The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-05-14
THE STOLEN
BRACELET . =

The pride Of Mrs. Lester's heart
xas vested in her diamonds. With
mt these dialncnaass, Mrs=. Lester Of
fen remarked, she would feel like
nobody. Consequently when Miss
Arabella Tiptop espoused Mr.. Au-
gustus Highfyer, and the pair gsys
ffheir grand reception prior 50 their
European tour, Mrs. Lester donned
her Jewels and in gala attire pro-
reeded to make her call. It was q
formal affair and soon, over, and
Mrs. Lester returned home antici-
mating no change in her domestic
arrangements, bnt TO her snrr-;so
the moment she entered the hall her
eve encountered, perched on the two
hall chairs, a mammoth valise of
dingy yellow and a large basket
with two handles.
"What are those, Rridget?" she
said family. Bridget Uttered.
"Thcy're luggage, num-" she
said. you've got company, an ould
gentleman and an ould lady. They
are in the back parlor, and they bid
me say nothin', bekase they'd like
to give you a pleasant surprise"
"a pleasant surprisew muttered
Mrs. Lester, and with anything but
a happy expression on her counte-
nance She sailed toward the back
parlor.
There on either side of the fire
sat an old lady and gentleman, GER
tainly very clean and tidy and per-
fectly respectable, but with as little
pretense to fashion US Noah and his
wife.
Mrs. Lester summoned up smile.
"Aunt and Uncle Trotters, de-
clare" she said,
ri knowed you'd be astonished,"
said the old lady.
"Well, how are you both ?" said
Mrs. Lester.
ooh, we're middlin'," said the ole
lady; 'sbut Aunt Jenkins, she's had
rhe'matiz year, poor soul, and
Toms children have got the whoop-
in cough awful, and Sary's booy
tumbled off the barn, where he
hadn't no business to be, and put
his shoulder out, and Pete Brown,
he's lost three COWS and a calf and
half his chickens"
After this remark there was q
pause. The old gentleman broke H.:
"When thing has got. to be .ot
over, it's best done. You wont be
offended, I hope, Augusta ?"
"At what 2" asked Mrs. Lester.
"You see, twas better'n not COM
in at all, but we've got to run
away right after tea. NY wife says,
Lor, Timothy, what will Gusty and
her pardner think Of us after: not
bein' to see 'em for year?' Says T:
Shell excuse us, seein' we hain's no
time, but have got to go by the
night train. Next time,' says ],
we'll stay a week. Now, you amt
offended? ?"
Mrs. Lester rang the bell.
"Take my cloak and bonnet up
stairs" she said to the girl, 'and
tell cook to have dinner early"
Then Mrs. Lester smiled and sat
down in all her splendor before the
ire to listen to accounts of the
Smiths pigs and Browns cow and
how Sally Sprigg's help stole the
best tablecloths until well known
ring at the bell announced Nj. Les
ter. Thereupon his lady for once
played the affectionate wife and ran
to meet him.
"Aunt and Uncle Trotters are
here" she said.
MIR. Lester scoW1ed.
"Gracious heavensw he eiaculat-
ed. "And the Atwoods are coming
to spend the evening with us. They
are stopping at the Fifth Avenue
hotel for few days."
Uncle and aunt are going inme-
dlately after dinner" said Mrs. Les
ter, "and fortunately I've ordered it
early. Don't be cross, George, for
you know they haven't chick or
child and for all their shabbiness
are very we'll off,"
AS far as an early dinner went
N Mrs; Lester did her part, but the
Irotters were slow going folk.
When at last the bonnet strings
were were tied and the gloves on, Aunt
Irotters bethought her of a new
cause for delay.
"Poor Aunt Jenkins will aever
forgive us if we don't take a letter
from you," she said. "Jest sot
down, Gusty, and write a line"
Airs. Lester smiled down her in
dgnation and sat down to pen the,
note.
The gilt edged paper, pens and
INK were arranged, thoughts collect
Cd and polite sympathy for Aunt
Jenkins rheumatism expressed.
Mrs. Lester found the bracelet ex-
ceedingly in her way, and impa-