Morris tribune., 1913-02-28

Necklace
"She Paid the Price
By CLARISSA MACKIE

His handsome face was aglow with
love and admiration as he took the
lovely form in his arms and kissed her
eager, red lips.
Darling, you are more beautiful ev-
cry time l see you," he murmured.
"And you grow more blind" she
chided him playfully. 81 have been
waiting for you to come and tell me
what jewels shall wear tonight" She
turned to the dressing table and threw
back the lid of jewel box and remov-
ed the trays. Diamonds, sapphires and
emeralds blaZed in the light
'Wear your rubies, Edith, said Dick
Palmer, with a mysterious smile.
"Rubies? Don't tease, Dick. Those
are the only stones l really want and
do not possess. Shall 1t be diamondS?'
"Rubies tonight" insisted Dick, and
from an inner pocket Of his coat he
drew forth fiat leather case and plac-
ed it In her hands.
"Dick Palmer, you darlingy cried
Edith, and she showered kisses upon
him before she opened the box. When
she finally threw back the lid she was
awed by the beauty OF the stones her
husband had selected for her birthday
gift.
On bed of white velvet was coiled
a magnificent necklace OF fiawless M
bies, perfect in color and each stone
the size Of very large pea.
Dick lifted the necklace and clasped
Il around his wife's neck; then he stood
back to admire the rich red circle Of
Are against the whiteness Of her skin.
'You dear, extravagant boyr' muir
INJURED Edith as she turned to the mir
FOR to feast her eyes on the jewel. II
suppose you paid an enormous price
for it."
81 paid a pretty stiff price, but
guess it's worth it. / didn't buy it in
BufPam's 1t isn't a brand new neck
lace; neither is it reconstructed from
an old one. It's genuine antique said
to have belonged to an Asiatic ruler"
''Where did you find it, Dick?"
"'In Lenquith's on Fourth avenue.
I've had it month now, and Buffam
has been cleaning it up for me. Well,
l must run away and dress" Dick
kissed his wife again and left the
room.
Edith stood long before the mirror
watching the liquid fame of the ruby
necklace as she slowly turned her neck
At last she unclasped it and replaced
it within its case.
''Ill not wear it down to dinner. II
will be Il surprise for all of them when
tie ball begins she said to herself
and looked around for a place in which
to secret the case. Bhe large jewel box
would just fit into the tiny steel safe
sunk in the wall near the chimney
Before the inconspicuous door there
was hung a heavily framed square
painting, which could be moved aside
only by pressing knob on the other
side Of the room.
Now Edith selected a diamond brace
let-a dazzling serpent with ruby eyes
-and slipped it on her arm. Then she
closed and Locked the large jewel box
pressed the knob that moved aside the
square picture and placed the box il
the little safe. There was room after
all for the new jewel case containing
the ruby necklace, and after another
glimpse of the beautiful jewel Edith
tucked that in the safe, closed the stee
clad door, replaced the picture anC
went down TO dinner just as the gone
sounded.
hon ,% III
ness. A separate color scheme haC
been selected for each one. and The
whole harmonized in one glorious sir
rangement of flowers and palms.
There were several people staying a
the Palmers', and most of them were
gathered in the drawing room wher
Edith entered-the Maxfelds, husband
and wife; Eugenia Card, an old schoo
friend of Edith's, and Dicks father
HenryePalmer The fifth guest, Nine
Geulot had not yet joined them.
Just as the last strokes of the hal
clock died away there was a rustic OF
silk that hesitated outside the door
and then Nine. Geulot came swift,
Ia, her bright coloring enhanced b.
two vivid crimson poinsettias at he
breast. Her rich biue-black hair wa
cOiled in soft knot at the back of he
0hapely head, and above her low
thoughtful brow was placed a corone
Of diamonds. Nine. Geulot was a yer,
beautiful woman.
A thousand pardons, cherie," sh
cried penitently. "That so stupid Ma
RE Of mine has made what you cal
q middle of my toilet" She threw GU
her hands with a graceful gesture O
despair, and her long dark eyes dartet
from one smiling face to another.
Mrs. Palmer shook her charmin
head and looked at the vision in ambe
satin and diamonds. Dear Nine Geu
lot" she said sweetly, eff you want t
part with Marie / shall be delighted t
relieve you Of your stupid treasurer
''No, no." And they all laughed a
madame's dismay.
In SDit1 of the forthooynin0 hoU th