Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

$ttS SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. tCQBsolidated Avg. 2, ISSI.] "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou AiinS't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's " SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1892. TBE TRUIS SOUTHRON, Kotabltafaed .Hm?, *2?* New Series-Toi. XI. Ne. 29. .** SB .. .x1.m Punished avsry Wednesday, N. G. OSTEEN, SUMTER, S. C. Two Dollars per annum-in advance. 1DVIRTISK?KX?8 . >a? Squ&re, first insertion.......,..........? 1 00 Ivery subs?quent insertion..... 50 Contracts for three months,, or longer will be made at reduced rates. AU conuaaaication> which subserve private ntftfesta vii! Recharged for as advertisements. Obitttar?es and tributes of respect will be jhacgedfor. \ James TO Wovm If 3fou ^o?d protect yourself from Pif??i?, Profuse, Scanty, Suppressed or Irregular Men? struation you must use r BRM>FI ELD'S FEMALE REGULATOR - i J' - CABTKRSVTXLK, April 28, ISSO. This will certify that two members of my Jjumediale family, after having suffered for >oaxs tresa Menstrual Irregularity, being treated without benefit by physicians, effect is truly wonderful- J. W. STKASGE. ' Book to ? WOJCAN " malled FREE, which contains ??alaablD Information on ?Il female diseases. BRADFIELD REGULATOR CO.. ATLANTA. GA. - rOM SAI*B BY AJLL 1>BU?WI8T8. Are You Interested ? Are you supering wi th any of the following symptoms: 'Loss of, or irregular appetite, hm of ?esb, a feeling of fuloess or weight ia the stomach, acidity, flatulence, a doll palo with a sensation*- of heaviness in the head, gffiteyy,'1 ;<pas?nation, derangement cf kid-j ney a, heart trouble, nervousness, sleepless? ness, etc. '. Dr. Holt's Dyspeptic Elixir will cureyou. W. A. Wright, the Comptroller General of j says, three bottles cared him after rf?edV??toos? everything else, lodge a F, Islar, Macon, Ga., says, Holt's Elixir accomplished what ail other remedies failed to do, a perfect core. X J5. Panifia, Ft. Gaines, Ga., writes : "I have ao hesitancy in recommending it, as it cored me of dyspepsia. For any fbuher information inquire of J $?ur druggist. For sale by all druggists. Jfor Infants and CMldren. Caatcarfa promotes P?gertton, and overcomes Flatulency, Constipation, Sour Stomach, Dtarxhcea, and' Feverishness. . Tins 13? child ia rendered healthy ? nd its sleep natural. ' Casto ria. contains no MorphiDO or other narcotic property. *^nni*B>?SfcttlS>'??>> w?YTadapted "to 'children that ? recommend it as superior to any prescription known to me" EL A. ARCHER, M. D., O^ord St., Brooklyn, N. Y. in my practice; and find it to affections of children. " AlXL EQBKHTSO??, M. D.. 1067 3d Ave., New York. knowledge and observation gastorfr is aa excellent medicine as a laxative and relieving i~and general'system very .Kahy mothers have told me of its ex? their chfldren." Da. G. C. OSGOOD, Lowell, Mass.. Coao>A2ET, 37 Kurray Street, N. T. THE SEBOND^ NATIONAL BAKE, OP SUMTER. STATS, CITY AND COUNT? DEPOSI? TORY, SUMTER, S. C. Paid ap Capital ..... $75,000 00 Surplus Fond ...... 10,000 00 Transacts a General Banking Business. Careful attentioo^grven to collections. SAYINGS DEPARTMENT.* Deposits of $1 and upwards received. In? terest allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum. Payable quarterly, on first days of January, April, July and October. E. M. WALLACE, H4|*?C Vice President. ^ ag. ^Cashier. S3JMTER, S C. ?*???TY DEPOSITORY. Transacts a general Banking business. Also hes A Savings Bank Department Deposite of $1.00 and upwards received. Interest calculated at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, payable quarterly. W. F. 6- HAINSWORTH, A. WHITS, Ja., President. Cashier. Aug JU; 3 <-> :>? i -t .J. :-s-; m g. ILYA DENTIST. Office OT ER BROWNS & PURDY'S STORE. Entrance on Maia Street, Between Browns ? Purdy ?ad Durant ? Soo. OFFICE HOURS: 9 to &3&; 2 to 5 o'clock. Sumter, S. C , April 29._ Qt. W. BICE, D. D. S. Of See over Bo gio7 s New Store, K2T&A5CK OM MAIN STREBT SUMTER, S. C, . Office Honrs.-9 to 1:30 2:30 to 5. "3*1*8 - ? _ Dr. T. W. BOOKHART, ? .j PENTAL SURGEON. v "Office over Buitman & fire's Shoe Store. KNTBANC2 ON MAIN STRKET. SUMTER, S. C. Office Honrs-9 to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5. April 17-o Ssirar SPRINGS MINERAL WATER A Safe, Pieasan and Effective Remedy for al diseases of the IJ ACTS ON THE BOWELS, ^ ? jCtEA!fSfcS~TaE SYSTEM, V AND REGULATES THE LIYER, is a specific for most *TEM?Ltf D?50RDERS. SIMPSON & SIMPSON, Proprietors, Glenn Springs, S. C. For sale bj all leading Druggists. ii mm SIP PUK I know more about it than anyone else in the world, its present owner not excepted. I can give its whole history, from the Cingalese who found it, the Spanish adventurer who stole it, the car? dinal who bought it, the pope who gra? ciously accepted it, the favored son of the church who received it, the gay and giddy duchess who pawned it, down to the eminent prelate who now holds it in trust as a family heirloom. It will occupy a chapter to itself in my forthcoming'work on "Historic Stones," where full details of its weight, size, color and value may be found. At pres? ent I am going to r?late an incident in its history which, for obvious reasons, will not be published-which, in fact, I trust the reader will consider related in strict confidence. I had never seen the stone itself when I began to write about it, and it was not until one evening last spring, while stay? ing with my nephew, Sir Thomas Acton, that I came within measurable distance of it. A dinner party was impending, and at my instigation the bishop of Northchurch and Miss Panton, his daughter and heiress, were among the invited guests. The dinner was a particularly good one, I remember that distinctly. Ia fact, I felt myself partly responsible for it, having engaged the new cook-a talented young Italian pupil of the admirable old chef at my club. We had gone over the menu carefully together, with a result refreshing in its novelty, but not'so dar? ing as to disturb the minds of the inno? cent country guests who were bidden thereto. The first spoonful of soup was reassur? ing, and I looked to the end of the table to exchange a congratulatory glance with Leta. What was amiss? No nre? sponse. Her pretty face was flushed, her senile constrained; she was talking with quite unnecessary empressement to her neighbor, Sir Harry Landor, though Leta is one of those few women who un? derstand the importance of letting a man settle down tranquilly and with an un disturbel mind to tb?