The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-08
LADY BELL JOYS DILEMMA

Aul DELL Jul ) UlLtmMA s
Sir John Beiljey, If, P, and his pretty
wife are, of course, well known In Lon
den society: And many people, net nee
cessariiy smart" have heard OF Lady
Beiljey's splendid diamond necklace, or
have admired her Ladyship's portraits
in the illustrated papers. But the tale
about the necklace can not be widely
known, and it is strange enough TO be
worth the telling. The names are, Of
course, fictitious.
To begin in the middle, we come to
foggy morning in January, when all Lon
con town seemed incIosed IN dish-cover.
Lady Belljoy and her husband had finish
ed late breakfast and were skimming
through their letters. Sir John, you
should know, is an earnest politician,
while his wife is devoted to pleasure
Bellioy rescued her about two years ago
from the seclusion of a country village.
Since then the fair lady has passed
through a succession of social triumphs,
which is an expensive amusement. and
has won admirers innumerable. Sir Jonu
IS liberal except in his politics., but there
is reason to suppose that he is ignorant
CT his wife's liabilities. He is known 60
he not a little jealous, but the fault is
almost excusable. Lady Belljoy has al
ways meant TO pay her debts, but her
ways meant W-karsPpSx01z iissoAodGh2
luck at bridge is depl0rable. There was
enc debt in particular-there always is
which she shrank from revealing more
than all the rest. So on this foggy morn
ing. as a certain letter caught her notice,
Ter lovely hazel eyes suddenly filed with
tears.
Whats the matter. Pauline?" asked
Sir John. CHANGING up from an official let
ter No bad news from your people, 1
hope"
NO; it's only the fog making my eyes
water" she told him. Whats that i'm
Iortant looking letter about?"
The usual notification Of the opening
Ct Parliament. BY the way, Pauline
he added, Il particularly want you to
wear your diamond necklace on that oc-
casion. Aunt Julia was saying only the
o-her day
Something horrid and spiteful, no
doubt"
mo, no. not at all She merely said
and ] quite agree with her-that neck
Iace Of such remarkable beauty ought
always to be worn on state occasions"
Il hate wearing diamonds in daylight
] want to wear my pearls"
My dear. we can't afford to offend /
Aunt Julia. l hope you'll ohlige me in (
this little matter" He rose and kissed (
her half averted cheek. Come. just 20
pease me-" he persisted, rather wistfully. /
-. don't often ask favor, little woman"
With a sudden pretty impulse Pauline |
PIT her arms about his neck and returned .
tie caress almost passionately
Dear kind old thing" she said gently. I
How you spoil me, don't YOU \ mo- /
nent later she released herself and ran /
&c mirror to see if he had rumpled her |
h3ir. He assumed that his request was
granted. but just then he caught sight of /
one OF her letters. and his face clouded, /
THAT fellow writing again?" he said, /
Is he walked to the door.
Mr.. Leftrch? Pooh. / don't even like /
him"
Then why not drop him."
You're not going to get jealous Of him.
slrcly?'
II am never jealous" said her hus-
land, loftily
His wife laughed.
He is an undesirable friend for any
ecent woman. added Belljoy- His
rorals are Turkish He paused for a
roment. then quilted the room.
Pauline called his back, but the closing
{ the door drowned her voice Return
ig to the breakfast table. she opened
,,,I
frowninsly:
Dear Lady Belljoy-Sorry | can't COM
ty with your request I quite expected
you might want TO borrow the necklace.
! is in the bond. as YOU know, that you
an ransom ST. without repayment Of the
500. by coming to fetch it yourself. You
an visit my fat without any risk Of be
lg recognized i'm the way I have already
explained Meanwhile. ] am taking good
are Of your family heirloom by wearing
around my own unworthy neck. Yours
yer VICTOR LEFTRICH."
',Odious beast" said Lady Bellioy. with
stamp of her little foot that made the
once cups tinkle
During the next three days Lady Bell
~ made Ruthless attempts to raise the
ansom Several friends disappointed
er. others were quite unable to lend 50
hrge a sum on short notice. Most OF
er jeyelry was already in the hands OF
money lender and To this man. there is
eason to suppose. she applied in vain.
'arliament was 70 he opened on Tues
ay. but it was not until Sunday Oen-
ng that Lady Belljoy abandoned hope.
Her husband was away in the country.
verbal confession she might have
oraved but no doubt she shrank from
telling him by letter why she needed E5el
The poor little lady spent a miserable
and lonely Sabbath denying herself 10 all
visitors Hour after hour she sat list
cssly i'm her boudor trying TO frame a
decision She had to choose between
rcaking full confession and visiting the
fat Of az unprincipled man. She recog-
nized the danger Possibly she might
have found some means of trucking him,
but she feared 10 rely upon strategy.
At midnight she went 10 bed. but could
not sleep BY her bedside lay some novels
and a, dainty little revolver. Belljoy likes
her to be thus armed during his absence.
and he taught her to use the weapon.
The novels bored her just much as if
she haG been a professional reviewer. At
last she turned of the electric lights and