Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-17

She hurried out, so the other women
could not see the poorness Of her
wraps. They finally secured a cheap
cab. and soon found themselves climb
ing the stairs to their shabby home.
All was ended for her: he was re-
hectinC that he had to he at work at
10 O'Clock that morning.
Sh- removed kar wraps before the
glass to have one last look al ner-
self in all her glory Suddenly she
uttered cry. The necklace was no
longer around her neck.
They were appalled,. Perhaps H. rad
been lost in the cab. Perhaps it fell
out in the street The husband
dressed and went back over the route
they had taken-but when he returned
he had found nothing. He went 70 the
police, TO the newspapers. TO Offer a
reWard--but the necklace was not
, found
In desperation her husband said to
her; Write to your friend that YOU
have broken the clasp Of NJ" nee l<lace
and are having it mended."
She wrote at his dictation. But at
the end Of week the necklace had
| not been found and they had lost all
hope. Her husband had aged i've
years. and he said eve must plan
AACfN ~ - fi'iIt titH IFdit$.
They took the box belonging 10 the
necklace to various jewelers. None
seemed 10 have sold the pearls. but
one jeweler showed them a necklace
| winch looked to them like the one they
| had lost. It would cost 40 900 frames
| they could have it for Sc 900.
The husband had $4,000 francs left
| him by his father. He set out TO Dor.
| row the rest. signing obligations. deal.
| ing with money sharps and giving
| away the joy and rest of all his re-
| naming days in exchange for the
francs necessary to replace the lost
| necklace. Finally, the sum was made
| up, the pearls were purchased and the
| borrowed trlnket was returned. You
| should have returned it sooner" said
tho friend coolly. Il might have
needed it,"
Inc young couple now knew the
horrible poverty of the needy. They
struggled and shaved TO pay off the
tremendous debt their carelessness
had brought upon them. She washed
dishes, using her rosy nails OH the
greasy pots and pans. Her husband
worked nights to exc out their mis-.
cradle existence. This toll and trou.
BILE went on for 10 long, weary years.
The wife looked old now She had
become the woman of the poor class
strong and hard and rough. But
sometimes she still thought of that
| pay evening of long ago, when she
| had been the center Of the ball. What
would have happened had she not
| lost the necklace" Who could
| know?
Then one Sunday. in the park. shs
| saw the rich friend whose necklace
she had replaced 10 years ago. The
friend was still young. still beautiful.
still charming.
The poor housewife was moved to
speak to her. And now that the great
| debt was paid she would tell her
friend about it. Why not? So she
went up 10 her. and said who she was.
oh my poor little friend" said
the rich woman. How you have
| changed"'
Yes, 1 have seen hard days. since
I have seen you-wretched days. and
| all because of you"
"Of me? How so?"
do YOU remember the pearl neck
lace you once loaned to me-"
Yes. What of it?'
well, I lost it,"
"What do you mean? You brought
! it hack"
81 brought you another just like it.
And for this we have been 10 long
| years paying the debt. You can real.
/ ize that it was not easy for us. who
| had nothing. But at last it is all
paid. and l am glad"
| The rich woman was hesitating.
you say you bought a necklace OF
pearls to replace mine?"
| "Yes. You never noticed 1t. then?
! They were very like"
The rich woman took the cracked
and worn hands of her friend in her
| own. MY poor, dear little friend.
| Why, my necklace was made of paste.
AT most it was worth only 500
| francs