> business of dining, allowing no topic of serious interest to come on before the releves, and reserv? ing mere conversational brilliancy for the entremets. Guests all right? No disappointments? I had gone through the list with her, se? lecting just the right people to be asked to meet the Landors, our new neighbors. Not a mere cumbrous county gathering, nor yet a showy, imported party from town, but a skillful blending of both. Had anything happened already? I had been late for dinner and missed tb o ar? rivals in the drawing room It was Leta's fault. She had got into a way of couoing into my room and putting the last touches to my toilet. I let her, for I am doubtful of myself nowadays after many years' dependence oh the best of valets. Her taste is generally beyond dispute, but ? lay she had indulged in a feminine vagary that provoked me and made me lat ? for dinner. "Are you going to wear your sapphire, Uncle Paul?" she cried in a tone of dis? may. "Ob, why not the ruby?" "You would have your way about tbe table decoration," I gently reminded her. "With that service of Crown Derby repousse and orchids the ruby would look absolutely barbaric: Now, if you would have had the Limoges set, white candles and a yellow silk center" "Oh, but-Fin so disappointed-I wanted the ^bishop to see your ruby-or one of your engraved gems" ' "My dear, it is on the bishop's account I put this on. You know his daughter is heiress of the great Valdez sap? phire" *Of course she is, and when he has the charge of a stone three times as big as yours what's the use of wearing it? The ruby, dear Uncle Paul, pleaser She was desperately in earnest I could see, and considering the obligations which I am supposed to be under to her and Tom, it was but a little matter to yield, but it involved a good deal of ex? tra trouble. Studs, sleeve links, watch guard, all carefully selected to go with the sapphire had to be changed, the em? erald which I chose as a compromise re? quiring more florid accompaniments of a deeper tone of gold, and the dinner hour struck a3 I replaced my jewel case, the one relic left me cf a once handsome fortune, in my fireproof safe. The emerald looked very well that evening however. I kept my eyes upon it for comfort when Miss Panton proved trying. She was a lean, yellow, dictatorial young person, with no conversation. I spoke of her father's celebrated sapphires. "My sapphires," she amended sourly; "though I am legally debarred from making any profitable use of them." Sie furthermore informed me that she viewed them useless gauds, which ought to be disposed of for the benefit of the heathen. I gave the subject up, and while she discoursed of the work of the Blue Ribbon Army among the Bosjes man, I tried to understand a certain dis? location in the arrangement of the table. Surely we were more or less in number than we should be. Opposite side all right. Who was extra on ours? I leaned forward. Lady Landor on one side of Tom; on the other who? I caught glimpses of plumes pink and green nod? ding over a dinner plate, and beneai .i them a pink nose in a green visage, with a nutcracker chin altogether unknown tome. A sharp, gray eye shot a sideway glance down the table and caught me peeping," and I retreated, having only marked in addition two clawlike hands, with point lace ruffles and a mass < ' brilliant rings, making good play with :s knife and fork. Who was she? At in? tervals a high, acid voice could be heard addressing Tom, and a laugh that made me shudder; it had the quality of the scream of a bird of prey or the yell of a jackal. I had heard that sort of laugh before, and it always made me feel like a defenseless rabbit. Every time it sounded I saw Leta'B fan flutter more furiously and her man? ner grow more nervously animated. Poor, dear girl. I never in all my recol? lection wished a dinner at an end so earnestly, so as to assure her cf my sup? port and sympathy, though without the I i faintest conception why either should be I i required. The ices at last. A menu card, fold? ed in two, was laid beside me. I read it unobserved. "Keep the B. from join? ing us iu the drawing room." The B.? The bishop, of course. With pleasure. But why? And how? That's the ques? tion, never mind "why." Could I lure lr?m into the library, the billiard roora, the conservatory? I doubted it, and I doubted still more what 1 should do with him when I got him there. The bishop is a grand and stately ec? clesiastic of the mediaeval type, broad chested, deep voiced, martial of bear? ing. I could picture him charging mace ?n hand at the head of his vassals, OT delivering over a dissenter of the period to the rack and thmnhscrew, bnt not pottering among rare editions, tall copies and Grolier bindings, nor con? descending to a qniet cigar among the tree ferns and orchids. Leta mnst and should be obeyed, I swore, neverthe? less, even if I were driven to lock the ?oor in the fearless old fashion of a by? gone day and declare Td shoot any man who left while a drop remaped in the bottles. fi The ladies were rising. The la/ly at the head of the line smirked and nodded ?er pink plumes coquettishly at Tom, while her hawk's eyes roved keen and predatory over ns all. She stopped sud? denly, creating a block and confusion. *4Ah, the- dear bishop! Yon there, md I never saw youl " You must come md have a nice long chat presently. Bye-by P She shook her fan at him over ny shoulder and tripped off. Leta, pass? ing me last, gave me a look of profound