Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-11-08
PART III.
THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE.
CHAPTER /.
THE DELROYS.

Although Richard Delroy was known
among his more familiar associates as
piCkie. he was not, as that diminutive
might seem to indicate, merely a good
fellow and man about town. 1t is true
that his wealth was great, and that he
had never settled down to that
Mrs. Delroy. Miss Croydon was of that
steady struggle for money which had
marked his fathers career, and which
many persons seem to think the only
fitting employment for a man in his
position. lie had concluded, wisely per
haps, that he nae enough, and there
upon proceeded to an intelligent enjoy
ment Of it.
lie had an office in the Wall street
district, where he spent some hours
daily i'm interested contemplation of the
worlds markets and pregnant talks
with investors. promoters, and beggars
of various denominations. He had a
fondness for books and art. finer and
deeper than n mere mania for pur-
chasing rare editions and unique mas
terpieceS. he was a member of the
Citizens unlon and contributed freely
TO every effort to suppress political
graft and ~cOrruptiou; ne was vice
chairman Of the University Settlement
society. and belonged to many other
rolitico-evangclical organizations. He
had built two or three model ~tenernents,
after that voyage Of discovery among
the slums of London, which had also
resulted. as we have seen. In his meet
ing the woman h became his wife.
Among these varied occupations, he
managed to pass his time pleasantly,
and at the same time rot unprof1tably.
In a word. II he did nothing very good,
neither did he do anything very bad
indeed, lie averaged up considerably
better than most men Of his class-and
~ ,,,n " no n1InI 40 q, -1,ffs,,o ,;nt,,o
hat he had married for love and con-
tinued to regard his wife with an affec-
ton somewhat unusual in It's intensity.
a great many people wondered why
he had married Edith Croydon, but
they were mostly those who a never
met her. She would be called attractive
rather than beautiful. with a quiet
charm of manner which was felt most
intensely IN the privacy of her own
home. She was quite the opposite OF
vivacious, yet there was about her no
appearance of sadness, and her smile,
when ii came, was the Sweeter and
more welcome because long delayed.
She gave one a certain sense of valuing
it, of not wasting IL. Certainly, she
succeeded In making her husband an
entirely happy man, which is, perhaps.
the highest praise that can be given a
wife. II is almost needless to add
that she thoroughly sympathized with
him in his experiments for the better
ment ofathe condition of the poor, and
hat her marriage had not interfered
with her own active work in the same
direction.
Her sister was cast In a different
mould. Her beauty won an instant ap-
probation. Six years younger than
Mrs. Delroy, Miss Croydon was of that
striking. decisive type of brunette
which takes a man heart by storm.
One would think of her as anything
but daring and observation-disclosures,
even-ready for any emergency and
willing to meet 1t squarely, open-eyed.
A man, looking at her, would feel ris-
ing in his breast not hat instinct of
protection which most women awaken,
but rather that instinct OF the con-
queror which is. perhaps, our heritage
from the Vikings.
1t was to Richard Delroy that Ire
maine had applied for assistance in
promoting the Martinique railroad.
How he gained an Introduction, l do
not know-perhaps from some uncritical
man in the street; but gain 1t he did,
and he used the opportunity to good
advantage. / can easily imagine the
perfection of wizardry he brought to
bear Upon D~elroy-the persuasive elo-
quence, the irresistible fascination. In
the end, he succeeded not only in per-
Suading DelrOy or the perfect Feasibility
OF the scheme, but in gaining admis-
sion to Delroy's family.
1t had been achieved in this WISE:
They were discussing the railroad en-
terprise one afternoon. and finally the
talk wandered to art and her to mu-
sic. Delroy was delighted to find his
companion a connoisseur OF delicate
perception and apparently wide expert
ence.
II suppose you've been attending the
opera" he inquired. finally.
"OE. certainly: always when there is
something I care especially to hear"
DE Reszke n Melba are on to-
ni-ht."
II intend to be there" said Tremaine
instantly. no doubt guessing at what
would follow.
come up to our box" said Del
roy Well be glad TO have YOU"
II shall be very glad to come"
The words were spoken evenly, quiet
ly, without any indication OF that deep
burst of triumph which glowed within
him; Tor II was q triumph-a veritable
one--0nA for which many men and.
most women would have made any sac
rincs. He controlled himself admir-
ably, ton. at the opera and Il was not
until the end oe the second act that ~