The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-06-20
A FALSE FRIEND.
And How She Lost honor and Love
by Her Deception.

"Oh. you're taking in dressmaking,
nre your said Lucia Fanshave, rather
superciliousiy, as she glanced around the
nestly furnished back parlor, with its
fashion plates on the table, it's lay figure
In the corner, and its sewing machine
under the window.
Miss Fanshawe wa a tan. elegantly
dressed young woman, with perfectly
fitting kid gloves, a bonnet that had been
imported direct from Mademoiselle Da-
vigne's. in Paris, and a general Lam
better-than-your air.
Ellen Lilburne was pretty, too, but her
dress was cheaper, her manner less ag-
gressive.
The two girls had been desk mates at
Madam Dupont's fashionable school in
Philadelphia. but since their graduation
the wheel Of fortune had revolved in far
different directions. Lucia had become
ingulfed in the whirlpool of gay society,
whore a rich husband was the prize for
which all were striving, and nothing
more serious than the last german or the
next progressive euchre party was talked
about; while poor Ellen, driven bystress
Of circumstance into the noble army of
breadwinners, had dwelt in a more toll
some atmosphere.
Eyes" said she, cornposedly, 81 am
taking in dressmaking. Have you my
customers that Q could recommend
me? Since papa's death my mother and
/ are thrown entirely upon our own re-
sources, you know.
She hadspoken quickly and with spirit.
Something in Miss Fanshawe's manner
had nettled her.
"Oh, dear, mol" said Lucia, smelling at
the La FRANCE rose that she held in her
hand. my dresses are all designed in
Pnris, except the very commonest, and
those | have from Miss Attinelli, on
Fourteenth street. never did care for
amateur work.
"Indeedr' said Ellen. 'sThen to what
do I owe the pleasure Of this call? 1t is
not at all probable that you have taken
the trouble to come here merely to see
me-"
Lucia laughed a little awkwardly.
aYou always were SO satirical, y said
she. but I am going to a fancy dress
party as q heliotrope flower next week,
and | remembered that pretty amethyst
clasp that You used to wear at school. It
would match my trimmings exactly, if
you wouldn't mind lending it to me for a
few days"
Ellen opened a little desk close to the
window and took it out-a crescent
shaped line Of purple fire. set in a dull
gold frame.
$50 much obliged to you, said Lucia,
smoothly. "And if | hear Of any one
who desires to employ a dressmaker /
shall certainly recommend you"
Old Dr.. Findley was in his study the
nex day when Miss Fanshaw was an
nounced. He knitted his shaggy brows.
"a silly. fippant votary of fashion,"
he muttsrs to himself. "What brings
that grandniece of mine here:" I've
given her to understand often enough
that her visits are unpleasantl'
But Lucia came in smiling.
"Dear uncle" said she. GIVE heard
that you were making a unique collec-
tioa Of precious stones, and I've brought
u humble contribution to It,"
DE-. Findley pricked up his ears, his
eyes grew bright.
"Eh?'s said he.
ITS an heirloom in our family, said
she. IAN amethyst crescent that be-
longed to my mothers mother. OF
course, we are very much attached to
it, but to please you we would sacrifice
any feeling of mere sentiment"
LET me see it," said DIR. Findley.
He turned the trinket over and over
held it so that the sunlight was reflected
from its facets of violet fire and scru-
tinized the setting keenly.
"Humph," said he, "humph! It's a
good color, and the pattern is choice.
But ! shall not take your pretty
ment, Lucia, without making some re-
turn. A fair exchange is no robbery.
Amethysts are rare, but diamonds are
more precious. Here"
He took from a teak wood jewel cas-
ket a ring set with a dew drop of g1isten-
ing whiteness-a diamond of the choic-
est water.
"Oh, unclev" cried Lucia, coloring high
with pleasure, .'this is too much!'
"No, it isn't" he retorted, CURLY; and
Lucia went away feeling that she had a
ring handsomcr than Miss De Bougain-
ville's famous solitaire that every one adj
mired so much. ;
1t so happened that young DR.. Lindsay
strolled in a few days subsequently to
consult the old practitioner about some
new combination Of drugs, and found
him absorbedin the contemplation of his
antiques.
Look here, Frank, did you W. see a
finer row Of amethystsa Leave OFF talk
ing about Materia Medica. One can't eat
and drink shop the whole time. Look at
the color-see the size"
Its very pretty" said Lindsay. II
seem to have seen one like it somewhere.
Although can't say l am especially in
terested in amethysts."
'sThat you have mott" cried the old
gentleman with decision. "This speci-
men is sui generis. I don't believe it's
mate exists. Certainly not on this side
Of the water"
Lindsay smiled, admired the drawers
Of the jewel box, and diverted the CON
versation back to the drug question as
soon as possible. But his opinion re-
rnainad upchaDrad