Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-14

1 that she might not be remarked by. the
| other women, who we're enyeloping them
| selves In costly furs.
Loissl held her back.
Wait hit You viii catch cold out
side. l will go and call cab"
At home she removed the wrap which
covered her shoulders before the glass, so
as once moro to see herself in all her glory.
But suddenly she 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.
II shall go back on foot. " said he, lover
the whole route which We have taken, to
see II can't fnd 1t. y
He came back about o'clock. He had
found nothing.
You must write TO your friend, said
he, that you have broken the clasp of
her necklace and that you are having IL
mended. That will give US time to act.
At the end OF a week they had lost all
hope.
The next day they took the jewel. box TO
the jeweller, whose name was inside. He
consulted his books. - IL was not /,
simply havo furnished the box" They
found in shop in the Palais Royal q
string of diamonds which seemed 70 them
exactly like the one they had looked for.
II was worth 10000 francs. They could
have il for 81, 900.
Loisel had 1900 francs which his father
had lett him. He would borrow the rest.
He gave notes, took up ruinous obliga-
tons, dealt with usurers and all tho race
OF lenders. He compromised all the. rest
OF his life, risked his signature without
even knowing If no could meet IL; he
went TO get the new necklace. putting
down upon the merchants counter $4,000
francs
Nine. Loisel now knew the horrible ex-
istenco of the needy. She took her paIt
with heroism. The debt must be paid.
She came to know what heavy housework
meant and the odious cares of the kitchen.
She dressed like a woman of the people.
Each month they had 20 meet some
notes, renew Others, get more time.
And this life lasted ten years.
At the end OF ten years they had paid
everything.
Nine. LOisel looked old now. She had
become the woman of impoverished house
holds--strong and hard and rough. With
frowsy hair and skirts askew, and red
hands, she talked loud while washing the
floor with great splashes of water. =,
One Sunday, having gone to take walk
in the Champs Elysees to refresh herself
from the labors of the week. Nine. Loisel
suddenly perceived q woman who was
leading child. 1t was Nine. Forester.
still young, still beautiful, still charming.
She went mp. Good-day. Jeanne"
The other. surprised. did not recognize
her. and stammered: " But-madaml
do not know-you must be mistaken"
mo. am Mathilde Loisel."
Her friend uttered a cry, oh, my poor
Mathilde; how you have changed"
Yes, / have had days, hard enough
since | have seen you-days wretched
enough. and that because OF you"
"Of me. How 500"
"Do you remember the diamond neck
lace which you lent me to wear at the Min
lster's ball2"
Yes. Well ?p
Well. lost it.
What do you mean? You brought it
back.
II brought you back another just like
IL. And tor this we have been ten years
paving. You can understand that 1t was
not easy for us--us who had nothing. At
last 1t is ended and am very glad"
Nine. Forester had stopped.
You say that you bought necklace of
diamonds to replace mine?
Yes. You never noticed it, then They
were very like"
And she smiled with a JOY which was
proud and naive at once.
Nine. Forester, strongly moved. took
her two hands.
".0h, my poor Mathilde Why, my
necklace was paste. 1t was worth at most
500 traucs ~