The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-03-28

was used to attention, and when she spoke
again her voice was shrill and almost indie
Gently loud. "Where is my bracelet ?
she repeated The one with the Agra
diamond that l was showing you, Mrs
Burton Smith? 1t was here a moment
ago and it is gone. 1t is gone y
Wibberley was still speaking to his hos
tess. He heard the old lady's words, but
did not clearly apply them. He finished
his leave taking almost at his leisure, and
only as he turned recollected himself, and
said, with polite solicitude, "What is it,
Lady Linacre? Have you dropped some
thing? Can 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 chorus from those
sitting nearest Of: "What is it, Lady Lin
acre? Dear Lady Linacre, what have you
lost ?"
"My Agra diamond, she replied, fussiiy,
her head quivering, her fingers cropping
about her dress.
"No?" someone said in surprise; "why,
it was here moment ago. [ saw it in
your hand
The old lady held out her wrists. "See, -
she said feebly, al have not got it,
"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 uneom-
Portable
"No,' she answered; II am quite sure
that l 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
laid it down just for minute, and-it is
gone"
She was quite clear about it, and looked
mildly at Wibberley for confirmation. The
table had stood between them. She thought
he must have seen it lying there, Mrs. Bur-
ton 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, ''you have not hid
den.it for joke, old fellow, have you?"
"I? Certainly not.
To this day Ernest Wibberley wonders
when he first made the disagreeble discov-
cry of what he had done-that he had
taken the wrong bracelet 1t was not
early. 1t was not until the aggrieved
owner had twice proclaimed her loss that
he felt himself redden, and awoke to the
consciousness that the bracelet was on his
own arm. Even then, if he had had in
slant presence of mind, he might have ex-
tricated himself He might have said at
once, "By Jove! | think | slipped it on
my wrist in pure absence of mind, or
made some other excuse for his possession
of it which would have passed muster,
though one or two might have thought him
odd But time was everything, such ex-
cuses to avail must be made at once, and
he hesitated. He hated to seem odd, even
to one or two, and he thought that present
ly he might find some chance of restoring
the bracelet without being detected. So
he hesitated, peering at the carpet, and the
golden opportunity passed him by. Then
each moment made the avowal more diff
cult and less possible, until, when his
host appealed to him, "If you have hid
den it for a joke, old fellow, out with it, "
he had no choice-Or it seemed to his
uneasy conscience that he had no choice
but to answer as he did.
He looked up indeed with admirably
acted surprise and said his "I? Certainly
not" somewhat peremptorily.
Half dozen of the guests were peering
stupidity about, as if they expected to find
the lost article in a flower vase or within
the globe of lamp. Presently their
hostess stayed these explorations.
"Wait mOmentl' y she cried abruptly,
raising her head "I have it y
"Well?" eagerly from several.
sJohn must have moved it when he
brought in the tea. That must be it.
Ring the bell, James, and we will ask
him"
So it was done. John came in and the
question was put to him.
ayes, sir" he said readily. 81 saw a
bracelet. On this table, by the lamp. ="
lie indicated the table near Lady Lin
acre.
"Did you move it?"
"Move it, sir ?" the man repeated, sur
prised by the question, the silence, and the
strained faces turned to him. "NO, sir;
certainly not. | only saw it when | was
handing the tea Toto Mr.. Wibberley, |
think it was.
"Ah, very well, his master answered.
''That is all. You may 60"
It was not possible indeed to doubt the
mans face and manner. But when he
had left the room an uncomfortable silence
ensued. at is very strange" Burton
Smith said at last, looking from one to
another, and then, for the twentieth time,
cropping under the table.
at is very strange" Wibberley muir
INJURED, He felt bound to say something.
He could not free himself from an idea
that the others and particular y the Indian
civilian were casting special looks at him.
He appeared calm enough, but he could
not be sure of this. He felt rather as if
he were each instant changing color and
betraying himself to every eye. His very
voice sounded forced to his ear as he re
peated fussily: at is very odd-very
odd Where can it be ?"
at cost" Lady Linaere quavered, ir
relevantly, but by no means impertinently
''it cost H. 900 out there. Indeed it did
And that was before it was set
A hush as of awe fell upon the room
Fourteen thousand pounds" BurtOI
Smith said softly, his hair rising on end.
aNo, no" said the old lady, who hat
not intended this mystifcation. "No
pounds-rupees."
"I understand" he replied, rubbing hi
head. "But that is good sun"
at is over G1 ,000," the Indian civilian
put in, stonily, "at the present rate of ex
, change"
"But, good gracious, james" !" Mrs
Burton Smith said impatiently, "why ar
, you valuing Lady Linacre's jewelry instea,
of finding it for her? The question is
Where is it?' It must be here. 1t wa
, IN tbis table fifteen minutes a0o Ii can