The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-06-18
Copyright. by w. G. Chapman.)


second time. l had heard him family
five minutes before, when my head
was as far in a basin as the limitations
of Partisan tableware would allow it
to go; but now he knocked imperious-
ly. and when opened to him he stood
hesitatingly with foolish leer upon
his face, and that which he meant for
discretion upon his lips.
Well" said |, what the devil do
you want? Can't you see I'm dress
ing?"
At this he looked with obvious pity
for me towards the basin, but quickly
recovered himself
Dame" said he, with fine Gascon
accent, there is lady waiting for
monsieur in the salon."
"a LADY," cried l with surprise;
who is she?"
II am but three days in Paris" re-
Piled he, land she is a stranger to me.
II monsieur prefers it, will ask her
some questions"
You will please do nothing of the
sort; did she give her name?"
81 seem to remember that she did,
but it has escaped me. l shall say
that you are engaged, and will see her
tomorrow; monsieur leaves Paris at
nine o'clock heinz"
He said this with another vulgar
leer, but turned round upon him fierce
ly, for / had begun to brush what Is
left of my hair.
"You impudent poltrooni" exclaimed
/; leave the room instantly, and tell
the lady that will be with her in five
minutes"
"Ah," said he, ut is like that then?
Very good; l shall safeguard your in
terests; trust in me. May 1 be per-
mittcd to light the candles?"
He SAID this with a fine eye to the
bill; but l sent him away after some
display of temper, and finished my
dressing quickly.
At the time of this occurrence I had
been in the French capital for one
week, being carried there by the an
Eouncement of the sale of the Countess
Eoccalini's Jewels
On the night of which / am
writing, my trading was done, and
n ridiculous promise to go to the opera
bali alone kept me in Paris. How the
promise came to be given 10 my friend
Tussal / cannot remember; but he had
assured me that the ball was the event
OF April.
BY the terms of his invitation was
to meet him at the Grand cafe at mid
night. and thence was to proceed to
the opera house at half-past twelve.
had determined to dine quietly at my
own hotel, and afterwards to spend the
intervening hours at the Theatre de Ia
Porte st. Martin; for which purpose
dressed at n comparatively early hour;
and dressing, received the stiff-necked
Gaseous message that a lady wished
to see me. Yet for what purpose she
came, or who she might be, had not
an idea and turned over hundred
theories in my mind as / descended to
the little reception room OF the hotel.
and there found her sitting by the I'M
covered table with railway guide be-
fore her, but obviously agitated, and as
obviously pretty.
Il am Bernard Sutton" said I; "if 1t
is possible that I can be Of any service
to you, the privilege is mine"
THANK you, a thousand times" said
she, speaking with an accent which
added to the charm of her English. II
have heard of you often from Madam
Carmalovitch. whose husband owned
the famous opal; you were very kind
to her"
81 was exceedingly sorry for her" l
replied; ARE you relation of hers?"
"Oh, MOI" she exclaimed; Il am
Mademoiselle Edile Bernier, and live
with my mother at 80. Rue Bolssiere.
You VIII laugh TO hear why / come to
you. It is about something you alone
can advise me upon, and. OF course,
you will guess II at once"
II won't waste your time by being
ambiguous" said / you have come
to consult me about some jewels; pray
let me see them"
There was no one else I'm the salon
at that time, the few people in the
hotel being at dinner The girl had,
therefore. no hesitation in opening a
bracelet case, which she had carried
under her cloak, and showing me a
plain band OF bold which served as a
mount for a small circle OF turquoise
and an exceedingly large rose pink
topaz, which possessed all the luster
OF a diamond
ITS exceedingly pretty" said /. "and
your stones are very good There is a
iltlo green NJ the UNae OF the larger
turquoises. but you will hardly match
the topaz I'm Paris Arc you seeking 10
know the value OF ~"
II would never ask that" she an.
swered quickly: 1T was gift from
my fiance, Mons. Georges Barre, whom
you may know by name"
! vow It was very bewltching TO
watch the rosy blush which suffused
her cheek when she made this confess
sion Yet she spoke with the ring OF
pride in her voice, and I replied to her
encouragingly while she put her treas
ure beneath her cloak, as though she
feared that other eyes than hers
should rest even upon the case OF -.
Mons. Barre is well known TO me
BY name" said Il his bust Of Victor
Hugo from last Years salon is at this
moment the chief ornament OF my
library. must now congratulate him
for the second time"
At this she laughed but the ripples
died away quickly upon her face, and
the look Of haunting fear again
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