The Huttig news., 1910-08-13
The Amethyst
 Pin

There is such thing as being too conscientious remarked young Mrs Langton. dolefully.
 Have you suffered from ft?" asked her friend.
 You may smile if you like, but have suffered from the effects of the abnormally developed conscience of my mother-in-law. Do you remember the amethyst pin you admired so much when I wore it to your lunch n?"
 Indeed, do. It was so pretty with your wisteria gown"
 Tt was" declared Mrs Langton. "It was lovely with that little dress And to think that I bought suit and hat with special reference to that pin, The worst of it Is that Walter doesn't sympathize with me at all He just laughs and says that untruths are al ways punished in some way or other"
 T can't offer my sympathy until you tell me about it." hinted her friend
 Tt was this way. Mamma Langton thinks that Walter and I are very ex travagant. She was mortified at the amount of money we spent in furnish. ing the house, and when as an after. thought we bought the clock, though any one will admit that 1t looks as if it had been made for the spot at the turn of the stairway, she almost wept. I made up my mind then and there that the next thing we bought which couldn't be classed with the necessities of life would have to be purchased by stealth.
 One day when I met my husband down town asked him to stop for a moment at the window where the pin was displayed. I mentioned casually that it would be sweet with my new est dress. adding that of course 1t was out of the question for us to buy 1t.
 Walter is of peculiar disposition. Just tell him that he oughtn't to spend his money for particular arti- cle. and he straightway is determined to have that very thing. We'll, he went in and bought the amethyst. suggested that we say nothing about the matter to his mother for awhile, and l had worn the pin a number of times before she saw it."
 Then what happened?"
 Tt was one day when I was dress ing in a great hurry. I asked her to come to my room and hook my waist for me, forgetting that the pin was on my dressing table.
 That is something new she said, picking up the ornament Where did you get it?'
 "'Oh, that is just a pin I found,' replied, anxious to get out of 1t the best way I could.
 When?' she asked.
 Yesterday I returned
 "'Then 1t is your duty to adver- tise it.,
 Tt isn't worth it.. said. for the stone isn't genuine
 That is where you are mistaken, she insisted. The stone is a fine color and the setting Is beautiful
 Then I will wear it today, said, reaching out my hand for It.
 No, I wouldn't if I were you she objected. Where did you find it?'
 "'Under the seat of the street car. I-I saw it glitter, you know an- swered. getting in deeper and deeper "'You want to find the real owner, don't you, Beatrice?' she asked, in her severest manner.
 "'Of course, do, stammered.
 "'Then I will lock it up in my little safe until you are sure you may wear it with clear conscience.' And she marched off with it.
 Next day Walter and I went to New York and were gone week. Almost the first thing Mamma sLangton said when we entered the house on our re- turn was, Well, Beatrice. found the owner of the amethyst pin!'
 T merely gasped, and she went on Of course, you wouldn't have enjoyed wearing it until everything possible had been done to find the owner, so deemed it best to put an advertise ment in the newspapers. I had num- Der of answers and one of them de- scribed the pin almost exactly. so replied to it. A very nice woman called and after she had paid me for the notice l gave her the pin. She was delighted
 "'What is her address?' I asked in a choked voice.
 "'I don't know. I'm sure. But what does it matter?' asked my mother-in- law.
 Now my lovely amethyst is gone forever!"
 Excuse me for laughing" apolo- gized Mrs. Langton's friend. "but 1t is funny. you know"