Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-01-22
THE DIAMOND BRACELETS.

1t was during the palmiest days
of the empire. Never was Paris SC
gay; it was the fete day of the En-
peror, the last tiickering blaze of its
greatness, ere his glory departed for
ever. All Paris knew that he WOULD
grace the opera that night, and add
to its usual lustre the glittering pomp
and circumstance of power Accor-
dinghy all that portion OF Paris who
had the necessary number of francs
went to the opera, and, in honor of
so great an occasion, Mons Blauvais,
the director, was to produce la
Prophete."
The overture was over; the En-
peror, accompanied by the Empress,
radiant in her beauty and glitt ring
with jewels, had just entered the roy
al box; his suite, uniformed in every
color of the rainbow, stood grouped
in the background. In another mo-
ment the bell would tinkle and the
opera commence, But in an instant
of time, when every sound was heard,
the second box to the right of the
Emperor was opened, and the cur
tains were drawn aside, and revealed
the lovely wife of the Russian Am
bassador, Duke Metzkerwitch.
No wonder that the bell tinkled
unheard and the curtain went up un-
noticed; no wonder that every eye
was fixed with fascinated gaze upon
the woman who had just taken her
seat and was calmly and with well
b ed nonchalancs glancing about the
house; for upon her arms, blazing
like beacons, sparkled the diamonds
of which Paris had heard SO much,
and which royalty III vain had sought
to purchase. A hum Of admiration
ran through the house, and then, for
the fist time, the enchanting strains
ofthe chorus were listened to.
When the curtain fell upon the
first act, and Milford This ogling
Milady That, aservant wearing the
imperial livery presented himself at
the Russian Ambassadors box, rap
ped only as an imperial hunky could
rap, and then entered the box.
"Her Majesty had noticed the
bracelets and was dumb with admira-
tian; would Milady be so gracious as
to allow the Empress to make aper-
sonal examination Of one Of the
bracelets"
In an instant the fair arm was
shorn of It's gems, and with
smothered ejaculation of delight the
man wearing the imperial livery
bowed himself out of the box, bear
ing the bracelet that million OF
francs could not purchase.
The curtain fell upon the third act,
ascended again on the fourth, the
notes of the finale rolled through the
house, the curtain fell for the last
time; and still, with well,bred polite
ness, the wife of the Russian Am
bassador waited for the return OF
her priceless jewels. The imperial
party rose and departed, and yet the
bracelet was not returned. Then
the Duke, with a terrible frown OF
Iimpatience, rose and drove rapidly
TO the Tuileries, and demanded the
return ofthe diamonds.
Explanations followed, and the
Duke was at last convinced that the
Empress had never sent for the
bracelet. and that the man wearing
the imperial livery was one Of the
daring thieves who infested the capl'
tai. He babe his coachman drive tc
the Office OF the prefect OF police, and
ere daylight a hundred Of the
shrewdest officers were searching
Paris for the gems. The Duke, fl
lied with anxiety, remained at the
Office tor tidings, while the Duchess
restleasiy awaited the recovery Of hel
bracelet at home.
The great clock had just tolled the
hour of six, when the bell Of th'
Dukes hotel rang violently, and al
officer of the police was ushered int
the nresence of the Duchess.
"Was the bracelet recovered ans
swould they imprison the scoundre
for the rest of his days?' eagerl!
demanded the Duchess.
With a gfave bow the officer stateC
that the thief was taken, and upoi
his person was found the bracelet
But the fellow stoutly insisted tina
he vas not thief, and that the brace
let in his possession had been in hi
family tor many years. Would mad
anne intrust to him the mate to tn
missing bracelet, that the identit.
might be complete?
Madame, the Duchess, without
word, unlocked her casket and place
in the hands of the trUsty officer tn
second bracelet. The officer, with
profound bow, left the apartment
and madame retired once more, thi
time to sleep, and to dream Of be
: precious diamonds, When the bel
tolled the hour of nine, the Russial
Ambassador, haggard and disordered
entered his wife's aparIments an,