Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-22

enough on the rug WITH mis-
back turned and his slow mind forming
an opinion ON the photograph.
Tnen-or within a few minutes, at any
rate -Wihberley began to find the party
dull He saw small ehancs Of a private
word with Joanna. Lady Lnacre, his
nearest neighbor, was pressing on to Mrs.
Burton Smith. his next neighbor. And
he himself. after sliniay at dinner, had
fallen into the background. Hang it, he
would gol 1t was ten O'Clock.
He rose, and was stopping across the
table, murmuring his excuses TO Mr..
Burton 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 ton ched her headdress.
Pray pardon me, Lady Linacre" he
cried gayly. Il am just going-I have TO
leave early-so the rncroachment Will be
but for moment
II is not that" the old lady replied.
''But where is my bracelet She was
fesliag about the table as she spoke,
shifting with her white. podgy hands the
nal 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 Wibberiy. The
others were talking. But Lady Linaere
WAS used to attention, and whea she
spoke again her voice was shrill AMI al
most indeceatly loud. Where is my
braceletY' she repeated. The one with
the Agra diamond that / was showing
you, Mrs. Burton Smith. II was here a
moment ago. and it is gonel Il is gonel'
Wlbberiey was siil speaking to his
hostess lie heard the old lady's words
but did not clearly apply them lie fin
ished his leave-taking almost at his le IS
ure. and only as ne turned recollecte
himself, AMI said with polite solicitude:
What is it. Lady Linacre? Have you
dropped somethingY Can | find it for
youin
He stopped as he spoke, and she drew
her skirt aside; and both peered at the
floor, while there was quite chorus
from t-cse sitting nearest Of, what is
it. Lady Linacre2 Dear Lady Linaete,
what have you lostyn
My Agra diamond" she replied fus-
silly, her head quivering, her fingers crop
ing about her dress.
Nor some one said In surprise
Why, 1t was here moment ago. ! saw
it in your hand"
The old lady held our her wrists. Sect
she said feebly, Il have not got iti''
But are you sure it is not in your lapi"
suggested Burton Smith. Lady Linacre
had rather an ample lap. BY this time
the attention of the whole party had been
drawn to the loss, and one or two of the
most prudent were looking slightly un-
comfortable.
NO" she answered; II am quite sure
that / placed it on the table by my
was going TO put it on when the gentle
men came in, and / laid it down just for
a minute, and-it is gomez
She was quite clear about II, and looked
mildly at Wibberley for confirmation.
The table had stood between them. She
thought he must have seen IL lying there,
Mrs. Burton Smith being the only person
close TO the table.
Burton Smith saw that look. 81 say,
he said, appealing to him.
half in fun, half in earnest, ''you have
not hidden 1t for a joke, old fellow, have
you"
"li Certainly not"
To this day Ernest Wibberley wonders
when he first made the disagreed BILE dis
covery Of what he had done-that he had
taken the wrong bracelet II was net
Early. II was not until the aggrieved |
owner had twice proclaimed her loss that |
be felt himself redden, and awoke 20 the |
that the bracelet was on |
his own arm Even then, il he had had
Instant presence of mind, he might have |
sxtricated himself He might have said |
1t once: by Jovel | think / slipped ii |
Dn my wrist in pure absence Of mind. " or |
made some other excuse for his possession |
If It which would have passed muster, |
hough one or two might have thought |
lim odd. But time was every thing: such |
excuses to avail must be made at once.
and he hesitated. He hated TO seem odd, |
wen to one or two and he thought that /
presently he might find some chance
If restoring the bracelet without
being detected So he hesitated. peer
ng at the carpet. and the golden oppor-
unity passed him by. Then each mo
nent made the ayowal more difficult
md less possible, until, when his host
appealed to him, ''lf you have hidden it
or joke, old follow, out with itF' he
lad no choice-or il seemed to his uneasy
conscience that he had no choice--but TO
.nswer as he did.
He looked up, indeed, with admirably
cied surprise, and said his ~ Certainly
Iotf' somewhat peremptorily.
Half a-dozen of the guests were peer
ng stupidity about as if they ex-
ected TO find the lost article in
ower-vase or whiting the globe of a
amp. Presently their hostess stayed
hese explorations wait a momentp
be cried, abruptly, raising her head. Il
ave itln
"Wellg" eagerly from several.
John must have moved it when he
rought in the tea. That must be it.