Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-02
Adventures Of an Indian Diamond.

Of IN Indian DtAtnOnd.
The following jewel story is told |
in recent number of Chambers |
Journal
During the Indian mutiny, and |
after the destruction Of some Of the
rich palaces and temples, the sol
diers picked up valuable articles,
useless to themselves, and which
they frequently threw away again,
as troublesome to carry; or gladly
sold to any one who would give
them a few rupees in exchange.
Among these acquisitions was a
large, very roughly-cut diamond,
which had been one of the eyes of
a gorgeously painted idol, enshrined
in one Of the temples that had
been destroyed. A soldier picked
it out Of its socket, and as it was a
rough. dull looking stone, he
thought very little of it, and was
Just going to throw it away, when
an officer who stood by offered him
two or three rupees for it. He also
put but small store by his purchase
of the lusterless stone; and it was
only from its position as the eye of
an idol that he Judged it might
possibly be of greater value than
seemed likely from its outward APP
pearance. Some time afterward he
showed it to a native jeweler, who
offered to buy it from him at q
considerable increase on the price
he had given for it; but he was
going to England, and thought il
wiser to take the stone with him
and have it properly cut by a first.
class lapidary. This was done anC
very fine stone resulted, which
the jeweler, at the most moderate
calculation, valued at e5O0.
The officer had it set in a ring
and wore it for several years quite
safely; but one day CHANGING to bt
in London, he went into a shor t
buy a pair Of gloves, aud looking
at the ring on his little finger h,
observed that the setting was emp
~. the diamond gone. He exam
/ i1ed his gloves, his pockets, tn
floor Of the shop; no trace OF tn
stone was to ba seen. ard so IT
gave it up as lost. However, -
mentioned the matter at his club
and told the club master to post uI
a notice offering ten pounds re
ward to any one who should fn(
tile diamond. A day or two after
ward the stone was brought to him
lIt lad been found by one Of tn,
housema;As in a darkish passage
that led to the billiard-room. The
reward was gladly paid and the
diamond taken to the jeweler, tC
be once more frmly placed in th'
ring. -,
Again some years passed. ID,
officer had been back to India, apt
d was on furlongh in this country
and had gone to Scotland to shoe
= with friends who had taken a moo,
in the Highlands. One hot Angus
day he had been out for seyera
/. hours tramping over miles AM
miles of close heather, grous
shooting. He was still walking
R when a covey Of birds rose llttl
]. way off. He raised his gun to tax
n aim, when his eye CHANGED to faI
on his ring, and he saw that th
d setting was once more empt,
n Stopping to look at it, the bird
, got away; and he lid down th
Il oun on the heather beside him, gp
n carefully examined the place whel
rs !" he stood with very feeble hope
finding the glittering stone. Notl
ID ing was to be seen of it; and whe
10 he recollected the many miles !
2 had traversed that day, and I'll
e nature Of The ground be had bee
v ON, he abandonsd. all idea Of eve
acain recovering bis damon,
He stopped for his gun, and I'll
thought flashed into his mln'
T'l turn out the charge-the thin
is just possible!" He did SO; DIRE
the wad, and then shook out Il
: contents of the barrel, shot, powd,
Il and-the diamond Ithad slippC
;, = uimoticed into the muzzle when
! was loading; and but for the lVcE
e chance that had caused him TO r
mark the absence from the ring,