Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-05-18
HER HIRED BRACELET.


day. said Miss Mallandaine, with a
shake Of her yellow curls Dear me,
l am really getting to be almost an
old maidr'
"oh. my love. what nonsense" said
her mother. "as if You couldn't be
married any day that you pleased
But it's 50 hard to make up ones
mind" said Miss Mallandaine.
At that moment Carter, her maid
tripped in.
If you please. Miss Mary. here's a
bunch of violets just come for you
And a card
'.Yiolets" cried Mary, with bright
ening eyes and rosy lips apart. My
faYorite flower! How kind of Capt
Cleveland to remember my birthday
But in less than a minute back
came Carter again.
a parcel for Miss Mallandaine
cried she. breathlessly, with Nh
Mildmay's card
Isn't it nice to have birthdays
said Mary. laughing and coloring as
she opened the little violet velvet case
and saw an amethyst bracelet with
the one word, MARY" engraved on
the inside. But, oh, mamma, l can't
take anything so expensive as this"
You can't return it, my dear, with
out seeming rude" said comfortable
Mrs. Mallandaine "And it certainly
is gem, and quite puts the captains
yiolets in the shade"
Nothing is so sweet as flowers.
mamma" said she.
But the violets could have been
bought anywhere for % or so cents
and the bracelets must have cost
500. Nj. Midway is very handsome
and agreeable" continued Mrs. Mallan-
dame
But there is something about him
that l don't quite like, mamma hest
tated Mary.
And long after her mother had left
the room Mary Mallandaine sat with
the two birthday gifts before her, look
ing first at the bunch of violets and
then at the broad band of yellow gold
in its satin-lined case.
The very next afternoon she met
Lizzie Cleveland, the captains rosy lit
tie sister.
Are you going to Lady Houghton's
ball next week, Lzzie?" said she.
Il haven't got anything fit to go in"
answered Lizzie, land Frank can't af-
ford me the money for new dress.
An old college companion of his has
just died in great distress, and Frank
has given all his money to assist the
poor widow and children. Dear Frank
is always doing such noble things"
When she came home she found a
visitor-Mrs Inglis-waiting for her
My dear" said Mrs. Inglis, Il real
~ must show you the bargain I got
yesterday at Levinson's-a real jet
necklace. set in gold. for $3.50. Only
look.
Isn't it beautiful" admitted Miss
Mallandaine. But isn't Leyinson-a
pawnbroker?"
The very reason I 90 there to buy
things cheap" nodded Mrs. Inglis,
"They do have things so reasonable
at Levinson's."
do they?" said Miss Mallandaine.
And it's such dreadfully conven-
lent place too added Mrs. Inglis. Il
was waiting in the dark end of the
dear. mysterious old place, for the
clasp of the necklace to be repaired
for. of course, | didn't care about be-
ing seen-and while 1 was there the
handsomest young man you ever saw
came in to hire a bracelet"
ITO hire a bracelet repeated Mary
Mallandaine in establishment.
Yes" nodded Mrs. Inglis. wasn't
it a curious idea? To hire bracelet
for three months! There was a good
deal of joking going on between him
and old Levinson, and | could hear
him declare that he was going to be
married to an heiress within the three
months and that this bracelet should
be returned at the end of that time.
without fail. and he. was to pay $40 a
month and assume all risks"
How do You know"
"Levinson told me so after he had
gone out Levinson was packing the
bracelet in a velvet case to send away.
I tried to make him tell me where it
was going, but he wouldn't But it
was the sweetest thing you ever saw
Roman gold. with
Mary MaIlandaine opened the draw
er of her iulaid secretaire and took out
an open velvet case, in which lay the
amethyst bracelet
WAS if anything like this?" said
She
The very one" cried Mes. Inglis.
s'Afy dear child now ravna Won in NOS