Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-15
The story Of an Empress
Jewel.

The Story Of an Empress'
Jewel.
A richly-furnished double par
Tor in a prominent hotel in this
city--two glowing heaters casting
forth summer-like beams, over
Swallowed by massive mirrors
with emSOssed frames. In back
parlor a group of four seated in a
corner, and a single gentleman
in the opposite corner leaning
against the mantle-piece. In the
centre of the little gronp was seat
ed a scribe of the press. The other
three were ladies, and on the bos-
ON of one, a golden brown-haired
charmer; one of our New World
queens, sparkled breasf-pin won
derous in Its beauty and shining
like far off Alpha Lyra.
"Come and examine this rare
work of the cunning craftsman's
hand,n spoke the scribe.
The man with the pale face, the
curling hair and the full dark eyes,
a student who had oft burned the
midnight oil in deep researches,
approached the blithesome beauty,
who, in her fieecy rohe of white
seemed like q messenger of light,
love and JOY from the other world.
In the centre of the breast-pin
shone superb emerald; worth
kings ransom diamonds and
pearls surrounded it. arranged in
crosses, circles, triangles, andsfrom
its centre depended lovely pearl
embosomed in q shell of gold.
And then, as the emerald met
the eye of the student, it seemed to
sparkle with strange light and to
fash out mysterious meanings,and
looking closely upon the transluc-
ent star Of green, he beheld q
strange scene.
Beneath the shadow of the pyr-
amids old Egypt two men sat en-
gagged in a deadly contest, not
with deadly weapons, pistol,
sword, or knife. but with the paint
ed pictures that first were invent
ed to soothe the madness of the
unhappy Charles of France. One
was Spaniard, tall and swarthy |;
the other dark-haired son of Is
rael's banished race.
"The stake is yours" cried the
Jew in despair, "and l am a ruin
ed man."
mot so," replied the ether" the
breast-jewel you carry within your
bosom, that; stake it against all l
have Won"
The Jew shuddered.
"That jewel is sacred, he cried;
ssfor years it has been handed
down to my tribe; should / lose it,
life must go also"
"He that fears should not play"
replied the spaniard.
sMaddened by the taunt, the des-
perate CANISTER drew from his
bosom the costly gem in whose
centre a great emeral shone.
The gcards dealt, the spaniard
won, and then, with a wild, pierre
ing shrek, the Jew placed pistol
against his head, and with his
blood STAINED the lustre of the
sparkling gold and precious stone.
The Spaniard coolly wiped away
tide gore, and placed the ornament
within his breast.
"My beautiful Eugene will prize
this trinket," he muttered. A cool,
dark, silent man the Count de
Montijo.
And then another scene appear
ed upon the surface of the emerald
ever Dathed with multitudin0us
light.
A tall. ill-shaped man, with cur
ling moustache and pointed impe'
rial, forever dreamy with the
dream of destiny, in an obscure
Spanish chateau, attracted by 9
charming brown-haired girl, il
form ard feature, in grace, wit and
sparkle the counterpart of our heo
rfne, and upon the bosom regal
ornament, the centre stone an EN-
eraid.
"And who is yonder lady? ?" HI
aikedj
"Engenie Marie De Guzmau