lespair. *Ah, the dear Irishop! You there, and J -never saw you?' "Lady \Carwitcbetr' SOTiebody, ex? claimed. "I couldn't believe my eyes." "Thought she was dead or in penal ?ritude. Never should have expected ?see,her here," said some one else be lind me confidentially. "What Carwitchet? Not the mother >f the Carwitchet who"-- - "Just so. The Carwitchet who" Tom assented with a shrug. " We needn't jo further, as she's my guest. Just my nek. I met them at Buxton, thought ;hem uncommonly good company-in ?act. Carwitchet laid me under a great pbligation about a horse I was nearly let in for buymg4-and gave them a general invitation here, as one does, you know. [Jever expected her to. turn up with her tuggagii tm^ afternoon justibeforedin aer; to stay a week or a fortnight if Car? witchet can join her." A groan of sym? pathy ran aro?o?'the table. xeIi' can't "be aelped. Tve told you this just to show that I shouldn't have asked you here to meet this sort of people of my own free trill, but, as it is, please say no more iboutthem." The subject was not drop? ped by any means, and I took care that it should not be. At our end of the ta? lle one story after another went buzzing ?round-sotto voce ont of deference to Tom, but perfectly audible. "Carwitchet? Ah, yes. Mixed up in that Rawlings divorce case, wasnt be? A. bad lot. Turned out of the Dragon 3-uards for cheating at cards, or picking pockets or something-remember the row at the Cerulean club? Scandalous exposure-and that forged letter busi less-oh, that was the mother-prosecu? tion hushed up. somehow. Ought to be ?erring fourteen years-and that busi? ness of poor Farrars, the bankers-got lold of some of his secrets and black? mailed him till he blew his brains >ut" It was so exciting that I clean forgot the bishop; till a low gasp at my elbow startled me. He was lying back in his mair, his mighty shaven jowl a ghastly white, his fierce, imperious eyebrows irooping limp over his fishlike eyes, his splendid figure shrunk and contracted. He was trying with a shaking hand to pour out wine. The decanter clattered igainst the glass and the wine spilled on the cloth. 'Tm afraid youll find the room too wann. Shall we go into the library." He rose hastily and followed me like a iamb. He recovered himself once we got into ihe hall, and affably rejected all my proffers of brandy and soda-medical idvice-everything else my limited ex? perience could suggest. He only de? manded his carriage "directly," and that Miss Panton should be summoned forth? with. I made the best use I could of the time eft me. 'Tm uncommonly sorry you do not kel equal to staying a little longer, my ord. I counted on showing you a few rifles of precious stones, the salvage 'rom the wreck of my possessions. Notti? ng in comparison with your own collec ?on." The bishop clasped his hand over his leart. His breath came short and quick. "A return of that dizziness," he ex? plained with a faint smile. "You are :hinking of the Valdez sapphire, are you lot? . Some day," he went on with forced composure, "I may have the pleasure of showing it to you. It is at my bant? er's just now." Miss Panton's steps were heard in the hall. "You are well known as a connoisseur, Mr. Acton," he went on hurriedly. "Is your collection valuable? If so, keep it safe; don't trust a ring off your hand, or the fcey of your jewel case out of your pocket till the house is clear again." The words rushed from hi3 lips in an impetuous whisper; he gave me a mean? ing glance and departed with his daugh? ter. I went back to the drawing room my head swimming with bewilderment. ;*What! The dear bishop goueF' screamed Lady Carwitchet from the central ottoman where she sat, sur? rounded by most of the gentlemen, all apparently well entertained by her con? versation. "And I wanted to talk over old times with him so badly. His poor wife was my greatest friend. Mira Montanaro, daughter of the great banker, yon know. It's not possible that that miserable little prig is my poor Mira's girl. The heiress of all the Montanaros in a black Lice gown worth twopence! When I think of her mothers beauty ! and her toilets! Does she ever wear ; the sapphires? Has any one ever seen j her in them? Eleven large stones in a j lovely antique setting and . the great Valdez sapphire-worth thousands and j thousands-for the pendant."v.^p one ? replied. "I wanted to get ? ri&SSJtrt of ? the bishop" tonight. It used to *make j him so majd when I wore this." She fumbled at the laces at her throat and clawed out a pendant that hung to a velvet around her neck I fairly gasped j when she mo ?ed her hand. A sapphire ? of irregular shape flashed out its bin3 lightning on us. Such a stone! A true, ' rich, cornflower blue even by tha wretched artificial light, with soft, ve vety depths of color and dazzling cleai ness of tint in its lights and shades stone to remember! I stretched out m hand involuntarily, but lady Carwitche drew back with a coquettish squeal "No! no! You mustn't look any closei Tell me what you think of it now. Isri it pretty?" "Superb," was all I could ejaculate staring at the azure splendor of tha miraculous jewel in a sort of trance. She gave a shrill, cackling laugh o mockery. "The great Mr. Acton taken in by . bit of Palais Royal gimcrackery! Wha an advertisement for Bogaerts et Cie. They are perfect artists in frauds. Don1 you remember their stand at the firs Paris exhibition? They had imitation there of every celebrated stone; but never expected anything made by ma; could delude Mr. Acton, neverl" An< she went off into another mocking cackle, and all the idiots around hei haw-hawed knowingly, as if they ha< seen the joke all along. I was too be wildered to reply, which was on th whole lucky. "I suppose I mustn't tel why I came to give quite a big sum ii francs for this?" she went on, tapping her closed lips with her closed fan, an< cocking her eye at us all like a parro wanting to be coaxed to talk. "It's J queer story." I didn't want to hear her. anecdote, es pecially as I saw she