Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-08-21
THE LOST NECKLACE.

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M"upassant Tor the New York Evening
To.t1
Sut was handsome girl norm ny q
""StuNe or my lhlo iamllN OF nara
WORKERS. she h"d no fortune mo nope o.
"is' ID" tH'hCe OIL meeting HtH suit'rS
anu so Sne ltt htrseIl 10 De married 10 q
Aouns emploNe IN the Board OF Public
hGucauoh-
SHe dressed simply because she could
H'' rii'"" u" "IeS0 tNNtHSlNtiE' Const-
PututiH SHe was very dlS'"ntented. think
ing AtrseIl worthy or the highest luxury
anu elegance.
she deSluSed the cheap nat in which she
nVeo' with It's bare walls, shabby furni-
tlre' ana mdtous hanglngs-all these
'HIHss' s'hef'iN Il matter OF mdiiier-
ehce To a woman OF her class were posi-
tive torture to her-and SO she gave her
sell UP To absurd impossible dreams
Sne dreamed OF gorgeous anterooms, hung
WIN oriental laDrlcs' hghted with candles
IN bronze sconces' of servants in livery
ana powder doing IN armchairs. drowsy
WIN 'he neat ana perfume OF the place.
she dreamed OF great salons, draped with
sieanlns SILK OF tables loaded with price
less prc-a-prac, OF niue coquettish bou-
DORIS and hVe-o' clock teas with intimate
CHOSEN friends and all the distinguished
ana sought-atter men eager to gain admit
lance TO the charmed circle When she
sat down to dinner at the little round
table covered with cloth that had seen
three days service. opposite to her hus-
oand' VINO hlmselt removed the cover Of
the soup tureen, declaring with an air of
perfect content, What delicious soup!
Nothing is better than vegetable soup
she would decline the soup. and dream Of
dainty little dinners in dining room
hung with tapestries the table brilliant
with glass ana silver, the viands served
on WONDERFUL dishes.
she mad nothing-no money, no jewels
no toiettes. As she really cared for Moth
ing else. her life seemed worthless to her.
She longed to be envied, fascinating. and
sought after and she believed that she
would he all these II she could dress as
she Wished 10. She had given up visiting
her one rich friend a former schoolmate;
the contrast in their surroundings was too
painful Tor her. 9or days at time she
Wept IRON sheer despair.
one night her husband came home,
beamlng with delight large envelope in
in his hand. Here is something for
you he said. She tore open the envel-
I ope and found printed card that read:
The Minister of Public Instruction
and Nine. George Rampanneau request
the pleasure OF NJ. and Nine. Loisel $
company. al the house of the Minister, on
Monday evening 18th January
Instead OF the delight which her hus-
band anticipated, she threw the paper on
the table and said Grossly:
What good is that to me?'
Why. my dear. l thought you would
he pleased. You go out so seldom. and it
Will be well worth seeing. | had hard
work to get the invitation. 1t is to he a
very swell affair, and very few of the
clerks are asked. You will see all the
hish officials.
What have ! to wear to such func-
ton as that she answered sullily
" Would not that gown do that you wear
to the theatre You always look so
pretty in it," To his horror she burst
into violent weeping.
My darling. what is the natter
With great effort she Gained herself
1t is nothing. only as l have no ball
dress. l cannot go to the ball. Give the
card to one of your friends whose wife
has better clothes than have
These words touched him deeply.
How much would ball dress cost
YOU? Something simple that would be
useful to you on other occasions?" he
asked.
do not know exactly. l think l
might manage with eighty dollars.
He turned little pale. for he had been
putting money aside lately for the pur-
chase of a new gun and he mad been look
/ ing forward 10 a cunning trip TO Nanterre
I with some friends the following summer;
Very well, you shall have eighty dol
lars. DO the best with it that you can
For DAYS before the pail Matmlde
seemed restless and dissatisfied, although
her dress was ready and a perfect sue
cess. Her husband asked her what she
was worrying about.
/ nave no jewels, she said; not one
stone OF any KIND. snail look quite pow
ertY-stricken. l would almost rather stay
at home.
why DO you not wear natural movers
they are so much worn now? For two
dollars you can get three magnificent
roses:
Z NO. she said petusnly; there is
nothing so humiliating as TO look poor
among lot OF rich women.
W n.y. said NJ. Loisel, suddenly, why
do you not ask your friend Nine. Fores-
tier to lend you some OF her Jewels?
She uttered cry of delight What a
splendid idea l never thought OF that
She flew to her friend, and told her all
her troubles
Nine. Forester brought out her Jewel
box and opened it, saying: Choose for