The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-11-08

sought the box. He entered quietly
and the introductions were
plished In o moment. Besides Delroy
and his wife. Miss Croydon and Drys-
dale were present. Their reception of
him, 1t must be added, was somewhat
Icy, but this he did not seem to notice.
1t was not to be denied that he add
ed greatly to the life of the party; his
comment was so apt, so brilliant, so
Illuminating, vet not In the least self
assured. Drysdale fell under the spell
at once, n even the women. who nat
urally looked somewhat askance at the
intruder-who. indeed. had greeted him
with glances almost OF repugnance-in
the end yielded to 1t.
During a pause in the conversation.
Delroy's glance happened t0 fall upon
the superb necklace of pearls which en-
circled his wife's throat.
Why. see there. Edith" he cried,
chow those pearls have changed. They
seem absolutely lifeless."
Mrs. Delroy picked up a strand with
trembling fingers and looked at it.
so they do she agreed, a little
hoarsely. That's queer. They've
changed since / put them on"
There's a superstition. you know"
remarked Drysdale. that pearls some
how possess an acute sympathy with
their owner. When some disaster. is
about to happen, they grow dull, just
as these have DONE"
"Oh, nonsense. jack" protested Del
roy. stop your croaking. Do o
want to brighten Edith?"
I'm not so easily frightened said
Mrs. Delroy. smiling at her husband.
though Drysdale fancied she had grown
a little pale, and bit his tongue for his
thoughtless remark.
'Fortunately," said Tremaine suave-
ly. the defect is n which is very
easily remedied. A few days bath in
salt water will restore their brill,ancy."
Well asked Dclroy, in M amuse-
ment, where did you run across that
bit OF information?"
Tremaine laughed.
I'm almost ashamed to tell. 1 got it
first in a newspaper story about the
lace of pearls that turned dull. and she
sent them down to the Mediterranean
to be Immersed"
What made them turn dull?" Drys-
dale inquired.
n n knew" answered Trcmaine
just before the empress was assassin
ated.''
A moments painful silence followed
the words.
ut may have been only a newspaper
yern," said Delroy at last. We've out
grown the superstitions of the Middle
Ages"
Very possibly" assented Tre,naine;
still it might be worth asking sonle
jeweler about. Mrs. Delroy's necklace
is worth saying" and he examined it
with h glance of a connoIsseur.
1t invited examination. for it was
almost unique in its perfection. 1t had
been Dclroy's II great extravaganza.
He had spent many years collecting the
stones, which were of a beautiful iri-
descence and perfectly matched, and
they had formed his wedding gift to his
Wife. The value OF he separate stones
was not less thar n hundred thousand
dollars: their value combined in the
I e cklace could only be a matter of con-
lecture.
Yes" agreed Drysdale. with a little
laugh. ut certainly fl. You'd better
take 1T down to Tiffany, Dickie."
II WILL" said Delroy. And don't
think anything more about 1t, Edith"
Il WON'T" h answered. still smiling.
her Eyes unnaturally bright. But it's
very close in here; I should like a glass
of water"
The w-ter was procured in q moment.
Drysdale, blaming himself more and
more. wa relieved to see her colour
return. She soon seemed quite herself
again; the talk turned to other things.
And once again Tremaine showed his
perfect self control-he did not linger
unduly. he did not give them a chance
to grow accustomed to him, much less
to grow tired of him. He had not the
fatntest air of being an intruder; he
seemed completely at home; and when
lie left the box. tho men, at least, were
sorry he had gone, and said so. He
was that wholly admirable thinE-a
guest whose departure mi watches
with regret.
That box party was the wedge which
~. lI~2 A. =
circle: a privilege which he cultivated
with such consummate tact that he was
soon accepted everywhere at his face
value. His success was assured from
the start, for he brought to palates
faded by overlooking a new and ex-
quisite tang: he was fresh and unusual.
amid a surfeit of stale and common
place-he was reiished to the uttermost.
It appeared. however. tina. the press
of social duties and the trying spring
weather were proving too much for
Mrs. Delroy's strength, which was
never great. and which had been cs-
pecialiy taxed. this season, by the In
PRODUCTION OF her sister to New York
society. Even the comparative quiet
OF the Lenten season failed to restore
her. M the resumption of the social
whirl after Easter moved DeIroy IL
protest.
tcont;nued Next Week.,
Ne, Chesterfield.
A. Christian Scientist OF Boston was
praising tie late earl of Dunrnore.