wanted to tell it What I did want was to see that pendan again. She had thrust it back amom her laces, only the loop which held i to the velvet being visible. It was se with three small sapphires, and evei from a distance I clearly made them ou to be imitations, and poor ones. I felt ? queer thrill of self mistrust. Was th< large stone no better? Could I, even fo: an instant, have been dazzled by a sham and a sham of that quality? The event? of the evening had flurried, and conf usec me. I wished to think them over ii quiet I would go to bed. My rooms at the Manor are the best in the house. Leta will have it so. J must explain their position for a reason to be understood later. My bedroom is in the southeast angle of the house; il opens on one side into a sitting room ir the east corridor, the rest of which is taken up by the suite of rooms occupied by Tom and Leta^and on the other side into my bathroom, the first room in th? south corridor, where the principal guest chambers are, to one of which it was originally the dressing room. Passing this room I noticed a <?ouple of house? maids preparing it for the night an-I dis? covered with a shiver that Lady Car witchet was to be my next door neigh? bor.' t it gave me a turn. The bishop's strange warning must have unnerved me. I was perfectly safe from her ladyship. The disused dooi into her room was locked and the key safe -on the housekeeper's bunch. It was also nndiscoverable on her side, the recess in which it stood being com? pletely filled by a large wardrobe. On my side hung a thick soundproof portiere. Nevertheless, I resolved not to use that room while she inhabited the next one. I removed my possessions, fastened the door of communication with my bed? room and dragged a heavy ottoman across it. Then I stowed away my emerald in my strong box. It is built into the wall of my sitting room, and masked by the lower part of an old carved oak bureau. I put away even the rings I wore habitually, keeping out only an inferior catseye for workaday wear. I had just made all safe when Leta tapped at the door and came in to wish me good night. She looked flushed and harassed and ready to cry. "Uncle Paul," she began, "I want you to go np to town at once and stay away till 1 send for you." "My dear!"- I was too amazed to expostulate. "We've got a-a pestilence arnon j us," she declared, her foot tapping the ground angrily, "and the least we can do is to go into quarantine. Oh, fm so sorry and ashamed! The poor bishop! Ill take good care that no one else shall meet that woman here. You did your best for me, Uncle Paul, and managed admirably, but it was all no use. 1 hoped against hope that what between the dusk of the drawing room before din? ner and being put at opposite ends of the table, we might get through without a meeting" "But, my dear, explain. Why shouldn't tlie bishop and Lady Car witchet meet? Why is it worse for him than any one else?" "Why? I thought everybody na? heard of that dreadful wife of his who nearly broke his heart. If he married ber for her money it served him right, but Lady Landor says she was very handsome and really in love with him at first. The Lady Carwitchet got hold of her and led her into all sorts of mischief. She left her husband, he was only a rec? tor with a country living in those days, and went to live in town, got into a hor? rid fast set, and made herself notorious. You must have heard of her." "I heard of her sapphires, my dear. But I was in Brazil at the time." "I wish you had been at home. You might have found her out. She was fu? rious because her husband refused to let her wear the great Valdez sapphire. It had been in the Montanaro family for some generations, and her father settled it first on her and then on her little girl -the bishop being trustee. He felt obliged to take away the little girl and send her off to be brought up by SOIIIH old aunts in the country, and he locked up the sapphire. Lady Carwitchet tells as a splendid joke how they got the copy made in Paris, and it did just as well for people to stare at. No wonder the bishop hates the very name of the stone." "How long will she stay here?" I asked dismally. "Till Lord Carwitchet can come and escort her to Paria to visit some Ameri? can friends. Goodness knows when that will be? Do go np to town, Uncle Paul!" I refused indignantly. The very least I could do was to stand, by my poor young relatives in their troubles and help them through. 1 did so. 1 wore that inferior catseye for six weeksl It is a time I cannot think of even now without a shudder. The more 1 saw of that terrible old woman the more 1 de? tested her, and we saw a very great deal of lier. L'-ta kept her word and neither accepted nor gave invitations all that tune. We were cut oil from all society but that of old Genend Fairford, who would go anywhere and meet any one to to get a rubber after dinner; the doctor, a sorting widower, and the Duberlys, a giddy, rather rackety young couple who had taken the Dower House for a year. Lady Carwitchet seemed perfectly content. S'ne reveled in the soft living and go??l fare of the Manor House, the drives in Leta's big barouche mu! Do? menico's dinners, as one to whom short commons were not unknown. She had a hungry waty of grabbing and grasping at everything she could--tho shillings she won at whist, the best fruit at des? sert, the postage stamps in the library inkstand-that was infinitely suggestive. Sometimes I could have pitied her, she was so greedy, so spiteful, so friendless. She always made me think of some wick? ed old pirate putting into a peaceful port to provision and repair his battered old hulk, obliged to live on friendly terms with the natives, but his piratical old nostrils a-sniff for plunder, and his piratical old soul longing to be off ma? rauding once more. When would that be? Not till the arrival in Paris of her distinguished American friends, of whom we heard a great deal. "Charming people, the Bokums, of Chicago, the American branch of the English Beau? champs, yo^ knowP