Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1894-07-19
A DIAMOND NECKLACE.

One Sunday morning two young
men sat in the smolSing-room of n
coy apartment.
On the divan his tail and legs
ornamented with tufts of curly black
hair, his body shaved in the improved
fashion, a poodle slumborcd peace
fully, and Floyd Taller, the owner of
the premises, was lolling in an easy
chair, his slippcrcd feet stretched
toward the fire. His companion.
Arthur Van Stndc, had been his
GREATEST friend at college, and th,
was their first meeting in three years.
That's rather fine dog you have
there, Arthur, said Van Stade, turn
ing to the poodle and lazily looking
over the sleepy animal.
"Wcll | should think so, replio.
Taller; al don't suppose You will bh
lieve me when l tell you that when
he came into my possession he was
worth no less than 81, 900. The spring
after you went away" he went on.
"having finished my college course,
went over to the other side for the
London season. went to London
and in London stayed long after the
time had allotted to that city had
expired. 1t was there ] met Edith.
In six weeks we were engaged The
remainder of the summer passed in
scotland with the family of my
fiancec, They had planned to go to
Nice, when the cold weather came on,
and of couric determined to go with
| r,,, al.
gether but at the last moment | was
detained in that city for few days
and was obliged to allow the rest of
the party to proceed without me,
promising to join them in a week at
most,
"rhe following morning | started
out in search of something for my
dear girl, whom | should be with the
very next day. | visited all the lead
ing iewelry stores on the Avenue de
POpera, and was so confused by the
glittering array of gems spread ont to
lure the American dollar from
wealthy travellers that l could decide
on nothing My $1,000 which had
seemed so much, now appeared ri
diculously small, and had almost de-
SPARED of finding anything worthy of
my beloved when my eyes fell upon
an extremely beautiful necklace, con-
ssting of two rows of pearls caught
toge Their at intervals by small dia
mond clasps, 1t lay in velvet case
of azure blue and the moment | saw
it | decided that it was just what l
wanted.
II bought it WITHOUT moments
hesitation The little blue box was
about to be wrapped up when the
salesman discovered some imperfec-
tion in the clasp. lie was profusc in
his apologies and said that it would
be repaired and ready for me the fol-
lowing morning. l explained that
this VOL ls1n do ~ ! was TO lepve
, on the night express for Nice. After
moments hesitation the ieweler
promised that l should have it at 6
o'clock, without fail.
"As was leaving the store no.
ticed woman standing by my side.
/ say noticed a woman; it would be
more correct to say that l noticed n
beautiful white hand with long taper
fingers on one of which was Il dia-
llOlNl VI uluSldl HlNt anu DIllluntAs
In this hand was small jeweled
watch, and as l was leaving the coun-
ter ! caught a few words spoken in a
peculiarly musical voice. | was too
full of the thought of Ediths happi-
ness on receiving my gift even to
glance at the woman's face, and long
before had reached the sidewalk She
was forgotten.
"At 6 o'clock returned, and, true to
his promise, the man had the necklace
ready for me. Placing it in the in
side pocket of my coat l left the
store and had just time to complete a
few remaining arrangements before
going to the station. / bought II
first-class ticket and tipped the guard,
after giving him to understand in my
very best French that did not want
him to put other passengers in my
compartment. tucked my travelling
rug around my knees, opened u
French novel, when the door was
opened and woman hurriedly en-
tered the compartment and took the
seat next the window on the other
side of the car. | glanced at my I'M
welcome companion, she was dressed
in mourning of the richest material
: and in perfect taste. As | was MOTTO
: ing these details something by her
side that had first taken for fur
cape moved. 1t proved to be black
French poodle, and as he sat up and
turned his head toward me l saw that
,, around his neck he wore Il broad
silver collar from which depended a