The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-08-06

price OF 420 pounds upon Il. meaning
to accept 800, 80 that we haggled for
two hours by the clock and had then
done business. He took the rubies
away with him. while caused the
further sum TO be set against him In
the ledger. where already there were
so many unpaid items under the name.
He owed me 5000 pounds at the least.
but could not press the account. or I
should have lost him: and while was
often sore troubled for lack OF the
money. l knew that I should get II at
his death. and so aided his jewel-hun-
ger. This was prodigious. All the
gems that sold-watches, necklaces,
tiaras. brooches and breastpins. were
conveyed at once to the great safe In
his bedroom and there immured. No
one ever saw them but himself His
wives. both Of whom were dead, had
scarce enjoyed the possession OF n bar
maids jewelry. The passion of the
collector. OF the hungerer after stones,
alone consumed him. or all his mean
ness. this was the most contemplate
this hiding OF fair treasure from tho
light II lived upon-this gross hoard
ing Of beautiful things for one mans
selfish enjoyment
When he left Bond street that day.
crying at my door, so I'm going to
give something away, am I?-but
amt, Sutton, l ain't'-and walking
OF as though he had found satisfac-
ton In the negative thus conveyed to
me. / picked up the paper, and read
again that young BERTHE Watts was at
last engaged to the Hon. Eva Bentley,
and that the wedding was TO be cele-
brated in a months time. Every one
in town said that old Harningham
wo1ld do something for Watts when
the time for the marriage actually
came; and It was gossip in the clubs
that her people had given their CON
sent-for they were historically poor
only upon the sincere assurance
from their daughters flance that his
uncle really was very fond of him, and
would present him with a handsome
check on the wedding day. But here
was the announcement OF the wedding.
and the old curmudgeon had just said
being reader in speech with me.
perhaps, than with any one of his few
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES he did not mean
to give the young people n halfpenny.
1t did occur to me that possibly he
might have bought the ruby bracelet
for the exceedingly pretty girl to
whom his nephew was engaged; but
in this l was mistaken, as you shall
fnt %
OF the whole problem deepened
, when / learned later on in the
smoking room OF my club that
the marriage was likely to be
postponed, and something OF scan
dial to ensue. BERTHE Watts, they said,
was going about like n ravenous beast,
seeking what financier he could de-
YOUR His opinion of his uncle was
expressed IN phrases of which the
chief ornament was appalling curses
and maledlctions. He declared he
would have the whip-hand OF him
yet would make him pay hand
somely for all the trouble he had put
: people to-in short, behaved like n
man who was absurdly in love, regard
less Of that financial prudence which
Is so dear to the sight of parents and
4 of guardians. Even he, however, could
not foresee the strange thing about %
happen to him, or the very curious OPP
portunity which was shortly TO be his.
A week passed. There was no def
mite announcement OF any postpone
nnent of the arrangements noted by
The Hyde Park Gazette. nor did such
part OF society as is represented by
the tonguesteTs, hear that BERTHE had
persuaded his uncle. The thing was a
kind of deadlock in its financial aspect
until at last the world of Belgravia
knew that the young lady's father
Lord Varnley, had consented to let
the wedding be. and to trust to Harm.
ingham's better sense when the time
Of the accomplishment came. | saw
Watts one day driving with his fianceC
near the Achilles statue, and thought
that he looked glum enough; but he
came to me on the following morning
for a diamond aigrette, and although
he couldn't pay for 1t let him have
It.
It'll be all right IN q month. SUIT
ton" said he; you know the old
chaps hard enough, but he cant let
me marry on nothing a year, can he
now?"
said that the thing was possible.
and for his own sake ventured to hint
that It was even probable, an opinion
which he took in no good part, suck
ing his stick silently for a while, and
then laughing with poor little
chuckle that seemed to come from
the very top OF his head
We'll" he exclaimed at last, cts
devillsh rough OH a fellow to have a
relation Of that sort. isn't it?--a posi-
tive disgrace to the family. / wonder
what the old blackguard is going to
give me for q wedding present Did
he ask you to show him any American
uckers, by the way? I shouldn't won.
dor II he presented me with brass
clock. and Eva with a guinea set in
jet-he's mean enough"
He bought q ruby bracelet here
some days ago" / remarked. as In par.
onthosis.
did no nowT" he exclaimed i'm a
tone Of pleasure II wonder II it's for
tho girllei but. Of course. II couldn't
be. He'd die TO give away anything
that once went into his old safe. Look
here. sutton. couldn't you charge him
an extra hundred, and go halves?