Year: 1879

unknown to him got out of her broug-
ham-for nc one ever came in cab
to Messrs. Moonstone's establishment
and moved up the shop in his direc-
tion, he looked at her through his half
shut eyes-for they were of the dreamy
order of beauty-and murmur to him
self:


"Now is this a swindler or bona fide
party ?" and many a bona fide party
did he serve with much external polite
ness who little dreamed of the suspi-
cion which she excited within him.


He thought it bad sign when they
took off their gloves, and under such
circumstances would always fail to
show them those specimens of rough
diamonds which wet finger can car
ry away with it. And when they Of
fered to pay for their little purchases
by check, it was quite pretty to hear
him explain, in his soft voice, how
the "system" of the firm was ready
money one, and that no exception could
be made in favor of any one, however
highly connected, who was not person
ally known to it,


One afternoon brougham stopped at
Messrs. Moonstone's establishment
with widow in it about the broug-
ham there could be no doubt; it was
not a private vehicle, but one of those
which are hired by the day or hour; the
appearance of the driver, not to men,
ton that of the horse, precluded the
possibility of its being the property
of the person who employed it If she
thought to be set down among &C. car
riage people" because she used such
conveyance, she must have been SAN
guine indeed. And so far as that was a
good sign. People that came to rob on
a scale worth mentioning, II am not
thinking of those who slipped any in
considered trifle, such as ring or
spray, into their muffs; they were al
ways bowed out of the shop into the
arms of policeman in plain clothes
who stood at the door, people, L say,
who wanted to swindle, were always
very particular about the vehicle that
Drought Unem.


What aroused suspicion in the watch
ful eyes of Mr.. John Riddel was the
widow herself. Like Weller, senior
(though without his matrimonial expe-
rience to excuse it), he had prejudice
against widows-at least in jewelers.
shops; nor am bound to confess, was
it altogether without grounds; the garb
and the mein of sorrow being the stalk
ing-horse under which good deal of
knavery is accomplished. And then
this widow was so bewitching to look
| at that he was naturally alarmed; from
every neat plait of her beautiful hair,
and every fold of her modest suit of
mourning, there seemed to him futter q
danger signal. He was wont to declare,
| indeed, that he knew she was after no
| good from the first moment he set eyes
on her; but that statement must,
think, be received with caution. If his
face grew severe and his manner pain
fully polite, as she came up to where he
stood, it was because he knew that
Boltby and Nation had got their eyes
upon him and were looking out for
some sign of weakness.


Il wish to see some rings" she said
in soft and gentle voice; " mourning
rings" and then she took off her glove,
displaying the whitest little hand i'm
aginable


OF course, he could not help seeing her
hand, nor yet her face, from which she
had put back her veil. 1t wore an ex-
preston of sadness, but also one of en-
franchisemeDt and content; it seemed
to say "My husband was very un-
worthy of me; but he has left me free,
and forgive him."


Who has not seen such widows, who
wear their weeds almost as if they
were flowers, and who have apparently
selected black as their only wear, be-
cause it looks becoming to them I've
often thought if could have the choice
of my own calling, that, next tC
being" champion to lady," should
like to be a young jewelry trying on
rings. 1t must be almost as good as
bigamy, trigamy, polygamy, and with
none of the risks.


Mr.. Riddel said:


"Allow me, Madame, !" in his mos
honeyed voice, and slipped ('' eased" h,
called 1t, and certainly it was very easy