They seemed to l^e taking an unconscionable time to get there. She would have insisted on being driven over to Northchurch to call at the palace, but that the bishop was un? derstood to be holding confirmations at the other end of the diocese. I was alone in the house one afternoon, sitting by the window toying with the key of my safe and wondering whether 1 dare treat myself to a peep at my treas? ures, when a suspicious movement in the park below caught my attention. A black figure certainly dodged from be? hind one tree to the next, and then into the shadow of the park paling, instead of keeping to the footpath. It looked queer. I caught up my field glass and marked him at one point where he was bound to come into the open for a few steps. He crossed the strip of turf with giant strides and got into cover again, but not quick enough to prevent me recognizing him. It was-great heavens -the bishop! In a soft hat pulled over his forehead, with a long cloak and a big stick, he looked like a poacher. Guided by some mysterious instinct I hurried to meet him. I opened the con? servatory door, and in he rushed, like a hunted rabbit. Without explanation 1 led him up the side staircase to my room, where he dropped into a chair and wiped his face. "Ton are astonished, Mr. Acton," he panted. "1 will explain directly. Thanks." He tossed off the glass of brandy I had poured out without wait? ing for the qualifying soda, and looked better. .1 am in serious trouble. You can help me. Tve had a shock today-a grievous shock." He stopped and tried tc pull himself together. "I must trust you implicitly, Mr. Acton. I have no choice. Tell me what you think of this. " He drew a case from his breast pocket and opened it. "I promised you should see the Valdez sapphire. Look there!" The Valdez sapphirel A great, big, shining lump of blue crystal-flawless and of perfect color-that was all. I took it up, breathed on it, drew out my magnifier, looked at it in one light and another. What was wrong with it? 1 could not say. Nine experts ont of ten would undoubtedly have pronounced the stone genuine. I, by virtue of some mysterious instinct that has hitherto always guided me aright, was the un? lucky tenth. I looked at the bishop. His eyes met mine. There was no need ?f spoken word between us. "Has Lady Carwitchet shown you her sapphire?" was his most unexpected ques? tion. "She has? Now, Mr. Acton, on your honor as a connoisseur and a gen? tleman, which of the two is the Valdez?'" "Not this one." I could say naught else. "You were my last hope." He broke off and dropped his face on his folded arms with a groan that shook the table on which he rested, while I stood dis? mayed at myself for having let so hasly a judgment escape me. He lifted a ghastly countenance to me. "She vowel she would see me ruined and disgraced. I made her my enemy by crossing some of her schemes once, and she never for? gives. She will keep her word. I shall ai.pear before the world as a fraudulent trustee. 1 can neither produce the valu? able confided to my charge nor make the loss good. I have only an incredible story to tell," he dropped his head and groaned again. "Who will believe me?" "I will, for one." "Ah, you? Yes, you know her. She took my wife from me. Mr. Acton. Heaven only knows what the hold was that she ind over poor Mira. She en? couraged her to set me at defiance and eventually to leave me. She was an? swerable for ail the scandalous folly and extravagance of poor Mira's life in Paris -spare me the telling of the story. She left her at last to die alone and uncared for. I reached my wife to find her dy? ing of a fever, from which Lady Car? witchet and all her crew had fled. She was raving in delirium and died with? out recognizing me. Some trouble she had been in which 1 must never know op? pressed her. At the very last she roused from a long stupor and spoke to the nurse. 'Tell him to get the sapphire back-she stole it. She has robbed my child.' These were her last words. The nurse understood no English, and treated them as wanderings; but I heard them, and knew she was sane when she spoke."' "What did you do?" .*Tf7?V' ol the tico is tlo Valdez?1 "What could I? 1 saw Lady Car? witchet, who laughed at me and defied me to make her confess or disgorge. 1 took the pendant to moro than one eminent jeweler on pretense of having the setting seen to, and all have exam? ined and admired without giving a hint of there being anything wrong. I al? lowed a celebrated mineralogist to see it; he gave no sign" "Perhaps they are right and we are wrong." "No, no. Listen. 1 heard of an old Dutchman celebrated for his imitations. I went to him. and ho told mo at once that he hail been allowed by Monta? naro to copy the Valdez-setting and all -for the Paris exhibition. I showed him this, and ho claimed it for his own work at once, and pointed ont his pri? vate mark upon it. You must take your magnifier to find it-a Greek beta. He also told me that lie had sold it to Lady Carwitchet more than a year ago." "lt is a terrible position." "It is. My cotmsteo died lately. I ? have never dared to have another ap- ? pointed. I am bound to hand over the j sapphire to my daughter on her mar- . riage, if her husband consents to take tiie name of Montanaro." The bishop's face was ghastly pi and the moisture started on his brow, racked my brain for some word of cc fort. "Miss Panton may never marry." "But she wilir he shouted. "Tha the blow that has been dealt me tod My chaplain-actually, my chaplain t< me that he is going out as a temp?rai missionary to equatorial Africa, and 1 the assurance to add that he belie my daughter is not indisposed to accc pany him." His consuming wrath ac as a momentary stimulant He sat \ right, his eyes flashing and his br thunderous. I felt for that chapla Then he collapsed miserably. "1 sapphires will have to be produced, id. tined, revalued. How shall I come ( of it? Think of the disgrace, the rippi up of old scandals! Even if I were compound with Lady Carwitchet, 1 sum she hinted at