The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-08-31

gracious, smillhg anu VIII Win Joy.
All tho mon looked at her, asked
her namo and tried to be presented to
her.
She went away about four in the
morning. Her husband threw over
her shoulders the cloak he had brought,
a modest cloak of common lifo whose
poverty contrastcd with the elegance
of the ballroom.
She felt this and wanted to escape,
so that she might not DO remarked by
tho other women, who were envelop-
ing themselves in costly furs.
Lriscl held her back.
"Wait n bit. You will catch cold
outside. will go and call a cab"
| At home she removed the wrap
which covered her shoulders before
the glass, 81 as once more to see her
self in all her glory. But suddenly
,he uttered cry. She had no longer
the necklace around her neck
They looked in the folds of her
dress, in her pockets, everywhere.
They did not find it.
81 shall 90 back on foot" said he,
cover the whole route which we have
taken, TO see if | can't find it,"
lie came back about O'Clock. IIe
had found nothing.
"You must write to your friend"
said he, "that YOU have broken the
clasp of her necklace aud that You are
having IL mcndcd. That will give us
time to act"
At tho end of week they had lost
all hope.
The next day they took the jewel
box to the jcwcler whose namo was
inside. lie consulted his books, "lt
was not |, Madame, who sold that
necklace; must simply have fur
nished the box" They found In n
shop in the Palais Royal string of
diamonds which seemed to them cx-
actly like the one they had looked for.
It was worth 10000 francs, They
could have IL for &c. 900.
Loiscl had $4,000 francs which his
father had left him. lIe would bor-
row tho rest.
lie gave notes, took up ruinous OBJ
legations, dealt with usurers and ali the
race of lenders. lilo compromised all
the rest of his life, riskcd his sigma
turc without even knowing if he could
meet it; he went to get the new neck
lace, putting down upon the mcr-
chants counter 80, 900 francs.
Nine. Loisel now knew the horrible
existence of the needy. She took her
part with hcroism. The debt must be
paid. She came to know what heavy
houscwork meant aud the odious cares
of the kitchen. She dressed like a
woman of the people.
Each month they had to meet some
notes, renew others, get more time.
And this life lasted ten years.
At the end of ten years they had
paid everything.
Mmc. Loisel looked old now. She
had become the woman of impover-
ishcd useholds-.strong and hard
and rough. With frowsy hair and
skirts askcw. aud red hands, she
talked loud while washing the floor
with great splashes of water.
One Sunday having gone to take n
walk in the Champs Elysees to refresh
herself from the labors Of the week,
Mime. Loiscl suddenly perceived a
woman who was leading a child. l,
was Nine. Forester, still young, still
beautiful, still charming.
She went up. "Good-Gay, Jeanne"
Tho other, surprised, did not recog
nizc her, and stammered: "But-
madam! do not know-you must be
mistaken"
"No, am Mathilde Loisel."
Her friend uttered cry, "Oh, my
poor Mathilde, how you have
changed!"
eyes, l have had days hard enough
since have seen you, days wretched
enough, and that because of YOU"
"Of me! How SOP"
"Do you remember tho diamond
necklace which you lent me to wear
at the Minister'S ballp"
"Yes. Well2"
"Well, lost it,"
"What do you mean' You brought
it back"