The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-11-07

THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE.
CHAPTER 1.
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. He had concluded, wisely per-
haps, that he had enough, and there
upon proceeded to an Intelligent enjoy
ment of it.
He had an Office in the Wall street
district, where he spent some hours
daily in interested contemplation of the
worlds markets and pregnant talks
with investors, promoters. and beggars
of various denominations. He had a
ondnes for books and art, finer and
deeper than a mere mania for pur-
chasing rare editions and unique mas
terpieces; he was a Of the
Citizens union and contributed freely
to every effort to suppress political
graft and ~corruption; he was vice
chairman of the University Settlement
society, and belonged to many other
politico-evangelical organizations. He
had built two or three model tenements,
after that voyage of discovery among
the slums of London, which had also
resulted. as we have seen, in his meet
ing the woman who became his wife.
Among these varied occupations, he
managed to pass his time pleasantly.
and at the same time not unprofitably
In a word. if he did nothing very good,
neither did he do anything very bad
indeed, he averaged UP considerably
better than most men of his claSs-and
it may be added, as a positive virtue,
that he had married for o and con-
tinued to regard his wife with an affec-
ton somewhat nuSua in its intensity.
A great many people wondered why
he had married Edith Croydon, but
they were mostly those who had never
met her. h would be called attractive
rather than beautiful. with a quiet
charm of n which was felt most
intensely III 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 1t came, was he sweeter and
more welcome because long delayed.
She gave m a certain sense of valuing
it, of not wasting it. Certainly, she
succeeded in making her husband an
entirely happy man. which is. perhaps,
the highest praise that can be given a
wife. 1t is almost needless to add
that she thoroughly sympathized with
him iii his experiments for the better
ment of the condition of the poor, and
with her own active work in the same
direction.
Her sister vas cast in a different
mould. Her beauty won an instant cp-
probation. Six years n than
Mrs. Delroy. Miss Croydon was of that
striking, decisive type of brunette
which takes a mans heart by storm.
One would think of her as anything
but daring and Observation-Disclosures,
even-ready for any emergency and
man, looking at her. would feel ris-
ing in his breast not that instinct of
protection which most women waken
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. I dc
not know-perhapS from some uncritical
man In the street. but gain it he did
| and ne used the opportunity to good
advantage. I can easily imagine the
perfection of wizardry he brought te
bear upon Delroy-the persuasive elo-
quence, the irresistible fascination. II
the end. he succeeded not only in per
suading Delroy of the perfect feasibilit,
of the scheme, but in gaining admis
sion to Delroy's family.
It had been achieved in this wise:
They We're discussing the railroad en-
~terprise one afternoon. and finally tn,
talk wandered to art and hen to rnu
sic. Delroy was delighted to find hi
companion a connoisseur of delicat,
perception and apparently wide expert
ence.
II suppose you've been attending tn
opera?" he inquired. finally.
ON. certainly: always when there
something / care especially to hear"
Reszke and Media are on to
nat.
i, | intend to be there" aid Tremain
Instantly. no doubt guessing at wha
would follow.
Then come up to our box. said Del
i roy. Wei be glad to have YOU"
. II shall be very glad to come.
The words were spoken evenly. quiet
: ~. without n indication of that dee
burst of triumph which g1owed With
him; for 1t was a triumph5a veritabI
one-onG for which men an
= most women would have made n SAD
riice. He controlled himself admi,