News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-06-19
A BUTTERFLY.

A BUTTERFLY.
When Mrs Walsingham lost the dia-
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 it had attracted the adIniring at
tention of royalty.
And now the butterfly was lost. The
world.or rather such portion of it as
was crowded into the Court theatre on
that disastrous night-had seen the
jeweled insect flashing and scintillating
in Mrs. Walsingham's pretty brown hair
all the time of the performance. But
when husband and wife stood in the
light of their own hall lamp, the former
had uttered an exclamation of disrnay.
The butterfly was gone
Everything had been done that was
usual in such cases. The colonel had
looked carefully in the carriage, and
had made thorough examination of
each separate fold in his wife's dress.
Next morning he had gone off to the
theatre, and had himself searched the
box in which they had been sitting.
Then, with commendable prudence,
l. l., = L. l.
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 it as "a jeweled insect (paste),
valuable to the owner because specially
designed for the Polish wife of Prince
Boris Ivanvitch, when she secretly sold
the Ivanvitch diamonds to supply her
compatriots with funds for revolution
ary uprising.
The colonel was very pleased with
the wording of this advertisement, and
read it aloud with great deal of com
placency to his wife.
Mrs. Waisingham was not quite so "
pleased as her husband. She objected
to 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 if l do get it back, +" she mur-
INJURED plaintively, y shan't care to
wear it, if everybody imagines it is
paste"
When, however, the colonel pointed
out that he had referred the public in
the first instance to neighboring sta
toners, and that there was nothing
whatever in the advertisement to sug-
gest to IL 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
not dine out, but had a cozy tete-a-tete
dinner at home, SO as to be on the spot
if any one came with news of the stolen
jewel
Not that am at all sanguine, 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 vagahond 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, deferentially; ''he won't give
his name, but he says Foster, the sta
l.; ID hot will
know all about it.
Mrs Walsingham gave little start
of delight, and the colonel could scarce
ly conceal his excitement. SHOW him
in here. Bailey" he said quickly, it is
some one we are expecting
The butler withdrew, and in "a few
seconds ushered in slight, gentleman
Iy looking man with sharp gray eyes
and smooth face.
Col Wals;ngham, l believe" began
the stranger. taking with easy self pos
session the chair which the colonel in
dicated at 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 it2' queried Mrs.
Walsingham, eagerly.
well, that's just what wish to as
certain" said the stranger suavely.
my name is Sawder Fred Sawder,
late of Scotland Yard, he continued,
turning to the colonel. I'm detec-
tive. and a few hours back | came
across piece of jewelry answering to
your description.
You don't mean to say soT' cried
the colonel excitedly. 'Where did you
find itT'
''Well. it's long story, said Mr Saw
der, deliberately, "and brings in mat
ters which are, so to speak, professional
secrets at present. But there - the
whole account will be in the papers to-
morrow, SOS there's no harm in my tell
ing you"
Both the colonel and Mrs. Walsing-
ham waited anxiously for him to go ON,
and. after q few seconds pause, he was
graciously pleased to do so, pointedly
addressing himself now to Nus. Wal
singham.
"Of course, madam, you have heard
of the great Fenton Court robbery|
Mrs. Walsingham made a motion OF
assent.
"Er-well- fact is, today l had
the good fortune to recover nearly all
that stolen jewelry. | have just tele-
graphed to Mr.. FentOn to come up and
identify the things tomorrow.
"You have got back the diamondsF
Everything, madam, as far as we
can tell"
''Tell us all about it" commanded
Mrs Walsingham, in her pretty, impe-
rious manner, while her husbands face
seconded her request.