Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1913 — SAPPHIRE PENDANT [ARTICLE]

SAPPHIRE PENDANT

A Lesson in Self-Denial and the £ Folly of Wealth and Display BY JUNE GOHAN. "It Isn't so much the value of the thing, but I love It better than anything that was ever given to me, that’s aIL" Antoinette flung out both hands with a tragic gesture that impressed even the deep lounging chair, and stared at the driftwood blaze in the huge fireplace. The dancing, sparkling flames remtn fled hlmof Antoinette’s eyes* someway. "When did you first miss it, Tony?” asked Phyllis, "This morning, only this morning. I always keep It on my dresser, Just sticking in the cushion, don’t you know. It was detachable from the bar pin, and could be worn as a pendant And, Ted. it was the loveliest old thing. Surely you must have seen it I always wear it with yellow.” *1 never know what color you wear,” Ted put in, dreamily. “Brute! You saw it, anyway, Phyllis, at dinner. It Is pear-shaped, a flawless sapphire surrounded by diamonds and very delicately set In platinum. I wore it to dinner right here at home, then we went to the theater and from there to a chafing dish studio affair up in Bristows' den.” "Telephone to them,” suggested Ted. "I did, the first thing this morning, and it has upset them awfully,. of course. They have only one servant, a Jap, and he’B so perfect you’d as soon accuse a bronze Buddha. And Phyllis declares she saw it on my neck when we got back.' I think I left it on the cushion.'’ “Take another look, Tony,” urged Phyllis. She waited until her sister had left the room, then turned her head toward Ted eagerly. “You know why she’s so worried?” “Keepsake?” “No. When our Aunt Mnriel died, Mrs. Crossley Bangs, you know, Ted, she left everything to Tony and me, but with a long string tied to the prise package. We were glvfen certain things every year for live years, and according to the way we treasured them, the final division of property was to be made. That happens in four days, and the pendant belonged to her. I haven’t lost anything so far. And we have had such beautiful things, my diamond cross was one, and two strings of pearls, and this pendant for Tony. It’s terrible, because if she doesn’t find it, she’ll surely lose her share.” Ted adjusted his eyeglasses, and looked attentive. “What a ridiculous old party she must have been,” he said meditatively. ‘Why not have an imitation one made, and pass it off on your trustees or guardians, or whoever you’ve got?” “Tony wouldn’t do a thing. She’d lose every dollar first. There’s Buddy out there. Isn’t he wonderful, Ted?” Ted grinned appreciatively. Anyone who was personally acquainted with Phyllis’ heir aparent, shared her opinion. Out on the broad sloping lawn strutted Buddy, four years old, and nearly as broad as he was tall. Just at the moment he was hauling a furry animal around by the neck. “It’s his Robber Kitten,” said Phyllis. “Stuffed?” inquired Ted. “Certainly it’s stuffed. Jack brought . it home few his birthday last week, and Buddy adores it We’re going for a walk, and leave you to console Tony. Be nice, Ted. She feels dreadfully.” Ted stood at the window watching the two pass down towards the beach. Buddy tagged along behind his mother, dangling the Robber Kitten. And Ted sighed. He had been a steady caller at Ptney Croft for months. He was not a wooer at first. Jack and he had been chums abroad the first year after Harvard. He envied him the whole thing, the big happy looking home up on the hill, the husbandhood and Buddy and Just the privilege of stretching out bis heels to warm before his own fireside. Only he wanted Tony for himself. Dear, thoughtless, irresponsible Tony! As if the Crossley Bangs inheritance could make any difference to him. He wanted to marry her, carry her away to Conyers Hall down on the Chesapeake, and see her queen it over the whole lot down these, his father, the old Major, and Dorlnda, his nurse, and all the rest He turned quickly at the sound of her st'eps behind him. She only came as high as bis chin, and just now, seemed taller, chin up and indignant. “Ted, there’s not another thing taken. Isn’t it strange? As if somebody knew what it meant to me to lose the pendant at this time.” “What do you care anyway? Money isn’t everything.” “It’s a whole lot Just the same. I don’t want to stay with Phyllis all my life. I’m going to take the money and start something.” ’ “I’ve got enough for two.” It was said. Antoinette looked up at him m dead silence. “Think it over, Tony,” he said gently. "I’m not such a bad sort, you know. There’s a bully old place down home, and dad, and we’d love you to death. Don’t bother to say anything now. I don’t want you to when you’re all worried over the other. I’ll come over Monday.” • “Not Monday, Ted,” she broke in. ft " 1 •Maybe you'll marry rib,” gamely fad smiled, and left her, and she

