Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-08
TALE OF A TIARA.

"My dearest Hermione" looked up
from her morning correspondence. Her
air was one Of profound abstraction.
and she commenced TO sugar my coffee
with quite uncalled for generosity.
at is altogether too bad, she ex-
claimed. as rescued the cup with the
Hfth lump Suspended above 1t. She took
no notice even when the sugar hopped
into the marmalade, and her forehead
was puckered into frown.
"what is it?" said. sitting down
and settling my paper afresh.
"Oh. here Is letter from May Vere.
She has just had a present from her ia
ther-in.law, . diamond tiara, and she
says'-this rather doubtfully-"that IL
ID quite the best Of the whole lot. She
will wear 10 first at the duchess recep-
tion. That makes the sixth tiara In the
family, doem't it?" Mrs Mark We're
Il my wife's cousinl
II suppose so-if you say So"
Twas frankly moro interested for the
moment in the money market column
than in May vere's latest present.
There followed longish pause. Her
mione ratified the teaspoons and made
much Of the cat. Then her voice came
TO me across the table decorations with
Just touch Of fretfulness:
"JackW
Jump
II should look 20 nice In tiara.
Jack"
tossed the paper on to an armchair.
Although We have been married three
years that particular infection in my
wife's tones never fails to arouse my
curiosity, snd-well, something else.
III were only rich enough 1 be-
gan recklessly. You sce, knew l wasn't.
"Oh, Jack, didn't mean that. am
not 30 mean as to reproach you. We
have really everything that is necessary.
A tiara can be done without. couldn't
bear to have any thing but very expen-
sive one, and May won't look anything
but plain in hers, however beautiful 1t
ia. But still-well, what meant was
that 10 seems almost q misfortune that
I should look 20 nice in one-as having
one is out Of the question.
81 don't see that" I said. II would
rather have you as you are. T"
MAY is generally acknowledged as
plain
~ wasn't comparing you with her.
II would be absurd
| Would it," smiled Hermione And
I am not yet proof against Hermione's
smiles So in sport I suggested some
thing to her which had occurred to me
Just 10 O joke, and nothing more. That
she would act on 1t never dreamed Of
| for moment Yet Hermione still de-
clares all that followed WAS entirely my
fault, and that but for me she would
not have to suffer the prolonged igno-
miny Of being the only girl ont Of seven
married cousins unable to boast dia-
mond tiara among her possessions.
We had several engagements the
week Of the duchess reception. bat that
was the first and was very generally
considered the most important l also
happened to be very busy just then. l
rather expected bad quarter Of an
hour when I told Hermione how abso-
lutely impossible IL would be for me to
do more than just look in at quite late
hour, but, az is often the case where
ahe il concerned, my anticipations were
not fulfilled.
She smiled at me very sweetly, said
she could find plenty Of people to go
with and that ! need not worry on her
account, and l fancied detected signs
Of relief in her expression. which may
have been the reason why made my
way to the reception rather earlier than
I originally intended
The duchess who was giving it had
scattered her invitations broadcast, rs
il within the rights Of duchess The
spacious rooms were extremely crowd
ed. Il was some time before ! caught
sight Of my wife, but not long before !
heard Of her, for Mrs Jack Voyce-
Voyce is my name appeared to be Gre
ating quite an unusual sensation even
for her. "And have you seen pretty Mrs.
voycei' "And have you heard her tale
Of the tiara?" What fun she is. isn't
she!' seemed the principal topic Of con-
versation.
More than one man patted me OH the
back and congratulated me anew. ! felt
myself. generally speaking. quite as
lucky as they thought me, for admire
her, too, but could not help wonder.
ing how they would have liked partici-
pating in my present anxiety ON her be.
half.
"Hermioue just doem't mind what
she does /" Q candid girl friend had said
70 me before our marriage, and once or
twice have been forced TO agree with
her, for II my suspicions were correct
and this tale apparently 20 widespread
were to reach the ears OF my most un-
necessarily particular uncle, Lord Cur.
ran, who knew 10 be present, having
seen him, what would be the unfortu.
nate result ! failed 10 imagine.
Lord Curran IL best described - one
Of the old school. His ideas about wo-
men Hermione calls peculiar 70 say
the least Of It," They certainly are not
Of the present day. but date back to the
times when women occupied themselves
with barbarous triumphs In woodwork
and doing - they were told, and e.
pecially in wedding anything approach.
ing to notoriety. Just as / went over
this afresh In my mind my venerable
uncle approached me with that peculiar
| ~ beaming nnile Of his which always
foretells disaster.
pretty woman, your wife, Master
John" said he. "a little lacking in
reticence, eh-ehr' And just then Her
nions came along, and had to run the
risk Of distortins my features for life
in my eflorts 70 signal to her not to
Join M Fortunassly my uncle's sight
IL not ~ good = u used TO be. But
though I did nay best at smoothing
things over-my wife even going to
the unusual length Of doing as desired
and keeping out Of the way-it was
very evident that our sti6 backed old
Tory relative was seriously annoyed
| and that he meant to take his own time
about coming round, for my suspicions
were cogsect, and that wife Of mine
had been mod spossh 70 include Lord
Curfan smong the many 70 whom she
had told her tale.
] "whst n the world wess yos fsown-