St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-06-27

4Le power, pleasure. ana lnSlplulCy cl
her new life were, SO to speak, in the
swaddling clothes of novelty as yet.
In fact, about the only relic of old
times left to Mrs. Horshaw WAS Mr..
Horshaw, and he did not count for
much in society's opinion, except as
the husband of Mrs. Horshaw.
Scarcely year since the new lead i'll
the Little julie" silver mine had de-
veloped it's Aladdin-like qualities.
Scarcely a year since the modest cabin
In Red Wood Gulch had been ex-
changed for the brownstone sarcop-
hagus on Prairie Avenue, whence Mrs.
Horshaw, after a few brief preliminary
llutters, had burst upon society like a
rolden butterfly, little crude and
airing perhaps, yet genuine, very
snuine. wLittle julie" was disgorging
:. cool five thousand in silver bullion
!'er week. The mine had been named
utter Mrs. Horshaw by her husband
Late in the morning after the Proph-
cts ball, Mrs. Horshaw was surveying
The contents of her jewel-case i'll the
privacy of her boudoir. There was a
ring at the front door, and a house
maid announced:
"a man from Jaccard's, num-"
"Jaccard's" was the well-known
jewelry house. Mrs Horshaw was
handling diamond bracelet with ten
der solicitude. She glanced at her
rose-colored morning gown, felt her
lace cap, and wasconscious of state
of chaste and discreet deshabille that
might be exhibited with affect before a
mere clerk or messenger.
"What can he want?" she said, won
deringly. However, send him up
Presently q gentlemanly young man
entered, his hat in one hand and a
small portmanteau in the other.
"Pardon," he said, "but Mr.. Hor-
shaw left word that you might want
to make q selection, and as we had
only few OF this style left, we-at
his suggestion-concluded to submit
them to you for inspection at once. u
He had opened his satchel and taken
out several sets OF pearl jewelry of 8
rather unique design. Mrs. Horshaw
seemed astonished.
"But l do not care for pearls" she
said. ~ cannot see why my husband
should have left such directions. At
Jaccard's they certainly know my
preference for diamonds.
"Perhaps there is some mistake. u
said he, with Chesterfieldian bow.
at is no matter. And yet-these
pearls are really quite the-a-go, as
sure you"
"Oh, they will do-for pearls, sup
pose"
"Mrs. Horshaw fingered them care
lessly, then looked fondly at her really
fine-diamonds. The man adjusted an
cyeglass and examined them critically.
81 can easily see," he said gallantly,
"why madam does not care for pearls.
These are indeed perfection. But, if
mistake not, these bracelets now-to
be sure! That reminds me. Your hus-
band desired to match them with
some earrings we have in stock
"Yes, [ do need another style OF
earring. But it was very good OF Mr..
Horshaw to think of that himself"
Mrs Horshaw looked at the man
obviously whereupon, with another
bow he presented one of Messers.
Jaccard's business cards.
I-er-suppose you wish to take
one of these bracelets back?"
With madam's permission yes. For
comparison, YOU know. AS it will
take but a short while to match them,
[ will leave a set OF pearls until my re.
turn. Not necessary, of course
this with q fine renunciatory gesture
-"yet there is no harm, and giving
security is always more business.
like"
Such grandiloquent demeanour WAS
quite over-powering to Mrs. Hor.
shaw's still virgin conceptions of cas-.
tern polite requirements. She declined
to receive the pearls, but he having
pocketed the bracelet, would not hear
of it, and departed with a final bow
and flourish, leaving her with it'll.
lating sense of satisfaction, as of one
before whom the great of the earth
have unbent themselves.
Two hours later, Mr.. Horshaw
coming home to lunch, was thanked
by his wife for "being SO unusually
thoughtful"
"Why, I haven't been near JAG,
card's!" said he, when he caught the
drift of her remark.
Mrs. Horshaw felt a twinge of alarm;
then she remembered the pearls.
at is all right, | guess. The man is
TO be back directly; besides, he left a
tovely set of pearls as security
Thought I'd be more apt to buy them
| suppose"
"Left pearls-eh?"
Mr.. Horshaw, though insignificant
rs an adjunct Of fashion, had certain
business Instincts, and this procedure
struck him as unusual, if not queer.
"Well, we'll see when he comes
back"
But he did not come back. They
waited until four o'clock, then Mr.
Horshaw, taking the pearls with him
went to Jaccard's with many misgiv.
ings. One of the statesmen looked at
the set and then shook his head.
1.-THE poorest grade of imitation.
Hope you did not think them genu-
ine."
Mr.. Horshaw. gave his wife's version
of the whole affair.
Evidently case OF gross swindl-
ing" said the salesman. "We have no
such man in our employ, and goods
like these"--he eyed them contempt.
uously-"ws never handle on any
pretence.
There seemed nothing for it but to
inform the police. which Mr.. Horshaw
did forthwith. Then he went home
and lectured his wife, who, besides
grieving over her loss, felt quite hu,
inflated at having gwen her husband
such good grounds for asserting him
self-a privilege he seldom acquired in
his present position as all appendage
of q woman of fashion.