Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-08-29
MY DIAMOND.

10 say lDdI bOtlSut IL ntlN NtdIS
ago from an old Jew in the lower part
OF Broadway, who told me curious
story concerning it. He said it was q
talisman; that four hundred years ago
it was owned by a Venetian family OF
ruined fortunes, who had long guarded
it with jealous care; it had passed from
them III many ways TO brothers of his
in the money-lending way, and should
be mine if would pay him his price
for it.
In truth the stone had Il strange and
fiery gleam. AT the first glance it
seemed of the purest water; in an in
slant it changed to pink, blue and pale
green, and then ilrldescent opal hues,
emitting sparks of fire.
watchI d it curiously for nearly an
hour, talking irrelevantly the while on
other matters, and reluctantly coming
to the conclusion that if ever pre-
cious stone possessed uncannv proper.
ties this one certainly did. | thought
myself yielding to foolish superstition,
or that my eyes were tired with long
gazing at the gem, and to rest them /
turned my glance to other diamonds in
the case to compare them with the tai.
isman. The jew OWNED my thoughts,
for he took from his side pocket wal
let and opened it, and from Il compart.
ment brought out several small tissue
paper packets, opened them and
showed to me large and sparkling dia-
monds.
There is not one like that you have
in your hand" he said. He was right.
All were bright in their glistening flash
and merciless gleam : wondrously
beautiful, but all were unlike the tails
man.
"Why do you sell it," | asked.
With all this wealth you cannot need
money, and if what you tell me of its
talismanic property be true, the gem is
priceless"
II wish to sell it if you have the
courage to buy" he made answer.
1t seemed TO me that he purposeiy
made his tone dramatic, and 1 smiled
scornfully. As for the stone itself, l
liked it; the story he told its virtue,
although | only half believed it, in;
leresteu me. 1 nad nu rear or any evil
supernatural influence; it was just the
size wanted to buy and in shape and
cutting it was all that was to be de-
sired.
The old Jew told me that when was
about to embark in any enterprise that
would prove successful, the stone would
dazzle with unusual brilliancy. If mis-.
fortune or death was to come upon me
or NINE the stone would appear dull
and almost neutral.
Now am practical sort of fellow,
but | had no objection 70 take the
mystery along with the stone, provided
it was thrown in rs bargain and had
not to pay extra for it, In few
minutes had made up my mind and
counted out to him four hundred dol
lars, the price he asked for it and
left.
| wore the diamond for more than
five years; at first in ring, afterwards
in shirt-stud and then again in ring.
1t now encircles the finger of a lovely
lady, whose little daughter calls me
papa" All this time there have been
no tragedies in our family, and no
dear friend has died. My own health
has been excellent, and am quite re-
signed to have il put down to magma
ton on my part that, to me, my stone
is bright or dull, according to the pros
poets ahead. Only this | affirm, that
twice, when to test it, went contrary to
It's warning, the punishment quickly
followed the otlense. Once | specuiated
in Pacific Mail and lost heavily, and
once | asked a sweet lady friend to be
my wife and she refused me-plump.
Superstltions or not, as you Will, re-
gard my diamond AS my talisman, my
mentor, and ever since my unsuccessful
woolng have looked upon it with love
not unmixed with awe. One morning,
when riding down town i'll Madison
avenue car to my business, looked up
from my paper conscious OF PAIR 81
eyes fixed upon me. Opposite was a
lady OF about 20 years. dressed in soft
sombre gray; the only bits OF color %
relieve it--excent me bloom in her re-
fined face, was bit of red, low down
beneath the brim Of her gray felt hat.
Her ewes were light, lustrous brown;
her hair, much darker and glossy, was
was brushed back in waves from her
low forehead, upon which curl or two
fell, not the detestable bangs" which
| frankly state abhor, butshort, grace
full, fringe-like ringlets, rested upon the
white brow as if they loved i. There
was no doubt about it, this rare and
radiant maiden was gazing at me.
i looked at her in return with lace
l tried to make expressive Of nothing,
certainly not curiosity. She glanced
down at her book, Daniel DerondA.
| returned to my Geographic dispatches
in the Herald. Again felt her gaze, and
again looked up and met her eyes.
She had evidently wanted 70 speak Y
me, or else had something on her mind
concerning me. Had ever seen her
before? | asked myself. No she
seemed too modestly sweet 70 wish
to attract the attention OF
stranger. Perish the thought,
said inwardly. But she was certainly
looking at me again. am not bad
looking fellow, and as men 60, not a
bad sort. ! have always been popular