The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-08-20
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XXvIII


 her companion and reflected. Any thing was better than that they should talk to themselves. With the | feeling that they were approaching | dangerous ground she had care | fully led the conversation away from their affairs.
 l Surprisingly enough, she was | finding the experience of lunching
 with her husband not disagreeable.
 He was entertaining, she admitted. Handsome even. It did not seem
 possible, or if possible at least not
 at all likely, that this man should have stopped to punish his nephew | by thwarting him in a marriage. ! Yet he had intimated at Twilands that when their marriage had been arranged young Barry's inclinations were not unknown to him. "Ill explain if I may" MT Town send said as though he read her thoughts. After l returned from White Sulphur Barry told me he was in love with girl he had met recently, vetoed it immediately because I wanted him to marry Miss Dover. Her father and have looked forward to such a marriage for years. I suppose the day for such arrangements by parents Is over but we hadn't realized that. Barry refused even to listen. As matter of fact, though I did not realize 1t at the time. Genevieve- fine girl, too--positively declined to marry Barry. She is in love, it seems, with a young man in my office, peniless nobody"
 Like me-" Mona offered.
 "Not at all like you. You should see him." The next instant MT Townsend paused with concern. Mona had seen young Ashcroft. She had indeed been robbed in him!
 At any rate, please believe me-, he floundered. T did not know when I asked--or had Garretson ask-you to marry me that l was thwarting Barry. Please believe mel"
 You knew you didn't want him to marry the girl whom he'd spo- ken," Mona said. You knew-well, that was threatened to change your will to effect his inheritance. l don't know just how but I've heard about it. You didn't want him." she went on bravely, ito marry the girl he wanted to marry. You do not wish him to make success of the mine either. You don't want Barry to do naything except follow your plans and schemes and ideas. It isn't his fault"
 The waiter, lowering over them, filled a glass with tinkling ice and poured in water.
 You mean" Mir Townsend be- gan coolly, his eyes glinting, that I am treating Barry badly because his father stole my fiancee. Well, since he did, perhaps that's my view"
 He set down the glass after a pause, 'I did not invite you to lunch, however, to discuss Barry. The subject is painful to me. We have an errand later; I've gift for you. I selected it some time ago. Maybe you've heard of it. A huge diamond called the Empress of Peru. It's yours. Wilmington. my jeweler, has set it for you in necklace. Too large really but worth that rather varying amount, a kings ransom!" "You've bought The Empress for me?" .,, "You've heard of it then?" He glanced at her sidewise.
 "Of course I've heard of 1t. who hasn't? It's been in the newpa. pers. But you've bought 1t for me!
 They rode in a taxicab to with Iington's. At once they were ushered into a private room and Mona, not unaware or displeased by attention bestowed upon her husband, saw that he was recognized as a man of affairs and importance. She felt that If theH had come to purchase shirt studs their reception would have been no less gracious. The busy little manager vel comed them and, smiling. rose without words to swing open the huge safe behind him and bring forth a red velvet box. Two men stood on guard In the doorway. The Empress was not bauble to be tossed about carelessly.
 The little man opened the case and displayed the necklace. Mona seeing him. wondered Idly if any thing In this world--save Barry who was denied her--couid mean as much to her as this Jewel meant Co nr Wilmington.
 He laid tho necklace gently tn | her hands. 1t seemed at once marvellous and pathetic. Her nus.