was too monstre She wants more than my money. Hi me, Mr. Acton! For the sake of ye own family interests, help me!" "I beg your pardon-family inter?s 1 don't understand." "If my daughter is childless, her ne of kin is poor Marmaduke Panton, w is dying at Cannes, not married or lib j to marry; and failing him, your nephe ! Sir Thomas Acton, succeeds." My nephew Tom! Leta, or Let i baby, might come to be the possible : heritor of the great Valdez sapphi: The blood rushed to my head as 1 look at the great shining swindle before n "What diabolic jugglery was at wo when the exchange was made?" I e manded fiercely. "It must have been on the last occ sion of her wearing the sapphires in Lc don. I ought never to have left her o of my sight." "You must put a stop to Miss Pantoi marriage in the first place," I pronounc as autocratically as he could have do: himself. "Not to be thought of," he adm?tt? helplessly. "Mira has my force of cha acter. She knows her rights and si will have her jewels. I want you take charge of the-thing for me. it's in the house she'll make me produ it Shell inquire at the banker's, you have it we can gain time, if but f a day or two." He broke off. Carriaj wheels were crashing on the gravel on ?ide. We looked at each other in co sternation. Flight was imperative, hurried him down stairs and out of tl conservatory just as the doorbell ran: I think we both lost our heads in tl confusion. He shoved the case into n hands and I pocketed it, without thought of the awful responsibility was incurring, and saw him disappef. into the shelter of the friendly night. When I think of what my feelings we: that evening-of my murderous hatre of that smirking, jesting Jezebel who SJ opposite to me at dinner, my wrat'nfi indignation at the though; of the poe little expected heir, defrauded ere b birth; of the crushing contempt I felt fe myself and the bishop as a pair of wi less idiots unable to see our way out c the dilemma: all this boiling and surgin through my soul I can only wonder Domenico having given himself a hoi day, and the kitchen maid doing he worst and wickedest-that gout or jam dice did not put an end to this story a once. "Uncle Paul!" Leta was looking he sweetest when she tripped into m; room next morning. 'Tve news for yon She," pointing a delicate forefinge in the direction of the corridor, "is go ing! Her Bokums have reached Paris a last and sent for her to join them at th Grand hotel." I was thunderstruck. The longed fo; deliverance had but come to reuiov hopelessly and forever out of my reacl Lady Carwitchet and the great Valde: sapphire. "Why, aren't you overjoyed. I am We are going to celebrate the event by i dinner party. Tom's hospitable soul i vexed by the lack of entertainment w< had provided her. We must ask th? Brownleys some day or other, and the] will be delighted to meet anything ii the way of a ladyship, or such sman folks as the Duberly-Parkers. Then we may as well have the Blomfields, anc air that awful modern Sevres desserl service she gave us when we were mar? ried." I had no objections to make, and she went on, rubbing her soft cheei against my shoulder like the purring little cat she was: "Now, I want you tc do something to please me-and Mrs. Blomfield. She has set her heart on see? ing your rubies, and, though I know you hate her about as much as you do that Sevres china" "What! Wear my rubies with that! I won't Til tell you what I will do though. I've got some carbuncles as big as prize gooseberries, a whole set. Then you have only to put those Bohe? mian glass vases and caudelebra on the table, and let your gardener do his worst with his great forced, scentless, vulgar blooms, and we shall all be in keeping." Leta pouted. An idea struck me. "Or, I'll do as you wish, on one condition. Yon get Lady Carwitchet to wear her big sapphire and don't tell her I wish it." I lived through the next few days as one in some evil dream. The sapphires, like twin specters, haunted me day and night. Was ever man so tantalized? To hold the shadow and see the sub? stance dangled temptingly within my reach. The bishop made no sign of rid? ding me of my unwelcome charge, and the thought of what might happen in case of a burglary-a fire-an earth? quake-made me start and tremble at all sorts of inopportune moments. I kept faith with Leta, and reluctantly produced my beautiful rubies on the night of her dinner party. Emerging from my room I came full upon Lady Carwitchet in the corridor. She was dressed for dinner, and at her throat 1 I caught the blue gleam of the great ! sapphire. Leta had kept faith with me. i I don't know what I stammered in reply ? to her ladyship's glib remarks; my whole : soul was absorbed in the contemplation of the intoxicating loveliness of the gem. That a Palais Royal deception! incred? ible! My fingers twitched, my breath came short and fierce with the lust of possession. She must lia ve seen the cov? etous glare in my eyes. A look of grat? ified, spiteful complacency overspread her feature;-, a* she swept on ahead and descended the stairs before me. I fol- ! lowed her to the drawing room door. She stopped suddenly, and murmuring i something unintelligible, hurried back again. Everybody was assembled there that I expected_"to see, with an addition. Not a welcoiu\% one, by the look on Tom's face. He-#fcx>d on the hearthrug con? versing with a great, hulking high shouldered fellow, sallow faced, with a heavy mustache and drooping eyelids, from the comers of which flashed ont a sudden suspicious look as I approached, which lighted np into a greedy one as it rested on my rubies, and seemed unac? countably familiar to tuc, till Lady Car? witchet, tripping post me, exclaimed; "He has come .it last! My naught; naughty boy! Mr. Acton, this is n son, Lord Carwitchet!" I broke off short in the midst of my p lite acknowledgments to stare blank! at her. The ?apphire was gone! A gre; gilt cross, with a Scotch pebble like ? acid drop, was her sole decoration. "1 had to put my pendant away," si explained confidentially; "the