The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-08

come TO Lady FaDer'S mouse hoping that
the sight of some stranger, chance
light upon the darkness in which we
had walked for many weeks. Yet the
longer l stayed In the ballroom the
more futile did the whole thing seem.
Tho | knew a nimble-fngered gentle
man might be at my very elbow, that
| cheerfully. about me in that way OF
life to which their rascality had called
them, l had not so much as hand
breadth of suspicion; saw no face that
was not the face of the dancing ass,
or the smart man about town; did not
observe a single creature who led me
to hazard question. And so profound
at last was my disgust that I elbowed
my way from the ballroom in despair,
! and went again to the conservatory,
where the palms waved seductively, and
the flying corks of the champagne bot
ties made music harmonious to hear. 49,
There were few people in this room
who was never yet known to leave a
refreshment table until the supper table
was set; the Rev. Arthur Mellbank, the
curate of st. Peters, slipping tea;
lean youth who ate an ice with the rel
ish Of schoolboy, and the ubiquitous
Slbyl Kavanagh, who has been vulgarly
described as, a garrison hack. She was
everyone saw at every dance,
and then asked how She. got
there-a woman with sufficient
personal attraction left to remind you
that she was passe, and sufficient wit
to make an, interval tolerable. I, as q
then avoided both her program and her
chatter; but now that I came sudden
" upon her, she cried out with de-
llclous pretence of artlessness, and os-
tentatiously made room for me at her
side.
EDO get me another cup of tea" she
utcs to Colonel Harner, who. has Just
GENE from the great thirst land, and
. "Y esl5 ruin your nerves. said 7; 7,
miss the next dance.'
ON sit it out with you," she cried
haven { got any. I must have shed
them with my first teeth. But T want
to talk to you-.you we heard the news,
of course Isn't it dreadful9'
She, said this with a beautiful! look
of sadness, and for moment did not
know to what she referred. Then it
dawned upon my mind that she had
heard Of Lady Faber 8 loss.
eyes, said I, cit 3 the profoundest
mystery have ever known"
"And can't you think of any, explana-
her tea at draught. "Isn't it posi-
BILE to suspect some one just to pass
the time?'
..lIf you can suggest any one,' said
I, 1--WE will begin with pleasure
thie there no one Eli in this
her iimpid laugh; of quo co oSrsa Won You
couldn' It search the curate's pockets, un-
less sermons n were missing instead of
81 mThjs ;, is a eass Of Sermons in
et9nes r wp6sdr and lay very ses
with all those pretty brilliants on your
"But I haven't escaped" she cried;
'Why, YOU re not up to date. Don It
[ have never heard the last of it from
my husband, who will not believe for
minute that I did not lose it in the
crowd'
"And you yourself believe"
"That it was stolen, Of course. T pin
my brooches too well to lose them
some one. took it in the same cruel way
that Lady Faber's rubies have been
taken: Isn't it really awful to think
go with us7 It's enough to make one
emigrate to the shires.''
She fell to the fippant mood again,
for, nothing could keep her from that;
be learnt from her, I listened to her
chatter sufferingly.
! ,'But we We're going to suspect peo-
ple,' she continued suddenly, "and we
have not done it. AS we can't begin
with the curate, let take the slim
SS6ang man opp66site tho1 Hasn't he what
it; you know-a something disinheritinp
countenance9'
tie eats too many jam tarts and
drinks too much lemonade to be a Grim.
inal," replied; "besides, he is not oc,
cupie5}, you'll have to look in the bali.
u can Just see the top Of the men Is
that when a man is dancing, either he
istar-gazes in ecstasy, as tho he were in
heaven, or looks down to his boots
} well as if it were the other thing9''
Possibly" said I; "but you're not
gerieht from seeing the top Of people I
heads '.'-"'
"Indeed," she cried, 'that shows
how lit tie YOU know. there is more char
acter in the crown of an old man ;.
head than, is: dreamt Of in your philoso
pLhy, as what ,s,his name says, Look a.
q,
instance; that is the halo Of port ane
honesty-and difficulty in dancing thu
, polka. Oh! that mine enemy woult
dance the polka-especially if he wer,
, Stout .",'.7,3 -.
'Do you really possess an enemy9'
; / asked, as she fell into vulgar burs
of laughter at her own humor; but sh,
, said: .'F2
:, "Do I possess onea Go and discuss
me with the other women-that g wha
tell all my partners to do; and they
, come back and, report to me. It's al
, good as play!'
cit must be,' said 7, ga complet,
,, extravaganza. But your enemy has fin
,, ished his exercise, and thew are goins
, to play a waltz. Shall I take yo1
downs' g.. ~ - - : -
eyes" she cried, "and don't forge
to discuss me. Oh, these crushes!,''e
Q She said this as we came to- pres
, upon the corner of the stairs leading t,
: the ballroom, corner where she wa
pushed desperately against the banisters
y The vigor, of the polka had sent al
. and for some minutes we could neithe
: press was somewhat relieved, and sh
: made an effort to progress, her dres
: caught in spike of the ironwork, an,
the top of a panel of silk which wen
Q down one side Of it was ripped opel
9 and left hanging. For a minute sh
J did not notice the mishap; but as tn
. torn panel of silk fell away slightl
q from the more substantial portion O
g her dress, I observed pinned to the inne
y side OF 1T, large crescent brooch O
I diamonds. In the same instant sh