The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-01-02
THE LOST NECKLACE.

II was returning from Paris, whert
had been TO purchase diamond necl;
lace for Edith, my fiancee / had fol
my companion in the comp8rtmer. :
very lovely young woman and little
poodle dog that she addressed as Chico
1t seemed to me that somewhere, and
not very long ago. | had met my fair
companion before.
sat for some time vainly trying tC
recall the circumstances Of our meeting
but the more pOndered On IL the IaorC
helpless seemed the task.
"A little later Oh. looking up. found
that my companion was without bOOE
or paper So. taking an illustrated mag
aziEe from my satchcl, offered il to
her She thanked me and smiled sweet
ly After a time | grew tired Of my
novel and resolved to attempt a littlc
conversation with my neighbor asked
her If She was going To Nice. She re-
Piled that she was and went On to say
that her sister, whom she bad expected
would go with her, had disappointed
her at the last moment. She. however,
could not want until the following day,
rs her father, who was at Nice for his
health, had wired her 10 return at once.
''She spoke Of her dislike for travel
ing; that, rs the compartment reserved
for ladies was fall, she had been obliged
to euter mine. She was sorry to intrude,
but the train was about TO start, and tho
guard bad told her all the other seats
were taken.
Il fastened 10 assure her that / was
glad Of the lucky chance that had given
me so charming a companion. She snil-
ed and asked ne if / was to be long 1T
Rice. She chattod ca about the place,
mentioning the names of many well
known people, who, she said, were her
friends and whom / should 10 doubt
meet.
''As the evening wore on she opened
basket containing a dainty lunch.
Would share it with herr? The cook
evidently had a ridiculous idea Of her
appetite. Why, there was enough for
sixr This seemed TO be the case. So. As
we were by this time very well acquaint-
ed, | accepted her invitation, and we
We're soon doing justice to really ex-
oclient lunch
What a charming creature she isr
Thought How Edith VIII like herr
Growing confidential, ! spoke Of my
visit TO Nice and Of the dear girl VINO
was awaiting me there. She seemed in
terested and listened patiently to the
recital Of Ely far ones many charms
'Yoa viii meet her and can see for
yourself If al say Of her Is not truer
] exclaimed. she will be very grateful
to you for having made this stupid
journey pleasant for me.
"'We viii drink her healthr cried
my companion gayly, drawing small
silver flask Of exquisite Workmanship
from the derths Of her basket. L al
ways cary htJle coSnac with me in
case of sickness, she explained. Open
ing the flask and filing a dainty glass
with the amber liquid, she handed il 70
me, with radiant smile. To Edith S
health, she said.
81 drained the glass. 1t was brandy
of the finest quality had ever tasted.
She seemed 10 read my thoughts.
lyon are a judge Of good Liquor.
That is Otard Of 1870.
Taking the glass from my hand, she
poured little Of the liquor into it and
barely touched it 10 her lips.
"'You must not judge my good
wishes by the amount l take. wish
you all the happiness that life can give,
but / cannot drink as you men do. To
mo it Is simply medicine.
''S0on after this l began to grow
sleepy, and as my companion did not
seem inclined to talk l made myself Is
comfortable as circumstances woall
permit. l turned my head toward the
window, through which the surround
ing country could be seen dimly il the
moonlight, rs We rushed along, and re-
signed myself 20 a night of comfort
The next thing it was broad daylight.
! awoke with q dali pain IN my head
and 4 sense Of weaTiuess 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 perceiying that
was awake she pat down her book
and remarked that WIS 4 sound sleeper
and that she cnvied me. She had passed
awretched night and was glad that we
would soon be ;n Nice. thought Of
Edith, whom | should now see so soon,
and then Of the surprise | had in store
for her.
81 hoped that the necklace would
please her, and then, FOR the first time,
it occurred 70 me that perhaps il would
have been better if had consulted some
woman Of taste before baying it, 4
brilliant idea struck me-my compaI-
ion was Just the one to decide. l would
ask her opinion. It was not too late 10
change the necklace for something else
if she thought il not suitable. | was
sure she would tell me candidly just
what she thought.
"UnbuttOning my coat, l drew the
package from my pocket and laid 1t on
my lap Removing the wrappinss, |
opened the little blue casket. For mo-
mtIt I0uau AoN b-t-SfS A4Ag - -
was empty!
1 turned qaickly to my companion.
She was leaning forward motionloss,
b,eathless, her face pale and III her eyes
a look that shall never forget Or.
hand was passed convulsively over he
heart. She had removed her gloves
worn the night before, and on one fingo
blazed a diamond-the one j had sect
the previous day at tho jewelers.. i.
an instant 1 saw it all. ! sprarg for
ward and grasped her wrist-roEghly
| am afraid.
Give mo back that necklace, yo'
theft / cried. i know You You stoo.
by my sido yesterday in the jeweler'
shop on the Avenue de lOpera re
member that ring and your voice. YOl
heard me say that was going to Nic
by this train. The liquor you gave m
was dragged, and you thought TO 6
cape before your theft was discovered
II was a very clover scheme, bat 1t ha
failed. Give me the necklace, or shai
turn you over 10 the police.
~ stretched out my hand, thinking
that, seeing the folly Of further con
cealment and tho uselessness Of denial
she would return the stolen property.
was wrong. She drew herself up haugh