Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-07-09
A BUTTERFLY.

when MIS-. Walsingnam lost the ula-
mond butterfly which her husband had
given her on the first anniversary of
their wedding day, she was naturally
much perturbed by her loss.
For two seasons Mrs. Walsingham's
butterfly had been an absorbing topic
of conversation whenever pretty Mrs.
Walsingham herself happened to be
present, and on more than one occa-
sion il had attracted the admiring at
tention of royalty.
And 10 the butterfly was lost. The
world-or rather such portion of it as
was crowded into the Court theatre on
that disastrous iight-had seen the
ieweled insect fla hing and scintillating
in Mrs. Walsingl ans pretty brown hair
all the time of The performance. But
when husband and wife stood in the
light osIheir o',n hall lamp, the former
had uttered al exclamation of dismay.
The butterfly was gone!
Everything had been done that was
usual in such eases. The colonel had
looked carefully in the carriage, and
had made Il thorough examination of
each separate fold in his wife's dress.
Next morning he had gone of to the
theatre. and had himself searched the
box in which they had been sitting.
Then, with c~omnendable prudence,
he had cautioned his wife against speak
ing about her loss. even TO the servants.
and in the advertisement in which he
offered "A considerable reward for the
recovery Of the missing trinket he. had
described il as IA jeweled insect Cpaste),
valuable TO the owner because specially
designed for the Polish wife of Prince
Boris Ivanvitch, when she secretly sold
the lvanvitch diamonds to supply her
compatriots with funds for a revolution
AIRY uprising"
The colonel was very pleased with
the wording of this advertisement, and
read it aloud with a great deal of com
placency TO his wife.
Mrs. Walsingham was not quite SC
pleased as her husband She objected
10 the slight put upon her cherished
possession by describing it as paste, and
the aristocratic flavor OF its mythical
history did not console her.
Even II | do get it back" she mur
INJURED pllintively, II shan't care to
wear il, If everybody inagines it is
paste"
When, however, the colonel pointed
out that he lad referred the public in
the first instance 10 a neighboring sta
TONERS, and that there was nothing
whatever in the advertisement To sug-
gest TO a captious world that Mrs. Wal
singham's famous butterfly was in ques-
ton. she was greatly impressed with
her husbands cleverness.
That evening the Walsinghams did
no dine out. but had a coy tete-a-tete
dinner at home, SO as to be on the spot
il any one came with news of the stolen
Jewel
Not that | am at all sanguine, I" said
the colonel, as he thoughtfully peeled a
banana IF the thief had happened
TO be a stray pickpocket, we might hope
to see the fly again. It's more likely,
though, that the vagabond who has the
thing now had his eye on it for some
time past"
But even as he spoke the solemn but
Ter came softly in.
"A person TO see you, sir" he an
nounced, de~fcrentially; ''he won't give
his name, but he says Foster, the sta
toner, has sent him, and that you will
know all about IT,"
Mrs. Walsingham gave a little start
of delight, and the colonel could scarce
ly conceal his excitement. SHOW him
in here. Bailey, he said quickly, lit is
some one we are expecting
The butler withdrew, and in a few
seconds ushered In a slight, gentleman
ly looking man with sharp gray eyes
and smooth face.
''Col. Walsingham, ! believer began
the stranger, taking with easy self pos
session the chair which the colonel in
dicated al the far end of the table.
The colonel assented. You have
come. | presume"-
ITO give information about some
lost property Of yours. Precisely"
Have you found itT queried Mrs.
W~alsingbam, eagerly.
well, that's just what ! wish to as
esrtain," said the stranger suavely.
my name Is Sawder, Fred Sawder,
late of Scotland Yard" he continued,
turning to the colonel. I'm a detec-
tive, and a few hours back ] came
across a piece Of jewelry answering TO
your description
''You don't mean to say sog' cried
the colonel excitedly. "Where did you
md itf
wv. sIs r----- Iii AZ. Q.--