Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-09-26
MISS VASSAR'S DIAMONDS.
By LOIS GREY.

Ht uhIIidkt VI tkloo hocak was vi
the sort of which people talk. 1t out
ragged that sense of fitness which the
world possesses so strongly in regard to
the marriage, not of itself, but Of its
friends. A few, to be sure, objected
that nothing could be filter. Miss Vas
sar, il not quite in her first youth aud not
what one might call pretty, had inherited
all the millious of her father; Louis
Radetsky had no millions whatever, but
he was young and the handsomest man in
town.
Whatever might or might not be said,
Helen Vassar was happy. Her gentle,
sympathetic eyes had certain depths now
adays that made Leslie Radetsky think
her almost good looking. Leslie spent
much OF her time in the large Vassar
country house now. This was natural.
She was Louis's adopted sister.
At this instant she sat lazily watching
Helen giving orders to her maid for the
toilet she would wear that night. Miss
vassar's invitation had been out three
weeks for her great ball.
A small gold-bound Golfer was open
before her, and from the delicate, scented
satin of its lining the liquid fire Of dia-
monds, the living whiteness Of pearls, de-
tached themselves. The new maid moved
about silent and obsequious.
"You are careless" said Leslie in q
moment in which the woman left the
room. "How long have you had that
personi You lock up nothing and you
really know nothing Of Clemence. "
"She came exce!lently recommended. j."
Leslie shrugged her shoulders. She
was tall girl, dark and slight, almost
to thinness, which did not prevent her
having arms and a throat so beautiful
that, whea in ballroom people followed
her with their eyes. Her glance was
deep and little restless. She had mag
pificent hair and hands and feet that
rivaled her throat in beauty. Never.
theless no one spoke Of her as pretty.
az feel defraudcd that Louis cannot
come tonight" said Helen Vassar, tax
ing up the thread of an interested con.
versation. "What business 50 urgent
that he must absolutely leave town TO-
dayw
"You may be sure it Is urgent. o
course it's unfortunate"
"How firm you are in your allegiance
TO Louis" smiled Louis's betrothed
"You would question nothing he NIGH
do. You are exemplary brother and
sister. You are very devoted"
every devoted" said Leslie.
The maid had re-entered the room
Z She had note which she gave to Mis-,
Radetsky. The latter opened and reat
1t through. She was rather silent TO
awhile. Then she got up and with SOM
passing excuse went out.
A half hour later she returned, dresses
Tor the street.
"Will you let me have the brougham
have thought of something I want Il
lown. I shall have time to drive il
Ind back before dinner"
"Can't l send some onea" asket
Helen.
"No, prefer to go myself"
"Just as you like, of course Nat
urally, ring for the brougham wheneve
you please"
1t was crisp autumn afternoon an
the horses travelled rapidly. When the
reached town Miss Radetsky stopped at
large shop and bade the coachman wait
She walked through the crowded aisle
leisurely and finally issued into anothe
street through an opposite door. The
she began to accelerate her step. Sh
walked about ten minutes and stoppe
at length before bachelor apartmer
house. She took the elevator aud ran
at a door. It opened almost simu
taneously and she entered large rooI
with partly drawn curtains. Louis close
and double locked the door again.
By this time Leslie had become accu.
toned to the seeming obscurity. Whe
Louis turned she saw his face distinctly
A tremor seized her knees and handl
She sank into a chair and fastened b.
eyes upon him.
"Tell the whole truth" she said
"somcthing horrible has happened.
have felt the catastrophe coming Ion
time"
He had thrown himself down besid
her. His beauty was defaced like
Greek god prone in the dust.
Ho began in broken phrases, which /
iumined the situation for the listenin
woman as flashes Of lightning illumines
black landscape.
Leslie never spoke.