Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-14
PART III.
The Affair of the Necklace.
CHAPTER I.
The Delroys.

low and man about town. 1t 1s true that
his wealth was great, and that he hao
never settled down to that steady struggle
for money which had marked his father
career, and which many persons seem 70
think the only fitting employment for
man in his position. He had concluded,
wisely perhaps. that he had enough, and
thereupon proceeded to an intelligent en-
joyment of It,
He had an Office in the Wall street DIS
trict where he spent some hours daily in
interested contemplation of the world s
markets and pregnant talks with investors
promoters and beggars of various denomi-
nations He had a fondness for books and
art, finer and deeper than mere mama 1or
purchasing rare editions and unique mas
terpieces he was member of the Citizens
Union and contributed freely to every eff
fort to suppress political graft and corrup-
ton; he was vice chairman OF the UniVer-
sity Settlement Society, and belonged TO
many other politico- evangelical OrganiZa-
tons He had built two or three model
tenements, after that voyage of discovery
among the slums of London, which had
also resulted, as we have seen, In his meet
ing the woman who became his wife.
Among these varied occupations, he man
aged to pass his time pleasantly and al the
same time not unprofitably. In WORD II
he did nothing very good neither did he DO
anything very bad-indeed, he averaged up
considerably better than most men of his
class-and it may be added, as a positive
virtue, that he had married for love and
continued to regard his wife with an al
lection somewhat unusual in its intensity.
A great many people wondered why he had
married Edith Croydon, but they were
mostly those who had never met her. She
would be called attractive rather than
beautiful, with quiet charm of manner
which was felt most intensely in the prt-
vacy of her own home. She was quite the
opposite of vivacious, yet there was about
her no appearance of sadness, and her
smile, when it came. was the sweeter and
more welcome because long delayed. She
gave one certain sense of valuing it, of
not wasting It. Certainly, she succeeded in
making her husband an entirely happy
man, which is, perhaps, the highest praise
that can be given a wife. 1t is almost need
less to add that she thoroughly sympa-
thiZed with him in his experiments for the
betterment of the condition Of the poor,
and that her marriage had not interfered
with her own active work in the same d.
rection.
Her sister was cast in a different mold.
Her beauty won an instant appreciation.
Six years younger than Mrs. Delroy, Miss
Croydon was of that striking, decisive type
Of brunette which takes mans heart by
storm. One would never think of her as
anything but daring and self-reliant-auda-
cious, even-ready for any emergency and
willing to meet 1t squarely, open-eyed. A
man. looking at her, would feel rising IN his
breast not that instinct OF protection which
most women awaken, but rather that in
stinct of the conqueror which is, perhaps,
our heritage from the Vikings.
1t was to Richard Delroy that Tremaine
had APPLIED for assistance In promoting the
Martinique railroad. How he gained an In
PRODUCTION, l do not know-perhaps from
some uncritical man In the street; but
gain it he did, and he used the oppor-
tunity to good advantage. I can easily
imagine the perfection of wizardry he
brought to bear upon Delroy-the persua-
sive eloquence, the irresistible fascination
suading Delroy of the perfect feasibility
of the scheme, but in gaining admission
to Delroy'S family.
1t had been achieved in this wise:
They We're discussing the railroad en-
terprise one afternoon, and finally the talk
wandered to art and then to music. Del
roy was delighted to find his companion
a connoisseur of delicate perception and
apparently wide experience.
Il suppose you've been attending the
opera?" he inquired, finally.
"Oh, certainly; always when there is
something l care especially to hear"
DE Reszke and Melba are on tonight"
II intend to be there" said Tremaine
instantly, no doubt guessing at what would
follow.
Then come up to our box said Del
roy. We'll be glad to have you.'
Il shall be very glad to come"
The words were spoken evenly, quietly,
without any indication of that deep burst
of triumph which giowed within him; for
III
which many men and most women would
have made any sacrifice. He controlled
himself admirably, too, at the opera and
II was not until the end of the second act
that he sought the box. He entered quietly
and the introductions were accomplished in
a moment. Besides Delroy and his wife,
Miss Croydon and Drysdale We're present.
Their reception of him, it must be added,
was somewhat icy, but this he did not
seem to notice.
1t was not to be denied that he added
greatly 10 the life of the party; his com
ment was so apt, so brilliant, so illuminat-
ing, yet not in the least self-assured- Drys-
dale fell under the spell at once, and even
the women who naturally looked some
what askance at the intruder-whs indeed:
had greeted him with glances almost OF
repugnance-in the end yielded to 1t.
During pause in the conversation, Del
roy's glance happened to fall upon the su-
perb necklace OF pearls Whlch enclrcieu MS
wifes throat.
why, see there, Edith" he cried, how
those pearls have changed. They seem
absolutely lifeless."
Mrs. Delroy picked up strand with trem-
bling fingers and looked at 1t.
80 they do" she agreed, a little hoarsely.
That's queer. They've changed since l
put them on
marked Drysdale, that pearls somehow
possess an acute sympathy with their
owner When some disaster is about 10
happen. they grow dull, just as these nave
done. D,
.'Oh, nonsense, Jack" protested Deiroy.
stop your croaking. Do you want 10
brighten Edith?"
I'm not so easily frightened" said Mrs.
Delroy, smiling at her husband. though
Drysdale fanced she had grown little
pale, and bit his tongue for his thoughtless
remark.
Fortunately said Tremaine. suavely,
1.-THE defect is one which is very easily rem
edied A few days bath in salt water Will
restore their brilliancy."
WELL" asked Deroy, In some amuse-
ment. where. did you run across that. bit
of information
Tremaine laughed
I'm almost ashamed to tell got IT first
in a newspaper story about the Empress of
Austria. She had necklace of pearls that
turned dull and she sent them down to
the Mediterranean to be immersed.
What made them turn dull?' Drysdale
inquired.
mo one knew" answered Tremane, with
seeming carelessness. ut was just before
the empress was assassinated"
moments painful silence followed the
words.
1T may have been only a newspaper
yarn" said Delroy at last We've out
grown the superstitions of the middle
ages"
"still, it might be worth asking some jew