The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-10-18

tlltL one. 1uIS
new and alert interest was the result
of his having met Mary Boswell She
had come in the shop-an ordinary
customer-and it had been his fortune
to serve her They looked at topazeS
together, and she ran the unset jewels
through her white hands and talked
about them in a fanciful way that
quite enchanted the young man. His
business was one that brought him
in contact with many fascinating and
brilliant women, but he had never
met one with such a distinct and deli
cate charm as that possessed by Mary
Boswell. Her irregular mouth, with
its fitful smile, the humor of her
brown eyes, the hayward tricks of
her abundant brown hair, and the
glow and changing expression of her
face had fairly bewitched Sidney Wat
erhouSe. He reflected with delight
upon the fact that the splendid pink
topaz selected by her was to be set by
their goldsmiths in a pendant amid
opals and diamonds. She would be
sure to call several times to watch
the making of the ornament
1t was as he expected. She came
often, now for some trinllet, now to
criticise the work upon her brooch,
and on each occasion Waterhouse
managed to find an excuse for CONVEX
sation with her. She did not resent
his pertinacity. She seemed rather
to welcome it. Waterhousc spent his
days wondering how he might secure
an invitation to call
He felt that the acquaintance was
destined to be serious matter with
him. He could not trust himself to
look in this woman's eyes lest his ar
dent admiration should offend her.
When she held out her hand in greet
ing and he took it within his own he
could feel his heart futter within
him. He confessed to himself that
he was no longer sane. An enchanting
+ madness was upon him. One morning
all happened as he desired. Miss Bos-
well stood looking at a number of IN
set diamonds, and she held an eXqui-
sitely cut one in her hand.
I'VE never seem TO reach the end of
our conversations" she said laughing
ly holding the jewel up to enjoy it's
fairy prisms.
Il know" he returned. enjoying
the beauty of the white hand that
played with the jewel. Just as you
become the most interesting you go
away. You will not even stop to
finish the stories you have begun to
tell me. What [ suffer from these re-
pulses to my curiosity it would be
impossible to describe"
She smiled at him frankly. and it
was evident that hidden under her
careless words was a deep desire to
see him and become better acquainted
with him.
Are you never to be seen anywhere
outside of this place." she asked.
"Why do you never follow me and in
sist on hearing the conclusions to
these uncompleted stories? Come,
visit me in my own home and meet
my people, and talk under more peace
full circumstances"
when may l Gomez" asked Water
house, eagerly "To-night?"
NO, no. Not tonight. You must
: appear indifferent to my invitation.
1t is not good form to be so precpi-
tate"
Perhaps l may call this afternoon"
IF you do not exhibit better man
ners you shall not be permitted to
come mt all"
Il shall be at your house tomorrow
evening he replied decisivoly.
She went smiling, as if happiness had
come to her, too. and Waterhouse full
of anticipating dreams, busted himself
with rolling the diamonds in their bits
of tissue paper and putting them
away in the large leather portfolio in
which they were kept.
But he had not proceeded far in his
task when he realized that the finest
stone of all-the one Miss Boswell had
held up to the light while she noted
its cleaning beauty-was missing.
Waterhouse searched everywhere in
the place, though he had to do so sur
reptitiously, for he was most anxious
that the loss of the stone should not
become known. He guessed how
quickly the men in the shop would
iumD 70 fhp conclusion That Miss Pos