The record-union., 1892-12-03
mrs. CUDLIP'S DIAMOND RING.

| er TO be glad or sorry when his wife, one
july afternoon, announced her intention
OF taking him for a trip to the Rhine, in
| cludlng visit of inspection TO Homburg.
On the one hand be reflected, the tour
would at least afford a welcome change
from the society of the parsons of all de-
nominations and the serious persons of
| both sexes with whom his wife was wont
to surround herself at Sharon House. On
the other hand, Mr.. Cudip was well
aware that he had spent nearly all his last
quarters allowance; and he felt that for
him to visit HON burg not only in lead
ing-strings, but penniless, would be a
painful experience. However, Mr.. Cud-
| lips wishes were not OF any practical mo-
mont. Mrs. Cudlip. who had been a
wealthy widow when she led her second
| bridegroom to the altar, held possession
OF the purse strings, and her word was
| law i'll the Cudlip establishment.
The two set out together on their tour,
and things went very well on the whole
till they reached Homburg. This sink
OF iniquity Mrs. Cudlip was determined
to inspect for herself, both from natural
/ curiosity and a desire to speak with au-
! Betting and Gambling, which was to be
| held at Clapham Rise in November. By
! the time Homburg was reached Mr.. Cud-
/ lIp had contrived To annex a few gold
pieces out of the moneys allowed for
travelling and hotel expenses, and with
! these coins he purpoSed to tempt the
| lckle goddess if perchance he could find
/ d way OF escape from his wife's all-seelng
! eye.
! The morning after their arrival the Cud-
| lips met an acquaintance, Mrs. Vernon
Brown Of Upper Norwood, who had come
| to Homburg for reasons precisely similar
to those which had animated Mrs. Cud-
! lip. The meeting was Opportune, and
| the two parties joined in tour of inspec-
ton. They Were horrihed-shocked, in
| deed-yet profoundly interested.
AS they left the salon they met Captain
I Barker, friend of Mr.. Cudlips bachelor.
days. Mrs. Cudlip bowed severely and
passed on with Mrs. Vernon Brown.
| Her husband, however, dropped behind
to exchange few words with his old ac
! qualntance.
"W ell, Cuddy, how goes it?' asked the
Captain, in the easy phraseology OF by
gone days.
Only so-so, Barks," said Mr.. Cudlip.
Tired of being stall-fed, eh?"
Just little. Tell you what, Barks,
wish You would look in upon us at two
! thirty and ask me to go out for a stroll"
| "AIl right. You want to come back
here and try your luck, suppose"
Ies-on very small scale"
The Captain laughed, promised that he
| would be punctual, and took himself off.
| Luncheon was serious affair with
Mrs. Cudlip. 1t was in fact the early
| dinner of her youth in gloritied state,
| and she always hOnOred it by retiring to
her bedroom for an hour or two on rising
| from table.
Just before she rose to go up stairs that
| day Captain Barker made his appearance,
| and, alter little aimless chat, proposed
| that Mr.. Cudlip should join him IN a short
walk. Mrs. Cudlip frowned slightly, but
| could ot1er no reasonable objection, ana
! the two conspirators made the best of their
way to the gambling-saloon.
| Like all poor men, Mr.. Cudlip played
| tImldly. AT first he won; then he grew
| bolder, and the stakes being increased, he
! lost. That made him savage; he played
more recklessly, and soon parted with his
! last hve-franc piece. Captain Barker had
! been playing too, but with better fortune,
and with fatal gOOd-nature be pressed his
! friend to borrow five hundred francs
| from him and have another try. In less
than half an hour the five hundred francs
had gone like the rest, and Mr.. Cudlip
| with ruetul face rejoined his friend.
The Captain laughed to see him so much
cast down.
My dear fellow what's twenty-pound
note 10 your" he exclaimed; "or to your
wife; it's all the same thing"
IN OF exactly; but do hate to leave off
| in debt; and If you can lend me eighty
pounds, Charley, to make up the nun
dred, Pll be eternally obliged to you.'
With some little hesitation the Captain
did as he was desired, and Mr.. Cudlip
pushed his way to the front and sat down,
| determined to win.
last a oIIlatta q 6atprTri n To n
counts for very little. The hours went
| by with varying fortune, but before the
afternoon was ended the hundred pounds
had gone beyond recall.
AS Mr.. Cudlip rose slowly from the
| table he perceived his friend approach
ing him with the angry and yet detected
air which is peculiar to the unlucky
gamester.
Pm cleaned out" he said shortly. "If
| you've had any luck I'd be deuced glad
of that hundred, old man."
Pm awfully sorry, Barker, but the fact
is"
you've lost it! Just like my luck!
But you must try to get the money out of
| Mrs. c., like good fellow, for l can't stir
out of this - place till | get some money
to pay my hotel bill.'
Mr.. Cudlip groaned.
1t was at no time easy to get money
! from Mrs. Cudlip beyond the regular
too!
Cant you make her a present and get
round her in that Way?" suggested the
Captain.
"Have l any money to buy present
with?" answered the other sulkily.
well, you see | must have the oof,
| Cudlip, even if Tve to 60 to her ladyship
| for it,
You wouldn't do that, Barker You
wouldn't be so confoundedly mean?"
Not if l can help it. But in this coun-
try they hand a man over to the police if
| he can't pay his hotel bill. You couldn't
expect me to stand that?''
This pleasant talk brought them to the
| hotel. They entered the hilliard-room,
and the Captain magnanimously called
| for drinks.
| No one was playing, but little group
| of men were gathered together at one of
the windows, examining something which
| was being passed from hand to hand.
II intend that as present for my wife,
and guess she'll be pleased" said voice
in a strong Yankee accent
$50 she may be!'' said one of the admir-
! ing group.
| Mr. Cudlip remembered his friends
abortive advice about the eXpediency of
| giving his wife present. and signing to
think how impossible it was for him to
take that road to the lady's favor, he APP
preached the window to see what the
Americans present was to be.
| 1t was a superb diamond set in a ring of
peculiar workmanship. AS it was handed
from one to another it drew forth chorus
! of admiring comments.
| 1T is really magnificent" said one.
MAY | ask what you gave for it?''
The Yankee laughed.
| You couldn't buy that ring in Paris or
London" he said, under a hundred
guineas. MOST likely they'd charge you