A SUDDEN INFATUATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 13

A SUDDEN INFATUATION

‘Tf mademoiselle wishes ” began the clerk. “Pardon, monsieur, I am Aim©. Alontresor,” interrupted tho young woman. “If mndamo wishes,” corrected the clerk. “I am sure At. Crigon would allow tho buckle to he sent to the hotel, certainly, yes.” “But I do not wish him to send it to tho hotel,” replied Alme. Alontrcsor. “I will call again to-morrow and then, perhaps. At. Crigon may bo in.” “Wo thank you,” said the clerk. Alme. Alontrcsor deft tho .jewellery shop in the Kuo Scribo and walked slowly until she met at the next corner a man who bowed gravely to her and fell easily into stop at her side. “Ho was not there.” remarked madame, briefly. “Too bad.” said the man. ‘‘Another day is lost.” “Yes,” said madam©, “and it is expensive, this staying at the Hotel Ritz. How much is left now?” “About .2000 francs.” ‘Well, that’s enough for another week,” mused madam©, as she and her companion walked toward tho hotel. The following day Alme. Alontrcsor and'tho man walked into Crigon’s shop again. Tho clerk who had waited upon tier cam© forward. “AI. Crigon is within,” he said. AI. Crigon stepped forward. “What would it be that you wish?” ho inquired. Then h© looked at the young woman. Tho man who had accompanied her strolled toward tlio door and stood swinging his walking stick. “Aly father,” began madamo. “Herr Rudolph Richter, wishes me to select the gift which ho proposes for my birthday. Yesterday your assistant was good enough to show me a diamond buckle which Mould pleas© me.” Crigon stared at her again. Her eyes dropped and a faint 'lush came into her cheeks under tlio steady gaze. “Would it bo tlie Burraah buckle?” asked Crigon finally. “Perhaps. Tho man did not say,” replied niacin me. Crigon turned to a ling© safe and took from it a tray containiftg gems which an export would have valued at. more than one fortune. “That is tho one,” said madam©, pointing to the most beautiful piece in tb© tray. “That is the Buraiah buckle,” said Crigon. ; _ “And its price?” inquired madame. “Eighty thousand francs,” said Grigon. Aladamo picked up tho buckle and held it to her throat. “Is it well, there?” sho asked, and her glance fell straight into the eyes of Crigon. “Adorable,” said the Frenchman. "To-morrow,” continued madame, “is my birthday—the first bine© the death of my husband—and my father desires to give me what I like best. Now, if monsieur would be good enough to bring the buckle to the hotel to-night I have no doubt that Herr Richter will purchase it from him.” That evening Crigon went to the Hotel Ritz. Herr Richter appeared, saying that ids daughter vvaj in the garden. AYith Crigon ho went in search of her. They found her in tho balcony. Grigon seated himself beside her and Herr Riohter walked a-way. Crigon took the wonderful gems from the case. “I do not know,” lie began, “if madam© understands love at first sight. She has had the goodness to tell mo that sho has been but recently made a widow through the unfortunate death of her husband. I have seen madame driving in the Bois these many days, but until yesterday when she came to my shop I had not known how much I loved her, If madame will deign to show me the favour of hopinr that I may ask her to bo my wife, then she will accept from me the Burmah buckle in token of her favour.”

Madame looked at him wonderingly. -“Monsieur is good,” she said. Grigon laid the buckle in her hand. “It shall be as madame wishes,” he said. He bowed and bade her good-night. On the verandah he met Herr Richter. “I have asked your daughter to be my wife,” he said, “and I have left her with the Burmah buckle for her birthday gift.” ' Richter went back to the balcony. Madame held up the buckle for him to see. “That was easier than stealing it,” he said, briefly. Then ho continued: “What will you do? Shall we take the midnight train for Berlin?” “No,” she replied, “I shall marry him. Then I shall give the gems to you.” A month later Grigon and Mmob Mcntresor were married. She wore the Burmah buckle at her throat. The following day the papers told how Mme. Grigon had been robbed of her jewels, and later in Berlin the jewellers were buying uncut gems of great value from a man who would have been recognised in the Rue Scribe as Herr Richter, the father of Mme. Montressor. But Grigon had more gems, and ho told his wife that the loss of the buckle should ho replaced on her next birthday.