Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-08-25


Insulting her masters guestsj and Mrs.
Jariine, looking Janet very straight in
the face, protested that she had no in
tention cd insulting her masters guests;
she only wished to do her duty, and her
duty IN this instance WAS perfectly clear
TO her. Nt. Brownrigg had given her
no lntimstion. though he had been in the
house few hours before, that any guests
were expected or that she was to show
the establishment to them; 90 show il
she would not
you insolent woman!" Janet cried
sngrlly. I'll report your conduct 70
your master this very evening"
You are at perfect liberty to do So
madam Mrs. Jardine replied, with
very tsntaizing little smile.
The u seemly discussion was here
brought TO close by the sudden appear
ance of the master of the house, who en-.
tered from the pleasure grounds. He
looked thoroughly sstounded for mo.
ment, and then his face flushed ~ hotly
as Janet's own: but. as he was a man of
great sdHgJrOid aud self-posssssion, he
mastered the situation almost at once,
declared himself enchanted with the
honor we had done him, hoped he
would be able to persuade us to stay for
dinner. and. CURLY dismissing Mrs Jar.
dine, asked to be allowed the pleasure OF
showing us over the house himself.
When the housekeeper had retired. he
apologlzed so eagerly and gracefully for
her discourteous conduct that both Janet
aud / had To beg him not TO mention the
matter again, and We accepted his ex.
PLANTATION as perfectly natural and sat.
isfactory one, though aunt Hetty's in.
cretuIous sniff from the other end Of the
room must have reached him distinctly.
lie told us that Mrs Jardine was per.
son OF no judgment and with an ex.
uemely matter-of fact disposition, but
was 50 trustworthy and consideration,
that he did not like to censure her too
severely for the contretemps ne regretted
30 deeply. Only d fortnight before a
very Objectionable party of tourists had
invaded the house and grounds during
his ABSENCE and done much damage 10
his conservatories, and in consequence of
this he had been obliged to give the orier
whlch his stupid housekeeper had tried
TO enforce i'm our case.
Well, We inspected the premises from
garnet to cellar. aud throughout thcv
pleased my modest taste. but did not al.
together satisfy my sister. who favored
rlch bright colorng anu elaborate orna.
incubation. However, in one of the un.
used bedrooms, which Mr. BrownrIgs
told us had been his mothers, Janet
stopped transiixed wth admiration be
ha Of 4
bedstead, aud size draped the beautiful
siAen texture scarIwise across her sAirL
Look. Net, isn't it lovely? Did you
ever see such cioNi1g yet delicate
pink The roses look As if they were
gro ing on it. Mr.. Browurigg. II was
your--l-l -mean II had been your
mother, those han. nss would have orna.
niented myself, not my bedstead.
know that shade would suit me to per-
lection.
"Come over hcre. Hiss Janet he sail
In haif.Vhisper, and will show you
something that would suit you better
e,ill.
janet followed him 70 an old brass
bound cabinet near tie fireplace. W.
locking the cali iet. he took out small
iron safe that contained set ct the
most magnificent diamonds think had
ever seen. Janet. who passionately loved
jewelry OF all kinds whose ears. arms,
aud fiugers were always laden with GIN
crack trnkets, Was speechless for few
with admiration, before she
burst out:
"Oh. how lovelyi Mr. Brownrigg. are
they really all yours Where did YOU
get themI How did you manage to
To-
-They have been in the family since
the middle Of the last century, Miss West.
colt; they we're part OF tie dowry Of
my great Grandmother, who was an Aus.
iran Jewess. She WAS brunette like
you. and they became her well. tr ,dition
says She created quite sensation the
irst time she wore them at Court
"Yes, said my sister musingly, they
would suit dark hair best; half their
briliancy would be lost on a blonde
She took the necklace out of the safe
and. after few minutes hesitation,
,.ipped it around her white neck
co'ored to The roots If my hair, even
aunt liettys slri,eled cheeks showed
Continued next week. .