Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-10

glasses Ol his HtLuOTy-WdS aCcuS lOmeu
put on its roSiest tints. and the two facing
one announcer Tell to debating On a subject
OF winch the returned CIVILIAN had seen
much and thought little, ana the private
secretary had read more ana thought not
at all. They were, therefore, about on q
par as to Information, and wnat the younger
man lacked OF obstInacy he made up ~
readiness. 1t was IN vain the napob plus-
tered. asserted. contrauicted- finally grew
sulky, silent, stertorous.- WlDberiey pushed
MS little triumph, and soon, as We shall
see. paid dearly TOR IL.
II happened that he was the last one to
enter the drawing room. The evening was
emily. The ladies' had grouped themselves
ABOUT the nre, protected from assault 80
70 speak, by couple OF gypsy tables bear
ing shaded lamps. The lncomers. one by
one. passed through these outworks-au but
NiDperley. He cast a glance OF comic de-
SPAR at Joanna. VINO was by the fireplace
IN the heart Of the citadel; and then, re-
signing himself to separation, he took a low
chalr Dy one Of the tables, and began in
ooiehtiy TO turn over the books which lay
on the latter. There were but half a dozen.
he scanned them all, and then his eyes fell
on a bracelet lying by them on the olive
green plush; a sketchy gold bracelet. with
one big boss-Joannas
he looked up at the party-himseh sitting
a little aside, as we have said-with a steal
thy glance. There were none OF them fac
ing his way. They were discussing a pho
tograph on the over-mantel. a photograph
his hand out softly and covered the brace
let. He would take 1t for a pattern. and to-
morrow Joanna should ransom 1t. He
tried. as his fingers closed on 1t. to catch
face change and her color rise 1t would
have added to the faint charm he felt in
the boyish, foolish act he was committing
II she had been privy to it-yet unable to
prevent 1t.
But she would not look, and he was
obliged to be content with his plumber.
He slid the gold trifie deity under the
fringe Of the table. and clasped 1t round his
arm-not very lusty one-thrusting 1t as
high as 1t would go. that no movement Of
his shirt cuff might disclose 1t. He had a
keen sense of the ridiculous, and he would
not for all the world that any one besides
dering old fossil May, for instance. who.
however, was safe Notwithstanding on
the rug with his back turned and his slow
mind forming an opinion on the photo
graph.
Then-or within a few minutes, at any
rate-Wibberley began to find the party
dull. He saw small chance of a private
word with Joanna. Lady Linacre, his near
est neighbor. was pressing on to Mrs. Bur-
ton Smith, his next nearest. And he him
self. after shining at dinner, had fallen into
the background. Hang 1t. he would gol 1t
was ten o'clock.
He rose. and was STOPPING across the
table. murmuring his excuses to Mrs. Bur-
ton Smith. when Lady Linacre uttered an
exclamation. He was leaning across her
between her head and the lamp at the
moment. and he fancied he had touched her
headdress. Pray pardon me. Lady Lin
acre." he cried gayly. Il am just going
l have to leave early-so the encroachment
will be but for a moment"
1t Is not that" the old lady replied.
But where is my bracelet?' She was feel
ing about the table as she SPOKE shifting
with her white, podgy hands the half
dozen volumes that lay on it,
No one on the instant. however, took in
the situation. Mrs Burton Smith had
risen and was listening to Wibberley. The
others were talking. But Lady Linacre
was used to attention; and when she spoke
again. her voice was shrill. and almost in
decently loud. Where Is my bracelet"
she repeated. THE one with the Agra dia-
mond that was showing you. Mrs. Burton
Smith. 1t was here a moment ago. and 1t
is gone! 1t is gomez
Wibberley was still speaking to his host
ess. He heard the old ladys words, but did
not clearly apply them. He finished his
leave-taking almost at his leisure. and only
as he turned recollected himself. and said.
with polite solicitude: What is 1t, Lady
Linacre? Have you dropped something?
Can 1 find 1t for your
He stopped as he spoke and she drew her
skirt aside and both peered at the floor
while there was quite chorus from those
sitting nearest of, What Is 1t, Lady Lin
acre? Dear Lady Linacre. what have you
lost?"
my Agra diamondv' she replied fussily
her head quivering. her fingers cropping
about her dress.
Nor" some one said in surprise. "why.
1t was here a moment ago. / saw 1t In
your hand"
The old lady held out her wrists. "Seer'
she said feebly. 81 have not got it!'
"But are you sure 1t Is not in your lap"
suggested Burton Smith Lady Linacre had
rather an ample lap. BY this time the at
tention Of the whole party had been drawn
to the loss, and one or two of the most
prudent were looking slightly uncomfort-
able.
mo" she answered. II am quite sure
that placed it on the table by my side.
I am sure l saw it there. was going to
put it on when the gentlemen came in. and
1 laid 1t down just for minute. and-it Is
gone!'
She was quite clear about 1t. and looked
mildly at Wibberley for confirmation. The
table had stood between them. She thought
he must have seen it lying there. Mrs Bur-
ton Smith being the only person close to
the table.
WHEREBY" he said, appealing to him. half
In fun, half In earnest. you have not hid
den it for a Joke. old fellow. have your"
II? Certainly not"
To this day Ernest Wibberley wonders
when he first made the disagreeable dis
covery of what he had done-that he had
taken the wrong bracelet! 1t was not early.
1t was not until the aggrieved owner had
twice proclaimed her loss that he felt him.
self redden, and awoke to the consciousness
that the bracelet was on his own arm.
Even then. II he had had instant presence
of mind, he might have extricated himself
He might have said at once. by Jove! I
think l slipped 1t on my wrist in pure alb
sence of mind" made some other ex-
cuse for his possession of it which would
have passed muster. though one or two
might have thought him odd. But time was
everything; such excuses, to avail must
be made at once, and he hestated He hat
ed to seem odd. even to one or two, and he
thought that presently he might find some
chance Of restoring the bracelet without
being detected. So he hesitated, peering
at the carpet. and the golden opportunity
passed him by. Then each moment made
the avowal more difficult and less possible,
until. when his host appealed to him, IF
you have hidden it for a joke. old fellow,
cut with tt!' he had no choice-or 1t SEEM
chOice-but to answer as he did.
He looked up, indeed, with admirably act
ed surprise, and said his 81? Certainly not!"
somewhat peremptorily.
Half-a-dozen of the guests were peerinR
stupidity about as If they expected to find
the lost article in a flower vase or within
the globe of lamp. Presently their hostess
stayed these explorations. "Wait a mo-
ment." she cried, abruptly. raising her
head. Il have it!'
"Well?" eagerly, from several.
John must have moved 1t when he
brought in the tea. That must be it. Ring
the bell, James. and we will ask him."
So it was done. John came in, and the
question was put to him.
Yes. SIR he said. readily: II saw a