Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30

ed into whispered conversation with N
nlgot, doubtless in reference to the eighty
Thousand francs
His wife watched them anxiously. con-
sumed with desire for the gems, while tar
from satisned that the purchase ought to
be made.
Harper" she murmured
II Not In the least. my dear Mrs.
thompson. have neither the right nor
.ne opportunity to judge. You Americans
are all rich. you know"
But we are not rich-not in the way
you mean. Only my husband is $3.50
fond of me. and SO generous. He would
nave to make a sacrifice"
If 1t makes him happy" / suggested
All, he is so good to me-"
she sighed softly. and there was a mist
like tears in her eyes. The cup of her graft
tude was full to the brim.
Just then the colonel and the French
man approached. the former smiling but
agitated. l thought, the latter rubbing
his hands and bowling as only Partisan
who fait des compliments can bow. Evil
IDENTIFY the first act OF the drama was over.
The purchase had been made.
My dear, you shall have the necklace
for your Christmas gift" He laid il once
more to her throat caressingly. Don't
be overcome, Hetty'' (as the mist gathered
ana one large tear stood on her dark
lashes). Monsieur is not going to be so
hard on me as he threatened. 1t will not
cost as much as eighty thousand francs"
l think, between her gratitude and her
doubt as to the expediency Of the purchase,
the colonels wife wanted to sit down and
weep; but she controlled herself admirably.
and began to lay the necklace carefully in
its black velvet case.
1--WE will leave ii to be sent up tomor-
row." said the colonel. There is to be
under side of the largest cluster"
She looked at him quickly. Could they
trust this NJ. Vigot to give them the neck
lace just as 1t was? was the unmistakable
question asked by her eyes.
Il am. to pay for it. in cash. when it is
delivered, he remarked; adding, laughing
ly; lit will about finish my letter of credit.
1t Is good thing We are going to start
day after tomorrow. Hetty." She turned
away reluctantly.
1T seems a risk to leave it." she said
half to herself. zone cannot trust these
Frenchmen out Of sight"
they can cheat You under your very eyes"
Col and Mrs. Thompson We're very quiet
as we sat at our luncheon. Whether 1t
was the stress of her emotion, or the
enormous price he had paid for the baubIe
that oppressed them, i could not tell. Even
the champagne which we all drank to cele-
brate the magnitude of "Hetty's Christ
mas gift" seemed fiat and tasteless, and
we drove home almost in silence.
Goodbye. dear Miss Harper" said Mrs
Thompson the next day but one, as they
me little, and / whispered:
is 1t all right? Did the necklace conner
"Oh. yes" she said. fairly bursting into
tears. 1T came this morning. 1t is mag
nihcent. but somehow couldn't show II
here. feel as though II is too splendid.
as though we should regret it,
Don't you think" / whispered hastily,
that your husband knows better than
you what he can afford? Enjoy your neck
lace. dear. and be happy
She gave me a grateful look as kissed
her again, and amid a storm of farewelis
and regrets they drove away.
PART II.
1t was a fortnight later, Christmas Eve,
in fact, and a most dismal day, when all
the beau temps which had so surprised us
early in December had been forgotten in
the icy mists Of real Partisan winter
weather.
1 sat in my little private parlor. feeling
somewhat depressed, when suddenly a vol
ley Of agitated raps fell upon the door.
In answer to my weary entrez. there burst
into the room ALMOST unceremoniously (only
Frenchman never quite forgets to affect
ceremony none other than Monsieur Nigot
l knew him instantly. in spite of a certain
witness of aspect which almost threatened
to destroy his department
"Ah, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS a dieu! / have
found You. And you-you at least can tell
me"
He broke of. and wiped his face with
his pocket handkerchief, IL to cover
his agitation. / waited curiously to hear
the rest.
You can tell me where is Monsieur Tom
song, re cor-nel?"
Thompson have just about reached home.
They were due in New York yesterday"
Mon dieu-oui! But where. mademoi-
selle, is 'ome?'
lv do nf
'Oh. mon Dieu! IMPOSSIBLE. DO not say
Eat, mademoiselle. You who We're re init
mate one-ze frien' of madame. You do
not know where she hfT'
Il certainly do not"
He sat down suddenly, a profuse per-
SEPARATION breaking out upon his convulsed
features.
But you know re name OF re corner
Is 1t not so. chere mademoiselley'
Il do not even know his name. mon
sieur"
The wretched little man jumped up and
began pacing the room, wringing his hands
in truly dramatic style.
"Oh, mon Dieu! mon Dieul-my dia-
monds! he cried, the tears running down
his cheeks-a picture OF irresistibly ludic-
rous despair. Consumed with curiosity as
1 was. 1 would not condescend to question
the man. whose every look and gesture
impressed me-Heaven forgive me,-as a
bit of melodrama, now comic. now tragic,
always to further some purpose OF his
own.
'Oh," he sobbed. turning his disheveled
countenance toward me, IF re bon Dieu
would only help met Is zere not also Amerf-
Gaines in re house, mademoiselley'
/ told him there were several; and he
begged me. in the name of the good God
and the good devil, and half the saints
in the calendar. to assemble them In my
sitting room, which 1 did with some DIM
Guilty.
When everybody had arrived fortunately,
the awful weather had kept us indoors for
the momenD NJ Nigot began to interrogate
them, collectively and individually, about
the colonels whereabouts. AS / had antic-
ipated, no one knew anything of him or
OF his wife, and could detect in the half
curious, half-1-told-you-so air of those pres
ent that they were not altogether unprc-
pared to listen to something dubious in
reference to their absent compatriot. ca
never did trust that man." the lady from
Boston remarked under her breathD
The Frenchman's demeanor could no
longer conceal his state of mind. He can
cred about like one in physical torture: ana
1t was only after many incoherencies and
much hysterical reiteration of appeals to
the Almighty and the saints, that we got
at bottom facts-which IL would take 100
long to tell in monsieur's frenzied speech
The story was this:
The colonel being seized with a passion
to get for his wife jewels which he candidIy
admitted himself to be entirely unable TO
pay for, hem. Vigot-had hit upon the
admirable plan that from a magnificent
assortment of imitation diamonds-tran-
scendently beautiful imitation diamonds.
he could in two days make a necklace
precisely like the coveted one