The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-03
The rince s Pearls
BY IzoLA FoRREsTEH

Lorraine smiled slightly, aggravatingly. and lifted
her supple expressive shoulders in way that init.
mated It Was OF Mr. Maxon's business what
she accepted from certain party.
= Doesn't it seem glorious dear old New
AorK INT out of the mist again? she said, leaning
over the ran the liner slipped leisurely up the
Day after she passed the Narrows.
Il shouldn't think you'd care much about it, or any
other share of your native land retorted Maxon
up the whole thing and live abroad the of you1
NE IN some miserable. deserted. modify old castle ID
Hungary that's deerepit and played tho
prneely line YOU viii belong to. LORRAINE
Do be quiet There the custom peo@
awha, of it?e
Lorraine hesitated and laughed !
i hardly think that mamma has the to pan
duty ON the princes pearls she said. Won't it bd
a tragedy ira, II they take them away from me-
l hope they do" Jack Maxon's lips In a close
line He stood just behind Lorraine his hands folded
ms cap pulled We'll over his dark eyes and watched
me arrival OF the custom people and health officers
Where are they" asked Mrs Eisons voice bes
hthd them She did net look worried at all. merely
Lorraine answered without looking up from the
dancing. churning about the Prov
around my throat !,
Beneath your gown
lorraine nodded and smiled. and Mrs Ellison said
NompiacentIs
sala ,ae'latlS Marie VIII give them to YOU No liz
You Know, outside to your left SO sweet Of YOU
leaned over Lorraine Somebody has told that YOU
are Msartns the princes pearls The newspaper mens
think one tried to talk TO me Just now
How would they know ?" Lorralne's tone GU.
o .,n 1lshierested She was thinking Of all Jack
Sandy Hook that morning The slender. corseted
form of the prince faded almost ooseurity be-
thinking of many other things besides pearls.
Yet she had told the simple truth She them.
Inc entire strand necklace OF eNquisitels matched
sea treasure, beneath her travelling gown o gray
serge And rumor over in Rome Paris had
IMAM limited that the pearls half
a million dollars The center pear shaped pendants
alone had come from the turban Of me Saair Of AZ.
ehttnistah once upon time. and had the house
OF RaNeneiI $4,000 Yet the prince. who had
purchased it. had hung ii on the forehead Of his
orr n
matched against the spiendor OF flashing eyes.
The present prince had mentioned something of the
same sentiment when sent the necklace TO tho
EHisons hotel the day before they sailed for hume
And there had been trouble
4 viii never accept "a gift from "a man whom
dislike Lorraine had said passionateis.
II you fool enough Q refuse them said Irs,
Ellison thoughtfully examining the strands. u shalt
accept them for you. Yeu engaged yet dear,
aud under no obligation. These pearls might I
mere phiiopena present
Yes they might mamma. they might Lorranes
tone OF scern had been indeserbabe. Bn; the pearls
had not been sent back First. prince
himself had left for Hungary shooting ex-
petition with the crown prince or litto prin-
cipatit9 and the pearls remained I4orrainea
throat as the safest place for such
one mistake she had made. She worn then,
openly at the SHIPS Not taat any one on
board had known their history. bu, Jack Maxon had
seen 'htnit ana noted them. and he alone Of their
i"tiP" passengers knew that the EsQns not have
cash or credit enough IN the world nuy eat
j0arf or '1e princes Heekaet not the smallest
large as hazel nut. and HAWKES. worth ten
thousand IN the market NJ 1eHlnn-Ia-- 4esri t4tan
hef ta'htul adefer aud eemrade ever since they had
punt sand tunnels together at Atlantic City years
age
sometimes, In spite Of Mrs fuisons careful train
ins Lorraine woald leok al Jack aud speculate On
y welfare
He vas such splendid peaaer, All the way over
stormed. and Lorraine had kept silent And alwaya
While she listened 10 Jack MaNons pleading she felt
the slender strands Of pearls like lead about
her throat Sometimes it seemed il they would
choke her,
went 10 the custom officers she declared every
thing everything the PRINCES pearls Jack stood
la ptI
gone through. and Mrs. Ellison answered questions for
both in thu su5erbly aisfnteresea ,ac,fnl aay Oh.
had, But all at once 1.orraines quick g1ances saw
what Was happening. A young chap had entered
fetal who was conducting the appraisal whisper.
ed 10 him. and that worthy past Mrs. Ellison
straight To Lorraines side.
You wearing pearls undeeared miss II,s
tone reached Lorraine from far off, Her mother had
turned swiftly rescue but already Lorraine nad
smiled slightly and nodded her pretty head
Do YOU wish to see them ?? she asked. and. taking
on her gloves she deliberately une,asped her lace
collar and reached back for that held
the necklace IN place. The every In
reach was erowding forward far at the famous
Ravenel pearls There they lay. all their DELI
cate. raVishing loneliness the palms of Gus.
toms officer Even he was impressed. and hestatsd.
Then he gave orders
They followed him 10 the office waited
Jack. you could save them. implored Mrs Ellison
teaTfuly, 1T means muehe for darling girl
It is almost her wedding present the prince
1t is worth kings ransom Your father would coma
relief. know. Jack"
Do you want me to save them. Lorraine" asked
Jack bending over her. and Lorraine shook her head
suddenly the official came toward them with a pleas.
ami smile OF relief There was no duty the peax1A
he explained, returning them, for the
pie reason that pearls clever imitation.
very. very clever, but imitation, and abouk
$500 at the outside If that.
They took the ferry back the railroad station
on the Jersey side. Lorraine weary wanted
to go straight to Lakewood without stopping in
York. and Mrs. Ellison oddly quiet She retired
to the cabin and left the two deck to talk
without demur.
And while Jack laid plans for their wedding day
month hence Lorraine bent the rail and laugh,
ingly let the princes pearls slip
down into the green waters OF the Hudson.
Mrs Harry Hevser been touring Virginia In
their machine. have returned to their home In Mary~
land,