The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-19
CHAPTER 1x.-continued.

back. where the clasp came, were
as large as my little finger nail.
and the largest were almost the size
of filbcrt All were OF perfect color
and fire, extraordinary deep and fault
lessly shaped, as we'll as fawless. Be-
sides, the necklace had history which
would have made II interesting even
IL 1t hadn't been intrlnsically of ha,s
It's value.
With the first thrill OF pleasure I
had felt since I knew thns the /. ,aty
Fad disappeared, i lifted the beautiful
diamonds from tho box, and slipp I'd
them into a small embroidered bag
of pink and silver brocade which lay
an the table. 1t wcs foolish but
pretty little bag. which friend had
made and sent me at the theatre a
few nights ago, and was Intended TO
carry II purse and handkerchief. But
I had never useo IT yet. Now 1t seemed
convenient receptacle for the neck
lace. and suddenly planned out my
way Of giving 1t TO Raoul.
At first. earlier In the evening, had
meant to put the diamonds in his hanis
and say, see what / have for you!"
But now, had changed my mind. be-
cause lie must be induced to go away
as quietly as possibie--qu!te. quite
away from the theatre, so that there
would be no danger OF his seeing Count
Godensky at the stage door. was not
sorry that Raoul was jealous, because,
as he said, his jealousy was a compl!-
ment to me: and 1T Is possible only
for a cold man never to be jealous of
woman in my profession, who lives
in the eyes of the world. But / did
not want him TO be jealous of the Rus
sian: and he would be horribly
| Jealous. IL he thought that he had the
! least cause.
If I showed him the diamonds now.
| he would mant TO stop and talk. lie
| would ask me questions which
| would rather not answer until I'd seen
| Ivor Dundas again, and knew better
what to say-whether truth or fiction
| Still, I wished Raoul to have the neck
| lace tonight. because 1t would mean
all the difference to him between con.
slant, gnawing anxiety, and the JOY
of deliverance. Let him have happy
| night, even though I was sending him
| away, even though 1 did not kno"
what to- morrow might bring. either Tor
him or for mo.
| I tied the gold cords of the bag In
| two hard knots. and went out with II
to Raoul in tho next room.
'"rhls holds something precious.
said smiling at him. and making a
mystery. '.You'll value the something
eaow-partly for itself, partly be-
cause I've been at lot OF trouble 20
get 1t for you. When you see It,
yon'll be more resigned not to see
| me-just for tonight. But you're to
write me a letter, please, and describe
accurately every one of your Sensations
on opening the bag. Also, you. may
say in your letter few kinds things
| about me, II you like. And l want y
TO come to me when first wake Ut
tomorrow morning. SO go now. dear
est, and have the sensations, and write
about them. 4 shall be thinking o.
YOU every minute, asleep or awake.
"why mayn't 1 look now?" asked
Raoul, taking the soft mass OF pink
| and silver from me, in the nice, clumsy
way a big man has of handling a wo'
l mans things.
4 "Because---just because. But perhaps
] you'll guess why, by-and-by. saiu
! Then held up my face to be kissed
and lie bundled the small bag away II
an inside pocket of his coat, as care.
i lessly as II 1t held nothing but mana
/ kerchief and a pair of gloves.
"Be careful!" I couldn't help eN,
i claiming. But don't think he heard
i for he had me in his arms and was
kissing me, as If he knew the fear u
nv heart-the fear that, it might ~
i for the last time.