clasp hs got broken somehow." I didn't belier a word. Lord Carwitchet contributed little 1 the general entertainment at dinner, bt fell into confidential talk with Mr Duberly-Parker. I caught a few unii telligible remarks across the table. The referred, I subsequently discovered, 1 the lady's little book on Northchurc races, and I recollected that the sprir meeting was on,- and tomorrow "Cn Day." After dinner there was great tal about getting up a party to go on Get eral Fairford's drag. Lady Carwitch< was in ecstacies and tried to coax nc into joining. Leta declined positively Tom accepted sulkily. The look in Lord Carwitchet's eye n turned to my mind as I locked up m rubies that night. It made him look g like his mother. I went round my fa tenings with unusual care. Safe an closets and desks and doors, I tried tbei alL Coming at length to the bathroon it opened at once. It was the hons maid's doing. She had evidently take advantage of my having abandoned th room to give it "a thorough spring cleai ing," and I anathematized her. Th furniture was all piled together an veiled with sheets, the.carpet and fei curtain were gone, there were ne\ brooms aboi.- As I peered around, voice close at my ear made me jumj Lady Carwitchet's! "I tell you I have nothing, not a per ny. I shall have to borrow my irai: fare before I can leave this. They'll b glad enough to lend it." Not only had the portiere been re moved, but the door behind it had bee: unlocked and left open for convenienc of dusting behind the wardrobe, might as well have been in the bed roon: "Don't tell me," I recognized Carwitch et's growl. "You've not been here a] this time for nothing. You've been col leering for a Kilburn cot or getting sut scriptions for the distressed Irish land lords. I know you. Now, Tinnotgoin to see myself ruined for the want of ; paltry hundred or so. I tell you the col is a dead certainty. If I could have go a thousand or two on him last week w might have ended our dog days million aires. Hand over what you can. You'v money's worth, if not money. Where' that sapphire you stole?" "I didn't. I can show you the receipt ed bill. All I possess is honestly com? by. What could you do with it, even i I gave it you! You couldn't sell it a the Valdez, and you can't get it cut nj as you might if it were real." "If it's only bogas, why are you al ways in such a flutter about it? Til d< something with it, never fear. Bane over." "I can't. I haven't got it. Ihadtc raise something on it before I left town.' "Will you swear it's not in that ward? robe? I dare say you wilL I mean tc see. Give me those keys." I heard a struggle and a jingle, ther the wardrobe door must have been flung open, for a streak of light struck through a crack in the wood of the back. Creep ing close and peeping through I could see an awful sight. Lady Carwitchel in a flannel wrapper, minus hair, teeth, complexion, pointing a skinny forefingei that quivered with rage at her son, whe was out of range of my vision. "Stop that, and throw those keys down here directly, or IH rouse the house. Sir Thomas is a magistrate, and will lock yon up as soon as look at you." She clutched at the bell rope as she ?poke. "1*11 swear Tm in ?anger of my life from you and give you in charge. Yes, and when you're in prison Til keep you there til 1 you die. Tve often thought Fd do it. How about the hotel robber? ies last summer at Cowes, eh? Mightn't the police be grateful for a hint or two? And how about" The keys fell with a crash on the bed, accompanied by some bad language in an apologetic tone, and the door slammed to. I crept trembling to bed. This new and horrible complication of the situation filled me with dis? may. Lord Carwitchet's wolfish glance at my rubies took a new meaning. They were safe enough, I believed but the sapphire! If he disbelieved his mother, how long would she be able t<> keep it from his clutches? That she had some plot of her own, of which th^ bishop would eventually be the victim, I did not doubt, or why had she not made her bargain with him long ago? But supposing she took fright, lost her head, allowed her son to wrest the jewel from her or gave consent to its being mutilated, divided. I lay in a cold per? spiration till morning. My terrors haunted me all day. They were with me at breakfast time, when Lady Carwitchet, tripping in smiling, made a List attempt to induce me to ac? company her and keep her "Bad, bad boy!" from getting among "those horrid betting men!" They haunted me through the long peaceful day with Leta and the tete-a tete dinner, but they swarmed around and beset me sorest when, sitting alone over my sitting room fire, I listened for the return of the drag party. 1 read my newspaper and brewed myself some hot strong drink, but there comes a time of night when no fire can warm and no drink cm cheer. The bishops despair? ing face kept me company, and his troubles and the wrongs of the future heir took possession of me. Tten the uncanny noises that make all olcWouses ghastly during the small hours began to make themselves heard. Muffled foot- ' 6teps trod the corridor, ?topping tolisten at every door, door latches gently clicked, ' boards creaked unreasonably, sounds of stealthy movement came from the j locked up bathroom. I The welcome crash of wheels at last j aud the sound of the front door bell. I j could hear Lady Carwitchet making her shrill adieu to her friends and her steps in the corridor. She was softly hum? ming a little song as she approached. I heard her unlock her bedroom door be? fore entering-an odd thing to do. Tom came sleepily stumbling to his room Later. I put my head out. "Where is Lord Carwitchet?9' * x "Haven't you seen him? He left us hours ago* Not come home,, eh? Weil, he's welcome 1 o stay away. 1 don't want to see more of him-" Tom's brow was dark ami Iiis voice surly. "I gave him to understand as much. " Whatever had happened Tom was evidently too dis? gusted to explain just then. I went back to my fire unaccountably relieved, and brewed myself