Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-01-14
SO NEARLY LOST
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Continued.

must be worth They must have
cost" Her face flushed. Il don't
know what diamonds cost, but there
are a great many here, and-and they
are large and beautiful! Oh, why
did you do it? 1t is present for a
princess, not for simple actress!"
You are my princess" he said,
gently, enjoying her surprise.
But then" she persisted, they
are magnificent. Far, far too good
for me- Why did you buy them?
am sorry"
do not be-" he said, gently. They
are not too good for you. Nothing
can be; and when you wear them it
dearest"
She looked from the splendid jewels
to him and back again.
81 have never thought of 1t before"
she faltered timidly "but you must
be very rich to be able to buy such
gems as these are"
He smiled strangely, and shrugged
his shoulders.
'Passably RICH" he said. 81 shall
be rich indeed some day, when have
you"
There was double meaning in his
words that smote him a moment after
he had spoken them, and his face
flushed almost as holly as hers.
you will wear them, dear?"
"Of course | shall wear Them"
she said softly, then her brows con-
weight of kindnesses, and i"
She stopped.
You will pay me back some day."
he whispered; some day, when you
have learned how dearly, how deeply
love you, Ida"
She still looked at the diamonds as
they glittered in their satin bed, to
which she had returned them.
How do know what sacrifices
you have made to get these for me?"
she said to him, gently.
He laughed, and his face paled for
an instant as he wondered what she
would say If she knew that he won the
money from Lord BERTHE on the pre-.
ceding night to pay for them; per-
haps she would have flung them at
his feet.
mo sacrifice at ALL" he said Il
could not endure that my queen
should wear false jewels even on the
stage, and 1t was to please myself as
much as you that | bought them. You
see / am terribly selfish, dear Ida"
She looked up at him. and put out
her hand. He took 1t and drew her
nearer to him.
For the first time she did not shrink
back, but stood as If prepared to re-
ceive the kiss. His face burnt. and
he bent forward, then suddenly the
color died out of his face and he drew
back.
No" he murmured Il should
thlnk It was only to pay for the dia-
monds, | will wait until you kiss me
FOR nothing but my love, dearest"
and dropped her hand and left the
room.
Joan looked after him and she was
pale and trembling
He was right" she said to her.
self. 1T would have been simply a
payment for his gift | wonder when
when | shall be able to repay him
Tor his love?" and she put the dia.
monds from her with sigh.
Emily went into frenzy of deligh,
over them.
Why, my dear," she exclaimed
they are magnificent, they are-are
oh, dear, | can't find word bic
enough! Anybody lend me d,,,.
uonary? Ida They must have cost
fortune. Why. real live duchess
couldn't want anything finer! Mr.
Royce must be an enormously wealthy
man. or else he has ruined himself to
pay for theml"
don't know" said Joan, smiling
AT her enthusiasm; Il only know that
am sorry he should have spent so
nueh money on them. Imitation gems
would have done as we'll"
My dear. you are a most extraordi.
nary girl. Imitation! What n strange
and wonderful creature you must be
Even diamonds don't move you-and
everybody knows that 1t was really
diamonds and not apples that the ser.
pent tempted Mother Eve with"
Joan laughed.
suppose am a strange being
Emily she assented: for even dia-
monds do not move me-"
We'll you are a very particular
young lady" said Emily, turning the
JeWeis over in her hand and gazing at
taem rapturously 1T SENS that Won
are going to marry a millionaire; he
can be much less, or he wouldn't
make such presents. Ida, don't Won
really know anything more about him
than we dog"
Joan shook her head.
NO" she said. listlessly. Il know
that he is far too good. and too kind
and too tender-hearted for me-that
is all, dear Emily"
well. certainly you don't know
much" retorted Emily, naively.
AS for Mordaunt Royce. he went
home with the blood snrging through