The courier., 1903-03-07

bostesss own store of china and glass
Now. hear my sequel to this story.
which Is positively tragic, so Tar as !
am concerned: As bade my adieu tnat
afternoon to Mrs. H., i spoke Oh tne
table quite the handsomest OF the sea-
son. and I suppose my mind rather
dwelling on the plate episode that L had
lust witnessed. referred to the httie
dishes and asked where she got them.
to be Informed that they were set Oh
six which her sister hao sent TO her
from Vienna at Christmas. and that she
priced them very highly. as they wer,
OF new variety of opaque glass
II thought no more of the affair until
we were all at the Southern few nights
ago, dining with a man who gives many
and frequent entertainments. This craze
for souvenirs came up. when one host
told what befallen him at ball whicn
he gave during the holidays. One OF MS
most treasured Christmas gifts was
trio of dainty cupids In French china
and very exquisite workmanship. which
a charming New York girl whom he had
often entertained had sent to him as her
remembrance The night of the ball. as
he strolled through the rooms Just De-
fore his guests arrived. II struck him
under the main chandelier. where every
body might see and enjoy. Accordingly.
he tied them on with ribbons. and the
result was indeed a pretty one.
Late that night. remembering his be-
loved cupids, he went to get them, only
to discover that they were gone-stolen
the gay ribbons neatly severed as with
"A pocket knife and only an empty spot
I'm the oyerhanging smiiax.
After our host had finished telling
this mournful tale Mrs. H., who was a
dinner guest as well as myself. sitting
lust opposite me- straightened up. drew
her lips together and remarked that she.
too. had suffered in like manner. pro-
ceeding to relate the story OF her pink
plate. which. as you know. was by no
means new to me.
"As she stated the facts l caught her
eve several times but thought nothing
whatever until she wound up with the
pointed remark.
But the worst part of the whole Is
that these people who commit such petty
thefts are our friends-those whom we
meet every day In society-and our
hands are tied. We would like to S"ve
them Jailed, but we don't dare And she
fixed another basilskian glare on me
that actually turned my blood cold.
For I know exactly what was I'm her
mind. You see. she discovered her miss
ing plate just after my departure that
afternoon. as / was among the last
guests She instantly remembered that
/ had been in the dining-room almost
alone, and that I had also admired the
plates and spoken to her about them.
So, reasoning shrewdly. as she imagined
No. "a ttsn nd
fixed the guilt on me.
'I am in a dilemma. for l can't men,
ton the matter to her without telling
her who really did take the plate-one
of her most cherished and intimate
friends. by the way who is constantly
at her house. and who. I have no doubt.
has coveted the little piece Of glass for
many a long day: and I surely don't
want to be thought thief by anybody.
So there i am. and what to do I don't
know. Even IL I did up and tell Mrs.
Fl. exactly what happened and who now
has possession of her glassware. she
wouldn't believe me. in all probability.
for the other woman Is. as i said very
old and intimate friend, while I have
only lately made Mrs. HIS acquaintance,
and-woe Is me-this fatal afternoon
was the very first time that I had ever
been invited to her house. Isn't II an
awful dilemma?''
And agreed most heartily that II
was.
z r =
The musicale given this afternoon by
Mrs. Clinton r. Lee at Walsh hall was
a delightful society event, and the larg-
est function of the week The program
was given by Mrs. Marsland. reader;
Miss Emily Perkins. pianist: Miss Elma