The Virginia enterprise., 1907-10-04

If Mr.. Gos!aw Hadn't Lost His Money
That Time, This Is Widow Who
Might Have
trouble - money would JUST slip
through your fingers. You were all
right to make money, but you couldn't
keep it afterwards"
You're about right, I guess, Mrs.
Curtin he meekly acknowledged.
But say, it's sharp person that can
get the best Of me now. I had to
learn my lesson, but I've learned it
we'll. What I've got left, reckon
know how to hang on to-"
II hope you do, John," said the old
lady, shaking her head hopelessly.
Decided yet what you're going to
get for the wedding PRESENT." asked
Mrs. Blandin, as she stared suspicious
ly at the combination salad and inves-
tigated it gingerly with one prong of
her fork.
Mr.. Goslaw's hand involuntarily
sought his necktie, where for the first
time there was no Illuminating
sparkle. Mrs Blandin's eye followed
the movement.
"Why, Mr.. Goslaw! Have you lost
your pin? When do you remember
having it last?" she asked breathless-
ly. The whole table ceased it's chat
ter and stared sympathetically at the
man who seemed doomed to losses.
"1-no-that is, I haven't mislaid
it, he explained with some embar-
rassment:~ "You know I never did
care much for jewelry. I bought that
stone once just to help a fellow out.
He let me have it at reasonable fig.
ure with the understanding he could
redeem it at any time. But he never
was fixed so that he could, and I've
kinder worn it, and, yes, it is a very.
fine one. Not so large as some, per-
haps, but pure. l heard you come in
Mr.. Norcross," Mr.. Goslaw interrupted
himself to enter general discussion
that waged like what the firemen call
stubborn fre-hard to get under
control"
Somebody took a bath at about
midnight" accused an injured voice.
II heard the water run and rum"
1T wasn't hot water you heard run
and rum brimly stated the murderer
of innocent sleep shamelessly.
what did you do with your dia-
mond?" insisted Mrs. Blandin. did
you meet another WidoW?'
LAS l was saying" he began, shift
ting in his chair, mot caring for such
things myself, am having it set in a
brooch for my young friend who is to
be married. I always thought the
world of her mother I sometimes
think, if I hadn't lost everything that
time, she might have Thanks, I've
used the cream"
You are going to give that stone
away?" almost shrieked Mrs. Blandin
and Mrs. Eggney in chorus. "The
ideal"
II want her to have it," said Mr.. Go.
slaw with dignity. Il should like to
know that when I'm gone Rosanna's
daughter will have that stone!"
"And maybe she won't appreciate
it one bit, she'll have 50 much" ar
gued Mrs. Blandin. II have always
wanted di'mond all my life, and never
got one. 1 remember you give that
Miss Pearson, who you didn't know
a bit we'll, solitaire even bigger"
I'D be glad to, my dear, now you
have promised to be my wife-but the
trinket has already-gone!''
"Oh, OH" sobbed the exasperated
Mrs. Blandin. "Why didn't you pro.
pose to me last week Thursday in.
stead of waiting till now? Then
you wouldn't have thrown away that
lovely jewell"
There, there, my dear,". he said,
patting her head. Its too bad, but !
always go on the principle that what's
gone is gone, and it's no use crying
over spilled ink on the new parlor car.
pet!"
Cherry-Rosanna's daughter was
f1ttingly grateful for dear little can.
dlestick with a dryad twining slinly
around the base, but her mother said
She had every reason to expect some.
thing more costly from John Goslaw.
Now who in the world could have got
that diamond?
| Copyright, 1907, by w. G. Chapman;
!