Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-11-30

some fashionablos to the opera. Thi
carriage and house belonged to the Ba
+ ron De ", who was just then stand
ing at tbe Bottom Of the noble staircas
inside the mansion, calling playtully t,
{ his wife, telling her that the carriage wal
waiting.
"Tm coming, I'm coming, ," was the an
swer to this appeal; don't be in such {
p hurry p
As the last piece of advice was prOfFer.
ed the speaker appeared at the top of the
stairs.
She was a dark beauty of about one
and twenty, and dressed purely in white.
She came futtering down stairs, chatter
ing meantime to her handsome husband,
who stood looking admiringly at her.
Now I'm quite ready,.so please don't
scOld. I've only got my bracelets to put
on, and those 1 want you to clasp for me.
Here's the case, if you'll take them out,
and here's my wrist Now, suppose I
were to lose them in the crowd, what
would our good mother say ?"
A smile was the only answer the baron
vouchsafed, as he took the bracelets out
of their case and clasped them on the fair
white arm Of his bride.
They were very costly, being each COM
posed of three rows of valuable table dia-
monds, whilst in the center of either gilt
tered a spray of heartsease, artistically
formed of smaller diamonds. The brace
lets we're rendered more precious to their
pOssessors by the fact of their having
been in the De v family for three
generations. They now by right belong
ed to the dowager baronne, but she insist
ed on giving them to her son for his
bride, who, therefore, wore them on such
occasions as the one We are describing.
The Baron and Baronne de v
stepped into their carriage, and in few
minutes we're entering their box at the
opera. The house was already full, al
though it wan,ed fifteen minutes to the
time announced for the overture to be-
gin. At length the members of the or
chestra took their places, and the pecu-
liar, subdued sound of tuning stringed |
instruments was heard. Still the royal |
box was empty, and all eyes were turned !
towards it in eager expectation. In au-
other moment applause burst from the
pit aud gallery and entire house, as Louis /
Phjllippe-and Queen Marie Amelie, at
tended by a.large suite of officers and Ia
dies and gentlemen Of the court. appear
ed. The king dqueen bowed gras-ciou
ly in return for the homage paid them,
and then took their seats, at which the
rest Of the company did the same, and
the overture commenced.
The queen looked unusually happy |
and seemed to take a lively interest in all |
around her She not only gazed at the
stage, but the boxes also came in for
share of her penetrating observation.
Suddenly she bent slightly forward and
looked in the direction Of the box that
contained the lovely young BarOnne de
V. The latter was leaning forward,
her right hand raised, finger of which
touched one of her dimpled cheeks, deep
ly interested in the fate of " Don Giovan-
nj, and quite absorbed in the beautiful
music.
Her husband had noticed the queens
gesture, and was aware that she had OBJ
served his wife, and when the queen turn
ed away he laughingly told her of it.
" Nonsense" cried the bride, "dont
fancy such absurdities.
The truth of what her husband said,
however, soon forced itself on her mind,
for at that moment an officer, dressed in
the same uniform as those attending the
royal party, drew back the curtain behind
their box, and stepping forward, said,
q Pardon, madame, but her majesty's ad-
and curiosity has been-so rOus-
ed by the sight of the beautiful bracelets
you wear, that she has commissioned me
to come and request you to spare me one
for few moments for closer inspection"
The pretty baronne blushed, looked up
to her husband for his approval, then un-
clasped one of the bracelets and handed
it to the officer, feeling not little fat
tered at the attention and distinction the
queen had conferred on her.
The last act of the opera began, and at
length the last scene ended, yet the brace
let was not returned. Its owners thought
the officer had doubtless forgotten it, and
the baron said he would 60 and make in
quiries for it. He did SO, and in a few
returned, though without the
bracelet. So.
Adele, said he to hiswife, ait is very
strange, but not seeing the officer who
took your bracelet, I asked one of the
others who was in theroyal box the whole
evening, and he says your bracelet was
neither sent for nor fetched"