watched him until the tom of the road hid him from sight When Phyllis returned, it was dark •In. the sreat shadcrwyjhtog room, and only the firelight glowed on the beach sand walls. Over on the windowseat was Antoinette, staring still at that stretch of lonely shore road, her chin propper on her hand. “How much money do you suppose Aunt Muriel left us?” she asked, after a pause. i “Why, I don’t know, Tony. Nobody knows. She was very close mouthed. Of course she had the house on Gramercy Park from Uncle DaVe, and Chester got that, and most of the. fortune. She always said we were flighty and not sensibly brought up because mamma kept us abroad so much.” "Is money everything, Phyllis?” plaintively. “IPs (l good-deal, honey. It mafces the wheels take the up grade very neatly. I’m glad Jack has plenty for Buddy’s sake.” “I suppose that is why, but it isn’t everything. I’ve waited five years for this to come true, and fitted myself for it. She said we must settle down, and study, and take up serious pursuits, didn’t she? Well, we have. I’m sure I’ve grown up more the last two or three years under her system than ever before. She said for us to keep out of society and live way out here happily and simply. And you’re safely married and settled down. I’ve always intended to take the money and travel and Just have a good time with It, but now, someway, it doesn’t seem to amount to so much.” She looked over to where Buddy was industriously punching the Robber Kitten down lnto a nook under the hall stairs. It was five days before she remembered the Kitten. Every corner in the house had been searched for the lost pendant. Two detectives had been sent down from the city by Jack, and had even hopelessly alienated the good will of the Jap servant at the Bristows by queries.

The day came finally, and found the girls worried and helpless. About 2 o’clock, a roadster drew up before the house and Jack alighted with Mrs. Crossley Bangs’ lawyer, Tennett Owsley. Ted rose from his usual seat near Antoinette. "Oh, please don’t go, Ted," she said, wistfully. “You may as well be in at the finish, you know.” Ted held her hand a minute In his in a grip that sent the color to her cheeks, but he said nothing. Devoutly he prayed that the new dependence on his sympathy might last. While Owsley faced the rest for the reading of the final instructions in the Bangs’ will, he turned and played Idly with Buddy and the Robber Kitten. “I think it right, Mr. Owsley,” said Antoinette bravely, “that you should know at the outset I have lost the sapphire pendant. Whatever was coming as my share is forfeited.” Owsley smiled and bowed. Mis shrewd old eyes looked amused and quizzical.

“The terms of your aunt’s will are peculiar, Miss Randall,” he began, slowly. “She was most erratic, as you know'’ He cleared his throat and read, with emphasis, Mrs. Crossley Bangs last thrust at the frivolities and extravagance of the age she was glad to leave behind her. At the expiration of the five years, she trusted her two nieces would have profited so greatly by the lesson in self denial she had taught them that they could face the future with philosophy. Tony caught Ted’s glance, aqd smiled at this. She felt confident that they had discovered the vanity and utter folly of wealth and display, and the wonderful possibilities that life offered without them. Therefore she left to them her blessing and fondest love, and the balance of her jewels. In the event of one having broken the terms of the will by negligence, she desired the said jewels to go to the other sister. "11l divide them anyway,” flashed back Phyllis instantly, as he ceased reading. Ted rose and went over to where Antoinette stood. He slipped something into her hand.

“Ted!" gasped Tony. “The pendant." “I Just found it stuffed in the Robber Kitten,” Bald Ted. "It’s nice to have one, anyway, isn’t it?” He bent his head close to her dark curls as the others gathered around the pendant at the table. "You can wear it for luck at the wedding, sweetheart,” he said. And Buddy beamed on them innocently/ (Copyright, 1918, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)