The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-01-12
THE LOST NECKLACE.

i was returning from Paris, whert
/ had been to purchase q diamond neck.
lace for Edith, my tiancee. I had fol
my companion in the compartment
very lovely young woman and u little
poodle dog that she addressed as Chico.
Tt seemed to ale that somewhere. and
not very long ago, I had met my fair
companion before.
II sat for some time vainly trying 70
recall the circumstances of our meeting.
but the more I pondered on lie the more
helpless seemed the task.
"a little later on, looking mp, I found
that my companion was without book
CT paper. So, taking an illustrated mag
azine from my satchel, / offered it to
her. She thanked me and smiled sweet
ly. After a time / grew tired of my
novel and resolved to attempt q little
conversation with my neighbor. / asked
her If she was going to Nice. She re-
piled that she was and went on to saw
that her sister, whom she had expected
would go with her, had disappointed
her at the last moment. She, however.
could not wait until the following day,
as her father, who was at Nice for his
health, had wired her to return at n G
"She spoke of her dislike for travel
ing; that, a the compartment reserved
for ladies was full, she had been Obliged
to enter mine. She vas sorry to intrude,
but the train was about to start. and the
guard had told her all the other seats
were taken.
II fastened to assure her that I was
glad of the lucky chance that had given
me SO charming a companion. She smil-
ed and asked me If / was to be long at
Nice. She chatted ON about the place.
mentioning the names of many well
known people, who, she said, were her
friends and whom / should nc doubt
meet.
"As the evening wore ON she opened
o basket containing a dainty lunch.
Would I share it with her?' The cook
evidently had q ridiculous idea of her
appetite. Why, there was enough for
ski This seemed to be the case. So, as
we were by this time very well acquaint-
ed, l accepted her invitation, and we
were soon doing justice to a really ex-
cellent lunch.
What q charming creature she ISL
I thought. How Edith will like herr
Growing confidential, / spoke of my
visit to Nice and of the dear girl who
was awaiting me there. She seemed in
terested and listened patiently to the
recital of my fair ones many charms.
You will meet her and can see for
yourself If all / say Of her is not truel'
l exclaimed. She will be very grateful
to you for having made this stupid
journey pleasant for me-
1--WE will drink her healthl' cried
my companion gayly, drawing a small
silver flask of exquisite workmanship
from the depths of her basket. I al |
ways carry a little cognac with me in
case OF sickness, she explained. Open |
ing the flask and filling a dainty glass
with the amber liquid, she handed it to |
me-, with a radiant smile. TO Edith's
health, she said.
II drained the glass. 1t was brandy |
OF the finest quality / had ever tasted. |
She seemed to read my thoughts.
You are a judge of good liquor.
mat Is Otard or 1870
Taking the glass from my hand, she
poured a little of the liquor into it and
barely touched it to her lips.
"'You must not Judge my good
wishes by the amount I take. / wish
you all the happiness that life can give,
but l cannot drink as you men do. To
me it is simply a medicine
"Soon after this | began to grow
sleepy, a my companion did not
seem inclined to talk / made myself az
comfortable as circumstances would
permit. | turned my head toward the
window, through which the surround
ing coantry could be seen dimly in the
moonlight, as we rushed along, and re-
signed myself to a night Of comfort.
The next thing it was broad daylight.
i awoke with a dull pain in my head
and a sense of WEAKNESS that my sleep
had rather increased than diminished.
my companion was sitting by the
window reading the book. ! had given
her the night before. On perceiving that
! was awake she put down her book
ant remarked that ] was a sound sleeper
and that she enyied me. She had passed
awretcaed night and was glad that we
would { II be in Nice. I thought of
Edith, wlom I should now see SO soon.
and then Of tho surprise / had in store
for her.
II hoped that the necklace would |
please her, and then, for the first time. |
il occurred to ne that perhaps ii would
have been better if / had consulted some
woman Of taste before buying Ii. Al
brilliant idea struck me-rly compan-
ion was just the one to decide. I would
ask her opiuion. Il was not too late to
change the necklace for something else
il she thought 1t not suitable. I was
sure she would tell me candidly Just
what she thought.
"Unbnttoning my coat, / drew the
package from my pocket and laid IL on
my lap. Removing the wrappings, r
opened the little blue casket. For j mo-
ment 4 could not believe my eyss--is
was emptyi
~ turned quickly to my companion.
E29sA was Gaming f0rward mOfinnleRa.