another and a stronger brew. Il; wanned me this time, but excited ms foolishly. There must be some way out of the difficult}''. I felt now ;is if I could almost see it if ? gave my mind to it. Why-suppose there might be no difficulty after alli T?re bishop was a nervous old gentleman. He might have been mistaken al! through, Bogaerts might have been mis? taken, I might- Na leonid no* have been mistaken-or I thought not. i fidgeted and fumed and argued with myself till I found i should have no peace of mind without a look at the stone in my possession, and t actually wens to the safe and took the case oat. The sapphire certainly looked different by lamplight. I sat and stared and all but overpersnaded by better judgment into giving it a verdict Bogaert's mark -I suddenly remembered it I took my magnifiei and held the pendant tc? the light There, scratched upon the stone, was the Greek Beta! There came a tap on my door, and before 1 could answer the handle turned softly and Lord Carwitchet stood be? fore me. I whipped the case into my* dressing gcrwn pocket and stared at him. He was not pleasant to look at, especially at that time of night He had a disheveled, desperate air. his voice was hoarse, his red rimmed eye? wild. *T beg your pardon," he began emi? ly enough. "I saw your light burning, and thought, as we go by the early train tomorrow, you might allow me to consult you DOW on a little business of my mother's. " His ey eu roved about the room. Was he trying to find the whereabouts of my safe? "You know a lot about precious stones, don't you?" "So my friends are kind enough ta say. Won't you sit down? I have un? luckily little chance of indulging the taste on my own account,*' was my cau? tious reply. '.But you've written a book about them, and know them when you see them, don't you?" Now, my mother has given me something, and would like yon to give a guess at its value. Perhaps yon can put me in the way of disposing of itT "I certainly can do so if it is worth anything. Is that it?" I was in a fever of excitement, for I guessed what was clutched in his palm. He held ont to me the Valdez sapphire. How it shone and sparkled, like s great blue star. I made myself smile s deprecating smile as I took it from him, but how dare I call it false to its face? As weD accuse the ann in beaven of being a cheap imitation, I faltered and prevaricated feebly. Where was my moral courage, and where was the good, honest, thumping lie that should have aided me? "I have the best authority for recognizing this as a very good copy of a famous stone in the possession of the bishop of Northcburch," His scowl grew so black that I saw he believed me, and went on more cheerily: '*Thia was manufactured by Johannes Bogaert-I can give you his address and you can make inquiries yourself-by special per? mission of the then owner, the late Leone Montanaro. " "Hand it back!" he interrupted (his other remarks were outrageous, but satis? factory to hear); but I waved him off. I couldn't give it np. It fascinated me. I toyed with it, I caressed it I made it display its different tones of colo?. I must see the two stones together. I must eee it outshine its paltry rival. It was a - - - whimsical frenzy that had seized me-I can call it by no other name. "Would you like to see the original? Curiously enough, I have it here. The bishop has left it in my charge." The wolfish light flamed up in Car witchet's eyes as I drew forth the case. He laid the Valdez down on a sheet of paper, and I placed the other, still in its case, beside it In that moment they looked identical, except for the little loop of sham stones, replaced by a plain gold band in the bishop's jeweL Car? witchet leaned across the table eagerly, the table gave a lurch, the lamp tottered, crashed over and we were ?eft in semi darkness. "Don't stirf Carwitchet shouted. "The paraffin is all over the placer He seized my sofa blanket and flung it over the table, while i stood helpless. ''There, that's safe now. Have you any candies on the chimney piece? I've got matche8.,* He looked very white and excited *s he lit up. "Might have been an awk? ward job with ail that buming paraffin running about," he said quite pleasantly. "I hope no real b>nn is done." I was lifting the rug with shaking hands. The two stone? lay as I had placed them. Nol I nearly dropped it back again. It was the stone in the case that had the loop with the three sham sapphires! Carwitchet picked the other np hasti? ly. "So yon s3v this is rubbish?" he asked, his eyes sparkling wickedly, and an attempt at mortification in his tone. Caroi?clwt picked thc other np hmsWy. "Utter rubbishf I pronounced, with truth and decision, snapping up the case and pocketing it "Lady Carwitchet ?must?aave known it" ..?B^well, its disappointing, isnt it? Groodny, we shall not meet again." I shook hands with him m<3st cordial? ly. "GoodbT, Lord Carwitchet. SP glad to have met yon and your mother. lt has been a sonrce of the greatest pleasure, I assure yon." I have never seen the Carwitchets since. The bishop drove over next day in rather better spirits; Miss Panton had refused the chaplain. "It doesn't matter, my lord," I said to MID heartily. "We've all been under some strange misconception. The stone in your possession is the veritable one. i could swear to that anywhere. The sap? phire Lady Carwitchet wears is only an excellent imitation, and-I have seen it with my owu eyes- the one bearing Bogart's tnark. the < sk Beta."-Corn? hill Magazine. TStrw Try T7/li?. It w tit cost yon nothing nn>l will rtrre?y io you g?od. if y< ti h*re ? Congh, Cold, or ?ny trouble frith" Throat. Chest or fxtn?*. pr. King's New Discovery for Onsti?optionf Coughs and C"W.' is goa rant eeo" fe- give relief, or money will he paid buck. Sufferer* from La Grippe f?>crnd it just the thing and nnier ilg use hada speedy and perfect recot>ry. Try ? sample bottle at oar ?Spense atnd ream fer yotir-'cl! just how gm<d ? thing it is. Trial lef? ties free :?t J. F. W. DeLorme*s Pnz Ste*?, Large sixe &0c. and %