Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-10
otiA,<FCE XVII.
The G.!Nerin9 ca7ce.

The G,.cGcrin9 caIce.
Doris Missioner was affected much
mere deeply than sac wonl6 have
thought probable when she read the
a;do,-breathng proposal of marriage
f,om Bruxton Sends. To say that 1t
surprised her would he to set feminine
intuition at a discount. she had known
Cor long time .bAt Gaaas was in love
with her, and on several occasions had
hecl peIlloASly cltne to the necessity
OF accepting or rejecting him.
Mrs Missioner sent reply to Sands
with which. she told herself, he must
be content for the present When she
had written 1t. she dressed for dinner
rather earlier than usual, dined with
only little Dorothy March as a visa
Wis. and, after an hour or so spent in
working out pretty problems with
her youthful protegee, rang for her
limousine and was whirled away TO
dance at the home Of one of her dear
five hundred friends Mrs Missioners
arrival was an instant triumph. roy
al progress She laughed and chatted
with men who adored her, and with
women who would have done the same
If they had not been-wemen.
Yet there was a monotony about 1t
all to her, for although she was fond
OF society, she had seen the same
faces heard the same small talk, us
tened to the same music, and danced
the same dances many. many times IN
the course of the season. Just when
her vague wish for the unusual was
shaping itself into NATURALIZATION Oh
the grisly phantom boredom, little
stir at the entrance to the ballroom
heralded the arrival Of man VINO
quickly drove the little drab devil OF
ennui from his perch upon Mrs. Mis-
sioner's satin shoulder
The newcomer was tall person,
wearing the ordinary evening attire
of gentlemen. with addition, however,
OF SNOWY turban that crowned MS
long black hair, like a wreath OF snow
upon a darklins mountain-side. 1t
needed no second glance TO tell Mrs
Missioner that they had already met.
She knew 1t long before the Swami's
dark eyes swung their twin search
HSul SlGHtC III Itl uiiNNtici' ava ~
Missioner recognized readily the mys-
FERROUS stranger of the opera box. 1t
was the first time she had seen
him since the night in which she dis
covered the falsity Of her jewels. For
moment, the sight Of his swart face
and piercing eyes recalled the pang
with which she had learned Of the loss
of the Maharanee diamond So it was
with a most gracious smile that she
interrupted an introduction by her
hostess and said:
We have met quite recently" as
she touched the tips of her white
gloved fingers TO those of the Orr
entail. She went on: You see l am
more composed than at our last meet
ing; but then, | dare say, you were not
troubled. Jewels, you know, mean SO
much to a woman"
Some jewels mean more Mrs. Mis-
sioner,' said the Swami suavely. Il
thoroughly understand the sense OF
loss-in fact, the bereavement that
came upon you when you found that
beautiful necklace was not what you
had supposed it to be-
81 rather imagine" Mrs. Missioner
returned, that you are not unfa-
miliar with the fact that it was the
loss OF one stone among the many
which really grieved me-"
You are right. my good friend,
returned the Swami. Il Will not pre-
tend to be Ignorant OF the value you
attached to the central gem-the Ma
haranee diamond You are not alone
He checked himself abruptly 1T was
stone which well might command If
lection from its pOssessor. Time was
when devotion would have been the
word"
They were strolling across the flooi
as they talked, and In a corner dis
tant from the music the widow seatec
herself on Louis Quinze chair ant
said, almost coaxingly:
II feel pretty sure you know mor'
about the history Of that jewel thai
do"
"IndeeI' was the S~ani'B only con
cesaion.
Yea, indeed and indeed" said tn
widow, with a gay little laugh. 20
course. sage cannot be expected t
occupy his thoughts with anything 5
frivolous as diamond, however beal
tiful. Yet | am convinced that if yo
were to unbend from your meditation
OF the occult long enough 10 scan you
memory, you would recall facts
connection with 1t that would be yer
Interesting to me-"
May | inquire your reason for f
thinking, dear MADAME
1T Is a reasonable request on you
part" she replied. Il remember N
husband told me the stone had con-