The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-27

lice, sent notices to the papers and the
cab companies, offering a large reward.
Mathilde sat all day brooding upon
the terrible disaster Loisel came home
at night pale and haggard-
Write to your friend that you broke
the clasp and are having it mended"
At the end Of the week they gave up
hope. Loisel, older by five years de-
clared that the jewels must be replaced.
They went from jeweler to jeweler try
ing to find an exact counterpart, both
almost i'll with anxiety and distress. At
last they found one, and the 5eWeler
said his price was eight thousand dol
lars, but he would let them have 1t for
seven thousand. They stipulated that
if the other necklace were found that
he would take his back for six thou
sand. Loisel had three thousand dol
lars left to him by his father: ne must
borrow the rest He borrowed on all
sides-four hundred of one, fifty Of
another. five here. ten there. He sign
ed notes, made ruinous engagements.
had recourse to money lenders. He
compromised his future career. signed
See5lessly without knowing how he
should repay, hurried to the jewelers.,
seized the necklace, and handed over
the hard-won seven thousand dollars.
When they returned the necklace to
Nine. Forester she said reprOachfully;
You might have returned it sooner.
L might nave wanted to wear it my
self"
Luckily she did not open the box.
Had she noticed the substitution what
would she have thought?
And now began a terrible life for the
Loisels The debts must be paid at
once, and Mathilde was determined that
she would bear her full share of the
burden
She dismissed her servant, and they
took q small room up under the caves.
She did all the work. evento the washing
and cooking. She washed dishes and
pots and pans. spelling her pretty white
hands and rosy nails; she carried down
refuse and brought up water
Every morning, with a basket on her
arm. she went to market, bargaining
and cheapening, and often receiving in
suit because she tried to make the
money go as far as possible Every
month they paid off some Of their notes.
and made others. to gain time. Loisel
did expert accounting in the evenings,
and at night did copying at five cents
a page; anything that would bring in
money. This awful life lasted just ten
years. At the end of that time they
had paid every cent with interest and
taxes But Mathilde had become an
old woman: she had become rough and
coarse like woman Of the people.
with unkempt hair, gown awry. red
hands; she talked and laughed loudly
as she scrubbed the floors.
Sometimes however. as she sat at her
windows, she would dream of that won
derfnl evening. when she was courted and
admired at the ball
What would her fate have been had she
not borrowed the necklace2 Who knows?
Life is so strange. so uncertain. 1t takes
such a small thing to make or mar it.
One Sunday she had gone to the park
to rest herself after the lebors OF the week.
when suddenly she came face to face with
a lady. also wa king and accompanied by
little child It was Louise, stil young
still pretty and attractive. Mathilde was
much aeitated Should she speak to her2
Why not2 Now that all the debts were
paid she could tell her the whole story
Good morning. Louise. she faltered-
Nine, Forester not recognizing her. and
wondering who it could be that addressed
her so Familiarity, replied. Il think YOU
must be mistaken. r.
'sNo. am Mime. Loisel her old friend
eoh. my poor Mathilde. you are so aw-
fully changed.
Yes have had hard times and much
suffering since / saw you last and you are
~ How is that pessi59l,e be- p u..,,,a..
that you lent me 10 wear at the bail at the
pa1ace2
We'll lost it
How can this be when YOU returned it
u only returned an exact copy Of it. It
has taken us ten years to pay for it, You
can imagine how hard it has been
Mime. Forester started.
You bought a diamond necklace to re-
Yes. You. never discovered it, they were
so exactly alike"
Nine. Forester. pale and trembling seiz-
ed her friends hands and cried.
20 Mathide my poor Mathilde. mine
were only imitation and only worth two
hundred dOllars!' Guy De Maupassant
'I heard fellow say dat he wasn't hap
/ py unless he was workin,'' said Flooding
Pete.
eWenn responded Wandering Mike.
dat shows what terrible ting 1t IS to
git into habits Washington Star
Il understand Goodman is a candi-
date for mayor Of your town"
yes; but so is Crookley."
Goodman is surely better able to fill
the place"
Yes; but Croolxley's better able to
get t.'-Philadelphia Record.
The world is too busy watching mis-
chevous fools to bother itself about the
harmless ones.-Life.
He boasts that he doesn't advertise
l,.-7.- at oil