. What
will you give me If | reveal the par
ticulars TO you and battle the plotter?
Such information would be well worth
five hundred dollars, would it nOt?"
Frank Seabright laughed contemptu-
ously.
I'VE are not getting up a melodrama,
nor yet connecting sensational novel,
/ believe, and plots TO murder people
in fashionable society seldom find ex-
istence outside of such inventions"
VERY well then, will 60; but when
your fair fancec is dead. do not say
that you were not forewarned."
"Stay a moment. II you do reveal
to me the details of such q conspiracy,
how can i prove your words to be
true?'
'ArS good analytical chemist can
demonstrate the truth OF my story to
you"
"Well will hear what you have &c
say, and if your proofs are satisfactory
will pay you the sum that you de-
mand. But be sure that they are
for | shall not be content
with light accusations or mere sss-
picions."
"Very good" Miss Lenoir drew |
from her pocket a fragment of the
green tissue given by Mrs. Weir to
Miss Gwynne. do you knew this
Perfectly. A dress-pattern of it
was Mrs. Weir's wedding-gift to my
intended wife"
"And which Miss Gwynne is to wear
at Mrs. Weir's dinner-party on Tues