The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-09-21

and covered rns braceist He would
take it for a pattern and tomorrow
Joanna should ralson it. He tried, as
his fingers closed on it, to catch her eye.
He would have liked to see her face
change and her color rise. It would have
added to the faint charm he felt in the
boyish, foolish act he was committing il
she had been privy to it, yet unable to
prevent it.
But she would not look, and he was
obliged to be content with his plumber
He slid the gold trifle deity under the
table and clasped it round his arm not
a very 1usty ona--thrusting it as high as
it would go, that no movement of his
shirt cuf might disclose it. He had a
keen sense Of the ridiculous and would
not for ell the world that any one besides
Joanna should know of the act-that
doddering old fossil May, for instance,
who, however, was safe enough, standing
on the rug with his back turned, and his
slow mind forming an opinion on the
photograph.
Then-or within few minutes at any
rate Wibberley began to find the party
dull. He saw small chance of a private
word with Joanna. Lady Linacre, his
nearest neighbor, was pressing on to Mrs.
Burton Smith, his next nearest And
he himself, after shining at dinner, had
fallen into the background. Hang i'll he
would gol It was 10 o'clock.
He rose and was stopping across tho
table. murmuring his excuses to Mrs.
Burton Smith. when Lady Linacre ut
tered an exclamation. He was leaning
across her, between her head and the
lamp at the moment, and he fancied he
had touched her headdress. pray par
don me, Lady Linacrel' he cried gayly.
Il am just going--I have to leave early
so the encroach1nent will be but for a
moment"
1T is not that, " the old lady replied.
"But where is my bracelet She was
feeling about the table as she spoke,
shifting with her white, podgy hands
the half dozen volumes that lay on it.
No one on the instant, however, took
in the situation. Mrs. Burton Smith had
risen and was listening to Wibberley.
The others were talking But Lady Lin
acre was used to attention, and when she
spoke again her voice was shrill and al
most indecently loud. Where is my
bracelet she repeated. The one with
the Agra diamond that was showing
you, Mrs. Burton Smith? It was here a
moment ago and it is gone! 1t is gone"
Wibberley was still speaking to his
hostess. He heard the old lady's words,
but did not clearly apply them. He fin
ished his leave taking almost at his leis-
ure, and only as he turned recollected
himself, and said, with polite solicitude:
"What is it, Lady Linacre? Have you
dropped something? Can I find it for
you?"
He stopped as he spoke, and she drew
her skirt aside, and both peered at the
floor, while there was quite a chorus
from those sitting nearest of: "What is
it, Lady Linacre? Dear Lady Linacre,
what have you lostg"
my Agra diamondf' she replied fuss
lily, her head quiYering, her fingers crop
ing about her dress.
Mop some one said in surprise.
"Why. it was here moment ago. /
saw it in your hand"
The old lady held ont her wrists.
"Seep she said feebly, II have not got
itr'
"But are you sure it is not in your
lap?" suggested Burton Smith. Lady
Linacre had rather an ample lap. BY
this time the attention of the whole
party had been drawn to the loss, and
one or two of the most prudent were
looking slightly uncomfortable.
NO" she answered; 81 am quite sure
that placed it on the table by my side.
am sure saw it there. / was going to
put it ON when the gentlemen came in,
and l laid it down just for minute,
and--it is gomez
She was quite clear about it, and
looked mildly at Wibberley for confir-
nation. The table had stood between
them. She thought he must have seen
it lying there, Mrs. Burton Smith being
the only person close to the table.
Burton Smith saw that look. 81 say,
Wibberley," he said, appealing to him,
half in fun, half in earnest, ssyou have
not hidden it for joke, old fellow, have
your"
81? Certainly not