The Holly chieftain., 1902-01-03
The Diamond Bracelet
BY MRS. HENRY WOOD.
CHAPTER l
Author q E@ss Lynne. Etc

CHAPTER 1.
TIE afternoon Of hot June day ,was
lrawtng towards evening. and the
reat world Of London-for It was the
ssisht Of the season-was beginning to
Aink OF dinner. In . wsll-furnished
trsssing room; the windows being opsn
nr air. the blinds drawn down to *
Aude the sun. stood = lady whose maid
sas. giving the touch to her rich attire.
L was Lady Sarah Hope.
what bracelets, my lady?" asked
ne maid. taking . small bunch Of
tsys from her pocket.
None. now: 1t 10 70 very hot, Alics,"
ldded Lady Sarah, turning to . young
ady who was leaning back on the sofa.
'hays them ready displayed for me
n come up. and will decide
a"
Z Il have them ready. Lady SARAH"
= returned Miss Seaton.
"rf you will be 30 kind. Hughes.
riye the key to Mis- Seaton.''
r 7sedy Sarah left the room. and then
- maid. Hughes. began taking one
Y the small keys of the ring. IT have
rot leave to 90 out, miss" she explain
ID. and am going directly. My moth
n Is not we'll, and wants to see me.
This Is the key. miss
As Miss Seaton took it. Lady Sarah
.eappeared at the door. Alice. you
nay ~ we'll bring the Jewel box down
% the back drawing room. shall not
,are to come up here after dinner; we
ihall be late as It is
What's that about Jewel box?" in
luired pretty looking girl. who had
some from another apartment.
Lady Sarah wishes me to bring her
bracelets down to the drawing room.
hat she may choose which to put on.
Il wes too hot to dine in them.'
Are you not coming in to dinner to-
lay. Alice?"
mo. walked out, and It has tired
ne. - usual. I.have had some tea in
tead."
Il would not b you for all the
World, Alice! To possess 20 little capa-
1ity for enjoying life. No, not even
you, Alice"
et II you were ~ am. weak in
kh and strength, your lot would
glvs been 20 smoothed to you that you
would not repina 1t or regret It."
You MeAn should be content" /"
aughsd the young Lady" well, there
{ nothing like commitment, the sasss
i eli ~. One Of my dstestable school
N6m copies used to bs "Contentment
happiness'
II can hear the dinner being taken
h." said Alice; "you will be late in the
lining ROOM"
AZ Lady Francis Chenevix turned
away to ny down the stairs. her light
-.ounded form. her elastic step, all tell
ng Of health and enjoyment. presented
marked contrast to that Of Alice Sea-
on. Alice's face was indeed strangely
beautiful: almost too refined and DELI
,ats for the wear and tear Of common
lie; but her figure was weak and
stooping and her gait feeble. OF ex-
sssdinsiy good family. she had sud
lenly been thrown from her natural
position Of wealth and comfort to COM
,arative poverty. and had found refuge
y "companion" to Lady Sarah Hope.
Colonel Hope was thin, spare man
With sharp brown eyes and sharp fsa-
lures. looking 70 shrunk and short,
hat he must have bsen smuggled into
Ne army under weight. unless he had
ancs bsen growing down~ards. No
stranger could have believed him At
M In his circumstances. any more
IN they could have believed him =
4 solonsl who had seen hard service In
lndia. for his clothes were frequently
!hreadbare. A black ribbon supplied
The place Of gold chain. u guard to his
watch; and b.us. tin-looling thing
~ salvAnised ring did duty for an
Z Hhsf ring on his Anger. Yet he WAS
Heb; Of fabulous riches. people said:
but he was Of . close disposition, e.
lecially ~ regarded his personal oat-
~. In his homo and to his wife he
kas liberal. They had been married
ssvseal years. but had NO children, and
10 large property was mot sntailsd;
was believed that his nephew. Ger
srd Hope. would inherit 1t. but some
lisputs had recently occurred, and
eerard had been turned from the
house. Lady Francis Cheneyix. the
hstsr Of Lady Sarah. but .considsrably
EosnGsr. had bssn paying them an
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