The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-17
THE JEWEL

She a handsome girl born. by a mistake Of
tiny, family hard workers. She had for
hope any, chance meeting rich suitors.
and she let herself be married to employee
the public education
She dressed simply because she could not afford
dress exuensively Consequently she was very discon-
tented thinking worthy highest luxury
elegance She despsed the cheap fat in which she lived
with walls shabby furniture. hideous
inss-all these things generally Indifference
TO OF her class, We're positive torture 10 her-
gave herself absurd impossible dreams
She dreamed gorgeous anterooms. hung with Oriental
fabrics lighted sconces.
livery powder doing arInchairs. drowsy
with the heat perfume the place. dreamed
OF great salons draped with cleaning silk of tables
loaded with priceless breabrac of little coquettish bou
doris and hve-o clock teas with intimate chosen TRENDS
and distinguished sousht-after eager
adrnittance the charmed circle When she sat down
dinner round table covered with cloth
three days service opposite her hus
band the the soup
declaring of perfect content. What deIc-
soup Nothing is better than vegetable soup she
would decline the and dream OF dainty little din
ners in dining room hung tapestries,
brilliant with glass and silver the vands served on won
derful dishes.
She had nothng-no money, jewels tolettes. As
really cared for nothing else her life seemed worth
o longed to be envied, fascinating and
sought after and she believed that she would be all
could she wished She had given
up visiting friend former schoolmate the
in their surroundings too painful TO her
For days a time she wept from sheer despair.
One night her husband came home, beaming with de-
light. envelope in his hand Here is something
for you he said open the envelope and found
a printed card that read:
1.-The minister of public instruction and Nine George
Rampanneau request pleasure of NJ. and Mime. Loi
company the house of the minister on Monday
evening, January 1Sth.'
What good is that me?'
why my dear, thought you would be pleased You
go seldom and it will be well worth seeing had
hard work to get invitation will be swell
affair and very few of the clerks asked"
What have 1 such function as that?''
the gown do that you the theatre?
You always look pretty in it, To his horror she burst
into violent weeping.
My darling, what is the matter?'
'It is nothing Only. have ball dress. I cannot
go Give the card of your friends whose
wife has better clothes than have
How much would a ball dress cost you? omething
simple that would be useful to other occasions
Il do exactly. 1 think might manage with
eighty dollars
very we'll you shall have eighty dollars Do the
best with it that you can
Il have no jewels" she said. stone Of any
kind shall look quite poverty-stricken would almost
rather stay at home
why do you not natural flowers. they
much now? For two dollars you can get three
magnificent roses
mo" she said pettishIy there nothing
ating look poor among lot Ct rich women
why" said NJ Loisel suddenly, why do you not
your friend Nine. Forester to lend of
her jewels?"
what a splendid idea, 1 never thought of that"
She lew TO friend told her all her troubles.
brought her jewel box and opened it.
saying Choose for yourself, my DEAR take anything
you and with fingers Mathilde turned over
Jewels. At last she found superb necklace Of da
Her heart beat wildly; her fingers trembed
clasped them about her throat Would her friend
lend such valuable jewels?" Yes yes; you
them. my dear. Nine Loisel embraced her friend and
fed home with her treasure
Madame LoseI great at the ball She
pretties the graceful. smiling,
wildly happy. All the asked to be presented; the
officials asked her TO dance; the minister remarked
upon beauty She danced with such passion of
enjoyment lost everything but the triumrhs of the
hour a fairyland of admiration and homage,
the atmosphere so precious a that it
indeed hard back earth again She consented
TO go home o'clock. Since midnight he had been
sumbering in the aneroom with several other indSn NJ
husbands whose wives enjoying themselves. He
her carefully about her-the poor little
ery-day wrap that looked over her andsome
She tried escape the gances of the other WON
en- husband called cab. she too warm
the night air Finally one was procured. and
she arrived with sinking heart Her happiness
Suddenly a scream of horror burst from her
lips. The diamond necklace was gone!
The necklace. have lost Louises necklace"
They searched everywnerein the folds of her dress,
pocket wrap. The necklace not TO be found
Did you have it when You left the palace?'
yes. 1 felt it when 1 stood in the vestbue"
You must to lost it in the cab DO you remem-
Der the NUMBER"
Nor do L I will go at once and search the route"
At o'clock he returned after fruitless search
He had informed the police sent notices TO the papers
and cab companies, offering a large reward.
AIathde all day brooding upon the terrible dis
aster. LoiseI came home at night pale and haegard
Write your friend that you broke the clasp and
having it mended.'
the Of a week they hope. Loisel, older
by five years the jewels be replaced.
They jeweler jeweler trying ind exact
counterpart At last they found and the jeweler said
price eight thousand dollars but he would let
them thousand. Ioise had three thou
him 10y his father he must borrow the rest
lie borrowed all sides-four hundred Of fifty Of
another here here He signed notes. made ruin
ageraents had recourse TO money lenders He
compromise his career signed recklessy without
knowing should repay. hurried TO the jewelers..
seized handed the haId-won
thousand dollars.
You might have returned Il sooner. might have
wanted o myself
Luckily she did open the box. Had she noticed the
substitution what would she have thought7
began a terrible life for the Loseis The
debts he paid and Mathilde determined
would bear her fun share OF the burden she
dismissed and they took small under
the she dii the work the washngs and
cooking she washed dishes and pots and sTofng
pretty white hands and rosy nails; she carried down
refuse and brought
one sunday afternoon she had gone 20 the park
mic