The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-06-09

"Well, am not a very old custo.
mer," she said smiling. C'No; but
you're queer one" he thought, cor
I am much mistakenly "Still, l
should have thought in tho case Of a
lady like myself"
Madam" said this crafty young
man. "if it lay in my power to oblige
you, there would Of course, be no
difficulty in the matter; but the rule
of the firm is, unhapply, what l have
stated
''ThCu the firm will take my last
siX-pence," she reioined with tender
playfulness; and from the most ele-
CANT Of porte anomalies" she counted
him out the sum required. when it's
contents in truth were quite exhaust
ed. Il am lodging ut De Ia Bots, the
court hairdreSSer' she said; my name
is Mrs MOntford However. | will
BOT trouble you to send the ring. as
| shall have to go home to get some
more Money" and she looked at him
with eyes that seemed to say. Cruel
man. thus to reduce me to restitution"
On the third morning after her Wis
II the widow called again. sailed quite
naturally up to our hero, and cast an
Choir under his eyes. you will think"
she remarked "after what | said the
other day about gewgaws. that | am
very changeable in my tastes; but i
am not come this time upon my own
account; | want to see some diamond
locketS for friend
This is quite the usual course with
ladies and others who victimize the
jewellers; they buy a ring for ten
pounds and after having thus estab-
lished themselves--cast out their sprat
tc catch a herring-they patronize the
eStahlis hment in earnest.
Singular TO say. however. this did
rot rouse Riddel's suspicious. Not
withStanding his pretence of indiffer-
ence to Mrs. Montford's charms, he
had privately sent to De In Bots. in
the interim, and found that the lady
did reside at that fashionable hair
dresser's, and on the first floor; he
had done it of course in the interest of
the firm, and in case she should call
again.
The locket that pleased her most
was en- expensive one, perhaps too
much so for her friends purse, she
said. 1t was very foolish of that lady,
but she had such complete reliance
upon her Mrs. Montfort's) taste and
judgement, that she had placed the
matter entirely in her hands. 1t was
q great responsibility What did Mr..
Riddei think?
Mr.. Riddles thoughts were always
cut and dried on such occasions. He
expressed his opinion that the locket
selected by Mrs. Montfort was GER
tainly the most elegant of all, and
testified to the sagacity Of the lady
who had such confidence in her good
taste. But as to the price, Mrs. Mont
fort herself was the only judge as to
the state of her friends exchequer.
''Oh. she's rich enough" smiled Mrs.
MOntfort. land as open-handed
as any woman can be. our
sex are naturally inclined to be a
little dose" she added with a smile,
don't you think so?"
Mr. Riddel did not think so; he had
always found ladies very generous in
their dealings; in this lady's particu-
lar,case he felt more certain than ever
that the locket-and he let the light
play or it so as to show the brilliants
TO the Best advantageous the very
thing, to suit her.
II think so too" murmured the wild
ow; "Jut then you see there's the re-
Spohsibility. | tell you what you shall
do. You shall send all the lockets to
my lodgings for an hour or so, and
then my niece, who is staying with me
shall give her opinion on the matter,
and by her advice | will abide"
Mr.. Riddel smiled, but shook his
beautiful head of hair. Every curl OF
it-ani there were thousands of
them expressed polished but decid-
ed negative. I'VE couldn't do it,
NADIA n. we really couldn't"
wv lat! not leave the bckets for an
hour"
NO madam, not for moment. OF
course it is but mere formula, one of
which one so often has to deplore;
but : rave no authority to oblige you
as yen request | can send the lock-
cts, Of course-or bring them myself
but who ever is in. charge of them
will have orders not to lose sight of
them. This Is an invariable rule with
every customer whose name Is not en-
tered on our books
Inst, I'D OF getting into a rage-gen-
uine, il she was genuine, or pretended,
if she was a swindler-the widow ut.
tered & low ripping laugh.
"You tickle me-" she said so that |
really cannot help laughing; it is so
droll that you should think that |
came here to steal lockets."
MY dear madam" said Mr.. Rlddel,
pray do not talk like that; IL 1t
rested with me" (sly dog that he was)
You should carry off the whole con-
tents OF the shop to choose from"
You are very good, and very kind"
she said. "If any other person had
exprpst ed such doubts of me | should
have heen terribly offended. But |
quite understand how you are situSt'
ted. WE'LL you shall bring the lock.
cts yourself, and for fear you should
thinK have any wicked designs" she
added with little blush, will you
come this morning? 1t will be equal.
Nv convenient to my niece, and you
- = as.aid Of hninn ~. Attnd