The record-union., 1892-10-20

iDtAt3 III NtGctI- lA4CuSs ~ y W. NCbtAN4 iJC
glad. ! had a lot of trouble getting it."
She looked at him with flashing eye.
''W hat shall l wear? ?''
How much would a suitable dress
cost?'
She reflected several seconds, figuring
out the amount, and wondering also
what sum she could ask without drawing
on herself an immediate refusal
Finally she said doubtIuly:
81 think | could manage with 400
francs"
He grew little pale, because that was
just the amount that he had laid aside to
treat himself TO little vacation.
However, he said: "All right, 1 will
give you the 400 francs"
Her husband asked her one evening,
''What is the matter? Why have you
been so queer these last three days ?''
She answered: "It annoys me not to
have. a single jewel not single stone,
nothing to put on"
But her husband exclaimed: "How
stupid you are. Go and look up your
friend, Nine. Fprestier, and ask her to
lend you some jewels"
She uttered a cry of joy. ITS true, I
never thought OF it"
The next day she went to her friend
and told OF her distress.
Mn. Forester got large jewel box,
and said to Nine. Loisel, Choose, my
dear"
She saw first Of all some bracelets, and
then pearl necklace, then a Venetian
cross of gold and precious stones Of fine
workmanship.
All of sudden she discovered, in
black satin box, a superb diamond neck
lace, and her heart beat with extreme de-
sire. Her hands trembled as she took it.
She fastened it around her throat, out
side her high-necked dress and remained
lost in afFStaex- n thn SiUnt n barSalf
Then she asked, hesitating, 1illed with
anguish:
"Can you lend me that-only that?"
"Why, yes; certainly"
She sprang upon the neck Of her friend,
kissed her passionately, then lied with
her treasure.
The day of the ball came. Nine. Loisel
made great success. She was prettier
than them all-elegant, gracious, smiling
and wild with joy.
All the men looked at her, asked her
name, and tried to be presented 10 her.
She went away about in the morning.
Her husband throw over her shoulders
the cloak he had brought, a modest cloak
OF common life whose poverty contrasted
with the elegance of the ball dress.
She felt this and wanted to escape, so
that she might not be remarked by the
other women, who We're enveloping
themselves in costly furs.
Loisel held her back.
''Walt a bit You will catch cold out
side. l will go and call a cab."
At home she removed the wrap which
covered her shoulders before the glass,
so as once more to see her herself in ali
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,'
~ shall go back on foot" said he.
"over the whole route which we have
taken, to see if | can't find it."
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 aIe having it
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 jeweler whose name was inside.
He consulted his books. "It was not I,
Madame, who sold that necklace. l must
have simply furnished the box" They
found in a shop of the Palais Royal a
string of diamonds which seemed to them
exactly like the one they had looked for.
1t was worth 10000 francs. They could
have it for $4,000.
Loisel had $1,000 francs which his father
had left him. He would borrow the rest.
He gave notes, took up ruinous obliga-
tions, dealt with usurers and all the race
OF lenders. He compromised all the rest
of his life, risked his signature without
even knowing if he could meet it: he
went to get the new necklace, putting
down upon the merchants counter 36 900
francs.
Nine. Loisel now knew the horrible
existence OF the needy. She took her
part with heroism. The debt must be
paid. She came to know what heavy
homework meant, and 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.
Mime. Loisel looked old now. She had
become the woman OF Impoverished
households-strong and hard and rough.
With frowsy hair and skirts askew, and
red hands, she talked loud while wash
ing 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,
Mime. Loisel suddenly perceived a woman
who was leading child. 1t was Nine.
Forester, still young, still beautiful, still
charming.
She went up. "Good day, Jeanne"
The other, surprised, did not recognize
her, and stammered; "But-madam |
do not know-you must be mistaken"
mo. am Mathilde Loisel"
Her friend uttered a cry, "Oh. nv poor
Mathilde, how you have changedP p
''Yes, 1 have had days hard enough
since | have seen you, days wretched
enough. and that because of you"
''Of me. How SOP"
"Do you remember the diamond neck
lace which you lent me to wear at the
Minister'S ball?p
"Yes. WelI?''
"Well, lost it.'
"What do you mean2 You brought it
back"
II brought you back another lust like
it. And for this we have been ten wears
paying. You can understand that it was
not easy for us, us who had nothing. At
! last it is ended, and | am very glad.n
Mime. Forester had stopped
"You say that you bought necklace
of diamonds to replace mine?"
''Yes. You never noticed it. thanl
They were very like.''
And she smiled with joy which was
proud and naive at once.
Nine. Forester, strongly moved, took
! her two hands.
sob, my poor Mathildel Why, nv
necklace was paste. 1t was worth at
most 500 francse