Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1921-07-30
THE BRACELET
BY MILDRED WHITE.
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q. 1921. western Newspaper Union. ]

Constance turned, with a sigh Of
Impotence, as handsome young
woman with somber eyes took the
chair close by. Though the car was
filled, she fancied that her companion
guest of the recent house party had
Unanswered for just this position.
Constance did not wish to act
friendly part which she did not feel;
she was too heartsick for pretense.
Roger, who mad loved her always
Constance thought of the always"
with a catch at her throat-Roger had
been mysteriously and unaccountably
won away by this gypsy-eyed stranger.
In her heart his fiancee knew that
the designing and INSCRIPTIONS one
must have carried into action the say
ing that "all is fair in love-" For it
was undoubtedly true that the young
woman of many charms and many
admirers had fallen in love desper-
ately and Immediately with Roger
who had been invited to the Carruth's
party to be her own cavalier, as a
matter Of course.
The GOODNESS in his demeanor which
puzzled her began, she remembered,
after his second evening in Coralie
DeBolPs playful society.
Then daily the breach widened, until
now, upon the return trip of the house
party, Roger found his chair on one
side of the Pullman, while she, with
Coralie installed nearby, found hers
upon the other. Coralie, in passing,
had stopped so that her dusky hair
brushed Rogers cheek, to whisper
some word or message. Presently the
dark-eyed young woman spoke.
"And you," she said bitterly "are
going back, I suppose, to continue the
holiday game, while l go back to
work. 1t has not occurred to you,
probably, Miss Fortunate Lynd, that
| am obliged to work. | am social
secretary to woman who prefers to
pay more for her stationery than she
pays her help. / have mother to
support. You have met my mother?"
Connie nodded.
"She is dear old lady, l quite
loved her. Perhaps you would like
me to exchange chairs so that she may
sit near you now?"
Heavens, mol" exclaimed Coraie.
Mother is all right opposite. /
thought I'd like to talk with you. l
suppose in her many condolences
mother enlarged upon her youthful
romance and runaway marriage with
her foreign music-teacher who was
my father.
Coralie was not listening. She had
bent her pretty head to examine the
jeweled bracelet that Constance wore.
The bracelet was as unusual as
valuable-one of Aunt Millicent's
gifts.
Queer" muttered the girl, chow one
person will have all the good gifts
of life while another"
When, after time, she looked down
absently toward her hand resting
against the chairs arm, Constance's
bracelet was no longer there. Without
alarm she arose to search her sur
roundings. The costly trinket must be
near by, but it was not. The conduc-
tor, happening along, joined her in the
search, the porter also was called,
passengers in proximity offered their
services, but the jeweled bracelet had
disappeared. Roger Compton came
slowly forward at the connection, con-
Germ banishing for a moment his
offended attitude.
Coralie's old mother came too--then
abruptly the conductor called for 8
detective who was in another section
of the train. Some of the passengers
were indignant at the suggestion of
search; others, willingly agreeable
Coralie smiled contemptuously at
Roger, much ado" she quoted with
a shrug of her shoulders. But Con-
stance white and wide eyed was gaz-
ing into the anxious face of Coralie's
old mother.
1.-The conductor" trembled the
mother, must be quite crazy, Miss
Lynd. He actually thinks my daughter
has your bracelet; insists, that he saw
her slip it into her blouse as he came
along My Coraie-the best girl that
ever lived"
Suddenly Constance bent to snap
open her travelling bag. With Cry she
caught from it's depths small velvet
case. Beneath the conductors eyes
she opened it. An unusual jeweled
bracelet glinted within "a mistake"
she said unsteadily. "Please pardon
me--everybody. Here's my brace
let"
When the excitement had abated
when the train went rolling into the
city station, Coralie DeBall stopped to
kiss forcefully Constance's averted
face. Into Constance's hand she
pressed hard object.
Tell me-" whispered the strange,
sOmber young woman, why you lied