Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-07-19

as you men 40. 10 me IL lS slulp'y
a medicine
FSoon after this | began to grow
sleepy, and as my companion did
not seem inclined 10 talk made
my self as comfortable as circum-
stances would permit. l turned
my head toward the window,
through which the surrounding
country could be dimly seen IN the
moonlight; as we rushed along,and
resigned myself to a night OF com
fort. The next thing it was broad
daylight. l awOke with a dull
pain in my head and sense of
WEAKNESS that my sleep bad rather
increased than diminished.
"My companion was sitting ON
the window reading the book L
had given her the night before.
On perceivlDg that | was awake
she put down her book and re-
marked that | was a sound sleeper
and that she envled me. She had
passed wretched night and was
glad that We would soon be in
Nice. | thought of Edith, whom |
should now see so soon, and then
of the surprise l had In store for
her.
81 hoped that the necklacewould
please her, and then, for the first
time, it occurred to me that per
haps 1t would have been better
if had consulted some woman OF
taste before buying it. A brilliant
idea struck me-my companion
was just the one to decide. would
ask her opinion. 1t was not too
late to change the necklace tor
something else if she thought it
not suitable. was sure she would
tell me canGldly iast what she
thought,
Unbuttoning my coat, [ drew
the package from my pocket and
laid it OH my lap. Removing the
wrappings, | opened the little
blue casket. For a monet [ could
not believe my eyes-it was empty.
81 turned quickly to my com
paniop, She was leaning forward
mOtionless; bTeathleSs, her face
pale and in her eyes a look that l
shall never forget. Ole hand was
pressed convuIsIvelyOver her heart.
She had removed her gloves, worn
the night before, and on one finger
blazed dismOnd-the one l had
seen the previous day at the
jewelers.. In an instant saw it,
all. l Sprang forward and grasped
her wrist-rOughly, [ am afraid.
"'Give me back that necklace,
you thief = cried. Il know you.
You stood by my side yesterday in
the jewelers. shop on the Avenue
de rOpera. l remember that ring
and your voice. You heard me
say that l was going to Nice by
THIS train. The liquor you gavs
ms was drugged, and you thought
to escape before your theft was
discovered. 1t was very clever
scheme, but 1t has failed. GIVE
me the necklace, or l shall turn
you over to the police
'T stretched out my hand, think
ing thar, seeing the folly of further
cOncealment and the uselessness of
denial, she would return the stolen
property. 1 was wrong. She
drew herself phaughtlly and look
ed me full in the face. When she
spoke, 1t was in vOice that
showed no trace of the sweetness
which had at first attracted me.
"'YOu have brought a serious
charge against me- she SAID. 'and
one of which | am Innocent. 1 am
alone aud a woman, this with a
momentary tremOr in her voice
that somehow made me ashamed
OF the way had spoken to her.
If, as you say, yOn have lost a
necklace, your only reason for ac'
cusing me of having stolen it is
that we have been the only oc.
cupants of this compartment. The
instant you opened the box and
found it empty saw the position
I was placed in. Fortunately,
however, can prove my lnno
cerice.'
Perhaps you may hesitate
before again attempting to black
mail an unprotected woman. AS
soon as we arrive at Nice | shall
insist on gong at once to the po-
lice station, where a thorough
search of my baggage and person
shall be made, l shall then ask
you to prove that you ever had a
necklace This remark was ac-
companied by smile that was
not pleasant to see. Until We