The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-01

voice that she looked up and suddenly set down the teapot. "This necklace belonged to our family for 500 years It is called The Luck of the Sara zins'."
 I What do you mean?" she asked aghast. Why bought it at curl osity shop In Biarritz."
 | You bought 1t, certainly: but a Queen gave 1t to my ancestor. de sarazin. for some. mad deed. and as long as 1t is in our possession we keep i our lands, our title, and our luck. so says the legend; but once 1t leaves us, they. all depart"
 And how came 1t to leave you:" she Inquired. rising.
 He made no reply for a moment. 1 but, closing the case with a snap, gave It Into her hand
 l Tt Is hard to tell you" he said. but l it must be told. My mother. urhap- oily, Is not wise about money--she gambles--it is In the Ferrano blood. To raise a sum for which she was l cruelty pressed. she sold the necklace l secretly in Madrid-sold it to an old l Jeweler who knew her well. and held his peace-sold it for quarter or its l value. By a most amazing coincidence you purchased 1t; it fell into your friendly hands, and fortunately went no further.
 No" said Hester: ''and now un- derstand why la Duquesa was so yex- ed with me for teasing her to let me see the necklace!'
 "And all the time you had 1t your | self!s. It was never worn, and rarely looked at--my mother felt safe; but one day The Luck was suddenly asked for, and was not forthcoming. l My father nearly lost his reason. Oh, the outcry !--No, cannot describe 1t; f but el Duque would sooner part with his right arm, or a son. or his life, than | the necklace A4e is distracted, poor man. and worn with misery and anx- iety; 1t Is killing him. I am sorry to say he blamese ne"
 "oh. why? How unjust| she inter | rupted.
 well, although am innocent as | your cat. he thinks I should have. some how, restrained my mother; as if I would knowingly permit the Luck to be sold--I, who am proud to be Sara l gin, and value 1t as much as el Duque 1 himselfi Nevertheless, 1 was to blame, l for 1 am foolish and feather-brained, 1 and carried away by my own inter- ests--I have been slaek. Anyhow, my ! father has gone to Madrid-ny mother | Is in a convent, in retreat---he swears 1 he will never see her again s-nless the 1 necklace Is restored: as for me--and hc 1 is fond of me--still. I am to be disin- l herited. Oh, when el Duque is angry, [ l as we say in Spain. as when the south l wind lbowsl' and he raused for | moment: then he continued: After much searching and writing and inter- l viewing. telegraphing, and going to l Paris and Amsterdan1--after had crossed the Atlantic and followed the 1 false trail to New York, Chicago, and Washington. the necklace was traced I to you, Mademoiseile. You had worn l 1t in Madrid; and by the malice of fate | there only remained for me the ter 1 rible and painful task of appealing to | you whom I had so deeply offended, and"--he hesitated. the words seemed 1 you to have mercy, and to restore tO me, with your own hand, our family I peaee--and my inheritance" He paused again, and speaking with stiI more dif-culty. and a suppressed | force of feeling, he continued ''Is 1t too much to ask of you, Ma demoiselie?''
 La Rubia made no audible reply; she remained perfectly motionless. with l her eyes on the floor; but he could sec that she was trembling.
 "of course, I have the money with me; my father is prepared to offer any sum- but am aware that it is not of the money you will think. You have a weapon in your hand and you can strike--if you willard deserve it. Yesl Only. would plead for the poor ] old Duque-his health Is feeble. he adores his heIrlooms; the loss of this necklace has aged him by years;" un- consciously he drew. himself up as he continued. and now, MademoiselIe, you behold Paul de 'Sarazin a beggar before you. Yes-in the very duSt!" he added with low .vehemence. Tt re- mains but for you to speakr Az ahA looked at him, she was startled by the pallor of his face; she felt the despers ate agitation in him penetrating through an almost iron self-control. and. slowly moving nearer to him. she placed the case containing the necklace in his hand; as she raised her eyes to his. he saw that they were swimming in tears.
 "I can never thank you" he said tremulousIy-"never, never, never!"
 For once. entirely agree with you!" said Mrs. Tudor, who had been listen ing to part of the conversation from a door behind him. So. this was the business which brought you to Lon- don! Oh, Paul! and then in a lower voice she added. as if to herself: "on pardonne tant cue Ton aime! Well. now suppose. your business being concluded, you will be offT'
 'Yes," he said. T must return to Spain: my father will not believe without seeing-though I shall tele- graph to him this hour. The money. if may be permitted to speak of 1t, will paid tomorrow. and I will take the necklace to el Duque to whom days are as years"
 Ihave no doubt he Is distractedl" and Mrs. Tudor T know I should be, If I were in his place; when Hester showed 1t to me. it somehow seemed curiously familiar Hester, my dear. do let us have a cup of tear
 Lester. with shaking hands, poured out some for mrs Tudor. but Paul de- clined. He W.s still profoundly agft- ated.
 Looking from Hester to Mrs. Tudor, and from Mrs Tudor to Hester, he said
 "I receive the necklace so generous ly restored: and If Mademoiselle will condescend to accept it one day. it will