Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-07-25

Yes; but what KIND OF ornaments! L
want to see your ornaments" Lady Luci-
fer cried-then turned to Mrs. Trafford-
"would you believe it? This little wo-
man has been here three days and | have
never been in her bedroom yet | have
never had time to come for chat at night
even, and we always used to do that,
didn't we, MaimieF'
'In Queensland" said Mrs. Bob.
Lady Lucifer gave sigh. ''Ah, yes!
one has time to live in Queensland-here,
scarcely to breathe. However, now have
half an hour to spare and want to know
whether your diamonds are better than
mine or not. Well, of course. they are
better in one way whether they are
worth more or not, for yours are your
own, while most of mine are family jew
els"
Thus urged Mrs Bob went to a leather.
covered box of very ordinary appearance
and began to unfasten the strap5-then
the corner fell off and disclosed d stout
basket-she lifted the lid OF that and took
out an iron-bound box which fitted within
the basket Its an unconventional al
fair" said Mrs. Bob, as she felt in het
pocket for the key-"but we fatter our
selves it does not look like jewel-box."
at does not" said her hostess.
Then she turned the entire contents out
for the benefit of the two ladieS-and
what a collection it was The ornaments
were almost entirely of diamonds, but
there was one exception, an enormous
butterfly formed of a large pigeons blood
ruby, with n single pearl for the head,
emerald eyes and wide spreading diamond
wings. Lady Lucifer picked it out from
among the glittering collection. my
dear, wear that to-night-it will look love
ly with that dead white gown"
Yes, | will wear it, said Mrs. Bob.
81 never saw anything so lovely in my
life," exclaimed Mrs. TratfOrd; "there are
so many. and they are all so large and
beautiful. If they were mine | should
never be able to sleep for wondering If
they were safe"
'Oh, yes; you would soon get used to
that" Mrs. Bob replied. Il used TO feel
Il little nervous in India and on board
ship, bat | kept the shabby old basket in
sight and everybody thought it was bon
nets-I always called it my bonnet-box,"
she ended, smiling.
my dear" said Lady Lucifer, 81 yield
you the palm. Mine cannot come any,
"bflC utIl AH'bis L oA''tNo E''iN' ~
were the luckiest girl l ever knew, al
ways"
Mrs. Bob smiled and began putting the
cases back into the box. laying aside on
the table such ornaments as she wished
to wear that evening. Then she packed
up he basket again and threw shawl
carelessly over IL. There" she said. lit
is quite safe. Nobody would ever dream
1 l.
All this did not leave Mrs. Trafford
too much time in which to get ready for
dinner She went back to her room
where she found Julia already nearly
dressed.
"Why. motherp said she, "where have
you been?"
II have been in Mrs. Markham's bed
room, my dear, looking at her jewels
have seen jewels before" she added, "but
never anything like hers"
Julia was too happy, however, to be
much impressed by an bod IS jewels, no
matter how costly or beautiful.
Are they good?' she said. carelessly.
"Evuuisite." said Mrs TralTord, with
decision.
However, when Julia, half an hour
later, saw Mrs Bob walk into the draw
W ilil IIti tit't' NIlNt III
the big butterfly playing on her left shout
der, and three large stars adjoining the
bodice beneath it, which in their turn
caught up and held in place lovely neck
lace of large single stones, she felt indf-
ferent no longer, but looked at her with
undisguised admiration and caught her
self wondering whether she would ever
be- able to adorn herself in like fashion.
wonder is there any woman in all the
world who does not really like diamonds
] once knew man who said he detested
them, and have heard that same man
tell a lady That her diamonds were eX-
quiSite. Julia, that evening, turned to
Stephen Howard and said, How delight
full your sister looks
Yes, She does look rather nice" he an
swered in true brotherly fashion, that is
nice frock she's got on"
"Aud her diamonds are lovely" said
Julia.
do you like diamonds?" he inquired.
~ love them" she said promptly, at
which he laughed aud said how odd it
was, ladies were all the same on that sub
jeCt
Yes, believe we are" said she laugh
ing too.
II was a large dinner of more than
forty people indeed-and Julia went in
with stephen and enjoyed herself ohl So
much. OF course the evening seemed to
20 like magic and it was quite with sur
prise that she realized that the guests
were quickly saying goodnight. As the
last one disappeared Mrs. Bob moved to
where Lady Lucifer WAS standing. Pm
SO tired Tonight, Violet" she said, Il am
going 10 bed. GooI-uight"
Good -uight, dear said Lrdy Lucifer.
"Bu, cannot / do anything? VIII you
have ANYTHING sent mp to your room2"
Mrs. Bob fairly laughed. lot a thing,
dear am tired, that Is all" she replied
al will just steal off before you have those
wonderful card-tricks"
So away she went and then Mr.. Car
rington, who was a young man highly
popular in society, Il sort of Jack-pf-all-
amusements, began to show off his skill
at various card-tricks-yet scarcely had
he began when the door was hurriedly
opened and Mrs. Bob came running in
with a scared white face, scarcely indeed
less white than her satin gown. "Ohl Bob
Violet she gasped.
Her hostess aud her husband both
jumped up. What is it?" asked one.
Are Won ill?' said the other.
My boN-m jewels she cried. "They
are gone-all gone-stoleu!'
Good Heavensl cried Markham; then
dashed up the stairs followed by all the
panic stricken company.
oh. Maimie what shall we do?" cried
Lady LuCi'er in great distress
Mr.. Bob began to laugh in 4 very sus-
picjous way as if very little was needed
To send her into sterics. 81" she
hegtn-thru pointed 20 tn place where
the box had stood aud TO the open wiz
dow
1t was not more than wo or three inCh' s
open, huy already it WAS too late in the
year for bedroom windows, or indeed for
the matter of that any windows, to stand
open without some special reason-there
was, however, a very special reason for
this window standing open. and with an
exclamation Bob Markham dashed across
the room and flung it to the top. rhrustug
his head out as il it was likely that the
thief or thieves would be crouching in the
laurels below
They have actually left the lad Ter
against the wall" he sail to Lord Luci-
fer, who had followed him.
What is 10 be dones" Lord Lucifer an
swered, with question. Here Thomas,
run down and turn some of the men out.
Let US have the police Such as they are at
once. And let Joe saddle Benny BeSs and
drive off to the station at Biaukhamptou