Telegram-herald., 1891-05-29
PASTE Or DIAMONDS.
a Eeckince rhas Enabled Mira
Sykes 20 Meet tbs Kaiser.

were about - reeeiys the German En-
peror at their villa ~ Cowes. and Mrs
Sykes had set her heart upon going.
Not only wa this 70 DC The most superb
event Of The cowes season. but period
had now arrived IN the career of Mrs.
Sykes az wssea abe felt that Ia one form
or another IL Wa imperative that she
should meet royalty. For two years
ever since. IN rsct. Mr.. Sykes had com
verted himself, 40 he used 10 express II.
Iron a tradesn4n into a gentleman by
selling Sykes Soap Substitute 20 a
Emitted company Sykes had been
sseatfastly naneuvering herself into
society. By reason Of her husbands
enormous wealth aud her own not over
BcrupusDus asruseness she had succeeded
up - poilG But though the circles
IN which royalty moves are not inacces-
sioie 20 certain portions OF the common
herd he line. which even IN these days
has 10 De drawn -onew here. had hitler
10 been drawn at Ms Sykes. She had
sustained severe disappointment IN
connection with the Marlborough house
garden persy. but defeat only acts as .
stimuiant on some natures. and as Mr..
Sykes, whose one hobby wAs yachting.
was going TO Cowes for the Roy al
Yacht s9uadOn meeting. Mrs Sykes
was seized with the inspira ton that her
failure m London might Do retrieved
by forcing herself into the Duchess OF
Beaumondes entertainment 10 tho En-
giish and German royalties in the Isle
Of Wight
When she came TO consider how this
was 10 DC accomplished there was one
lady TO whom Mrs Sykes thoughts at
once turned This was a certain Lady
Pail Mall. whose husband was afflicted
with a chronic impecuniosity which
made il extremely difficult for both TO
keep up the state and dignity betting
their station Her ladyship. being q
young. pretty and CLEVER woman. was
often compelled To practice various
stratagems and devices In order 20 keep
her own and her husbands head above
the waters of debt. which constantly
threatened 10 overwhelm them. Not
the least remunerztive OF the many
Avocatioas pursued by her ladyship
whereby she contrived to make her
rank and position profitable IN pc
cuniary sense was that of social sponsor
and general guide, philosopher and
friend 10 people who. ike the Sykes,
were at once wealthy. ambitious. vul-
gar and generally unprescntable- While
Lord Pan Mall borrowed money freely
from the husbands of those ladies for
whom Lady Pail Mall procured invita-
tons. presented at court, patronized
and introduced into her set, her lady
ship accepted from the ladies them
selves numerous handsome and costly
giftA
All this Mrs Sykes knew and appre-
ciated. and upon it she formed her
scheme II was a scheme, however. in
which her husbands cooperation was
indispensable, for. Ia spite Of the fact
that Mrs Sykes enjoyed liberal al
1o~ ance, her anxiety TO shine in the
world kept her In perpetual state OF
financial embarrassment At the pres
cnt moment, so far from having any
spar, cssh Ia her pocket, she was very
seriously In debt She was obliged,
therefore, TO oonfido in her husband be-
forc ahe could carry her scheme into ef-
fect- John Sykes had heard good
deal about the Duchess of Beaumonde's
party and had every opportunity Of ap-
prcciating tho depth Of his wife's
anxiety 10 get there. but he opened his
eyes considerably when he was given
20 understand that with the view of
procuring q card Mira Sykes contem-
plated making q costly present Of
jewelry to Lady Pau Mall
"You don't mean 70 say that you want
70 offer bride TO a real Countessl" ex-
claimed Sykes. a vulgar man. possessed
of q simple mind and limited vocabu-
lazy.
"Bribel What dreadful express
sionr' answered his wife II propose
10 make her lsdyship present, John,
that Is all To one In her position it
would be an Insult 10 offer any thing
but diamonds The only question is
wha. form the present should take.
think q necklace"
cit viii cost lot Of money. Polly"
Not moro than we can Afford" re-
hrndr-sl-it might BE- two thousand; but
you never were mean man. John"
To do him justice. John was not
During tho last two years he had. in his
own phrase. stuck at nothing" in the
way OF expenditure for the purpose Of
enabling his wife 10 attain that position
in The world ON which she had set her
heart, though. as Mrs. Sykes very well
knew. his wrath would nave been great
IL be had known that stre had spen.
several hundred pounds moro than he
was ayvarr of He only needed to be
Convinced that Lady PAN Mall was
arncnable 20 the influence which his
wife proposed 10 bring 20 bear on her,
aud that thcro was a reasonable pros
pee. OF her ladyship scing able 10 pro-
cure the desired quid pro quo. When
Mrs Sykes, ev dint Of long argument
anf expostulation, had convinced him
ON these points he was ready 20 20 aud
nrv the diamonds q. once. But he in
ss-ecd on buying them himself Mira
Sykes had not Intended this. bit she
found her husband firm on this point
and WIS 400 good a diplomafist 70 con-
test n.
You bed better call on her ladyship
this afternoon and sound her about the
business" he said. in conclusion. ~Two
thousand pounds is bit of money, and
l don't want To Jump before come TO
the fence. You can see how she takes
IL before get the stones. and mind you
do IL carefully"
Mrs. Sykes did it--whether carefully
o. not y n matter II OPINION. She sue
c-~ded. at any rate, IN making Lady