Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-01-23
The Diamond Bracelets.


his glory departed forever. All Paris
knew that he would grace the opera that
night and add to its usual lustre the gilt
tering pomp and circumstance Of power.
Accordingly all that portion Of Paris who
had the necessary number Of francs went
to the opera, and, in honor Of 50 great
an OCCASION Mons. Blauvais. the director,
was to produce "La Propheto.v
The overture wns ever, the Emperor.
accompanied by tho Empress, radiant in
her beauty and plitterng with jewels.
had just entered the royol box; his saite.
uniformed in every color Of the rainbow,
stood grouped in the background In
another moment the bell would Jingle
and the opera commence. But in an in
slant of time when every sound was
heard, the second box to the right Of the
Emperor was opened. and the curtains
were drawn aside. and revealed the love-
/ ly wife Of the Russian ambassador, Duke
Metzkerwitch
No wonder that The boil tinkled nm
heard and the curtain went up unnatic-
ed no wonder that every eye was fixed
with fascinated gaze upon the woman
who bad Just taken her seat and was
calmly and with well-bred nouchalance
glancing about the house; for upon her
arms, bla2ing like bcacous, sparkled the
diamonds Of which Paris had heard 50
much. and which royalty IN vain had
long sought to purchase 4 hum Of I'D
miration ran through the house, and then
for the FIRST time the enchanting strains
Of the chorus were listened to.
When the curtain fell upon the first
sst ard Milford This ogling Milady
That, seatrut, wearing The imperial
livery, presented himrelf at the Russian
Ambassadors box. raped only as an I'M
perial funky could rap, and then entoeoJ
the box.
Her Majesty hadaotced the brace
lets and was dumb with admiration;
would MiIady be 50 gracious as % allow
the Empress to mako personal exami-
nation of one Of the bracelets Y
In an instant the fair arm was s,lnrn
of its gems, and with snothered ejacnlg-
ton Of delight the nan wearing The inn
perial livery bowed himself out Of tbo
box, bearing the bracelet that million
of francs could not purchase.
i The curtain fell upon the third acf, rs
cended 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 politenrss, the wife Of tho
Russian Ambassador waited for the re-
turn of her priceless jewels Tie mpe-
rial party rose aud leparted and yet the
bracelet was not returned Thon the
Duke, within terrible frpwn lfimpltience.
rose and drove rapidly to The lniIlerics
anddemandcd Che returnof thadamonas
/ Explanations followed, and the Duke
was Ut lastconviuced tItat lilo linpresl
had never sent for the bracelet. and tina,
the man wearioq tho imperial livery was
one Of the daring thieves who infested
the capital. lie babe bis c6achmaD to
drive to the office Of tie prefeot Of Police
and ere daylight hundred Of the shrewl-
est officers we're searching Paris for the
gems The Duke. filed with anxiety,
remained at the Office for tidipgs while
/ the Duchess rcstlessly awaited the reeoy
cry Of her bracelet 40 home
The great clock had just tolled the
hour Of 6 when tho boil Of tho Dako's
hotel rang violently, aud m ofiicerof tho
police was usherod into the presence Of
1 the Duchess.
"Was The bracelet recovered p and
''would they imprison the scoundre for
the rest Of his days Y eagerly demanded
the Duchess.
"Nith grave bow tho officer stated
that The thief was taken and upon his
person was found tie bfacelet. But tho
fellow stoutly insisted chat be was not -
thief, and that he bracelet ia bis posses
sion bad been ia bis family for many
years Would madame iBsrast 70 him
the mate to the missing bracelet, that the
identity might be complato2
Madame the Duchess. without a word,
unlocked her casket and placed in the
hands Of the trusty officer the second
bracelet The officer. with n profound
4 bow. left the apartment and madame re-
tired once bore-this time to sleep and
to dream Of her precious diamonds.
When The bell tolled tho hour Of . the
4 Russian ambassador, haegard and disor-
dered, entered his wife's apartments anil
threw himself 10 despair into chair
/ Mndame opened her eyes aud with
smile Of delight asked for the bracelets.
Satan I" exclaimed the Duke, Eve
can learn nothing Of them.
What shrieked the NADINE, have
you not recovered it The officer who
came for the other bracelet said the thief
bad been taken and the bracelet found.
The duke, with amazement, sprang to
his feet, and in husky voice. bcsought
his wife to explain In few words She
told him And then, with groan, the
duke dropped into a seat.
II see It ALL said he, "the rascals
have robbed you Of the second bracelet.
The man to whom yali gave IL was no Of
fcer, but a holder thief than he who rob
bed you first"
And 50 it proved. The bracelets were
nt9er returned, and the Russian ambas-
sador recalls the last fete day Of the fall
en- Emperor with sigh, for It made aim
poorer BY. Dlany millions Of francs than
he was wien be handed bis charming
wife into bis carriage and babe his coach
man drive to the opera.
How to raise beets: Take hold Of the
top and pull