The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-03-24
WEuNSEDAY... MARCH "a, 1897
THE LOST EMERALD.

Madame always wore 1t upon the
third finger Of her right hand-a large
emerald set round with pearls. Elise
used to say it had a snaky look. and she
hated it. The stone had once belonged
to some member Of a royal house and
was we'll known to connoisseurs. IL had
peculiar depth Of color and briJliancy
and was Of great value. But it vas nj
most too large 10 be an ornament to the
small, shrunken hand where it held its
constant place.
French, Irish and American combined
in madame's ancestry. Elise de Vann
was a poor relative, entirely dependent
upon madame's bounty. None knew the
connection between them. Elise herself
was ignorant of the whole story-how
madame in her early widowhood had be-
come enamored of q young cousin much
her Junior; how the young man. pre-
tending an amount Of admiration he did
not feel, bad fipally Tilted her for q
younger and prettier rival; how in his
dying hours. his wife having preceded
him, he. confident in q feeling still ex-
listing for him and himself almost PEN
niless. left his young daughter to her
care and provision. Elise only knew
that madnme was her fathers cousin
and accepted. as in a measure her right.
the new home provided for her. She
was very small, fair. with golden hair.
blue eyes and a rose leaf complexion and
n tiny little mouth which expressed
clearly hcr varying humors. Madame
alternately petted and snubbed her.
treated her with tenderness succeeded
by coldness. Elise had no clew to the
secret motive of these changes.
When madame thought Of her as the
child OF the man she had loved, she was
filled with kindness for the charming
girl, bnt when she regarded her as tho
daughter of u hated rival she grew harsh
again. AS the mood took her, Elise bore
this with patience or resented it. She
was not herself OF the meek Of the earth.
and madame really liked her none the
less for her Independence Of spirit. Sur
rounded for years chiefly with servants
who dared not dispute hor bidding, IL
was not altogether o disagreeable sensa-
ton to find herself occasionally with
stood by this dainty and spirited little
creature.
And Elise was not ignorant Of her
own value. She knew that madame.
wealthy and ~childless. found pleasure in
her companionship. She knew that she
read agreeably and sang ard played,
when In the vein. with grace and charm,
and thcre were few things her tiny fin
gers and skillful needle could not no.
complish. So. although she tried honest.
~ to make some return for her luxurious
home, she was conscious. so to speak, Of
her money value. It was impossible.
too. that so pretty a girl should pass nm
noticed, and she was well accustomed
to admAins glances and well convinced
in her own mind that she had made q
more serious impression ON the young
lawyer who attended to madame's at.
airs. But, though she herself WAS by nc
means 30 indifferent 10 him as she APP
peared. it pleased her whim to treat him
with a distance. almost haughtiness, Of
manner. that was not inspiring and
kept tho young man where she intend.
ed him to remain for the p~resent-in an
almost abject state of hopelessness.
Madame herself had different plans.
She had no wish TO give up Elise for al
indefinite period, but she had mentally
elected a suitable party for her in tht
person of her nephew, the only son Of
her brother. The young man. not him