The Argosy — page 78: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Lady Ennerdale’s Fewels. 65, “Can I ever forget it? Never a day passes, or a night either for that matter, but what I mourn for my poor lost necklace.” ‘¢ Should you not like another one ?” “'VYes—and No.” ‘¢ Explain yourself.” “Show me the woman who would not like to have a diamond necklace. But if I had another I should be for ever worrying myse}: about its safety. I should never feel happy except when it was locked up at your bankers’.” ‘When I called in at Hunt and Roskell’s this afternoon they showed me such a lovely necklace.” “rxhnle? “Your mouth would have watered had you seen it. They only wanted six thousand guineas for it.” “Only, James! Who would be mad enough to spend six thousand guineas on a necklace P” ‘Plenty of people. Why, the one that you lost—or rather the one that was stolen from you—was worth considerably more than that.” ‘¢ And then it was a family jewel, which made it still more valuable,” said the Countess, with a sigh. . ‘Precisely so,” said the Earl, drily. He peeled himself a walnut before he spoke again. His wife sat gazing sadly into the fire. ‘¢ Now listen to me,” said the Earl. ‘‘ You know that I have been saving up for some time past in order that I might buy acertain piece of land which is sure to come to the hammer when poor old Twenty- man dies—and the doctors gave him up several weeks ago. But I have been thinking that as it must be very annoying to you to have no necklace to wear, and as Hunt’s people have such a magnificent sample on sale, I could not do better than invest six thousand guineas of my savings in the purchase of it. After all, you know, I don’t see why I need bother about that land. It was only a little fancy of mine that I should like to have it. Nothing more.” For a minute the Countess sat without speaking. Then she said, ‘You shall make no such sacrifice for me, James. I have made up my mind never to wear another diamond necklace as long as I live, so you need never offer to buy one for me.” “Think twice before you decide.” ““T have thought.” “Ts that your ultimatum ?” “Tt is—most emphatically.” Then she rose and went round to where her husband was sitting, and putting her arms round his neck, she stooped and kissed him. ‘“‘ You are too good to me. I don’t deserve so much kindness,” she murmured; and the Earl felt a tear on his forehead. He peeled another walnut and ate it in silence. Then he rose. “Excuse my leaving you,” he said. “I shall be back in three minutes.” OL, XXL F cConniclooolkks (C(O)