The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-12-21
Story ofa Diamond Necklace.

When the Countess Dubarry was in
the height of her power, holding in
chains vicious king, Louis XIV. or
dered for her necklace of diamonds.
Bohmer and Bassenge, the jewelers.,
hunted the world through for gems
worthy TO be wrought into necklace
for the favorite of king. Before the
necklace was ready for delivery the
king died, and the jewellers found them
selves burdened with a heavy debt in
Cured in purchasing the diamonds.
They made an effort to sell the gilt
taring and costly bauble to the youthful
Marie Antoinette, but the queen de-
cIlned to purchase. The finances OF
the country did. not allow of so great
an expenditure on an article which,
however beautiful, was by no means nec-
esssry to the queen. 1t was offered to
the various European courts, but they
we're not willing TO pay $400,000 for a
diamond necklace, however precious the
stones might be For ten wears the
jewellers persisted in offering the neck
lace to the queen, until she grew weary
of the persecution. Thinking that they
Faw their opportunity when the dauphin
was born. again they appeared at the
palace with the necklace, and the king
taking it, offered it to the queen, and
was astonished at the warmth of her
words when she rejected the gift. So
the jewelers. still had the unlucky neck
lace on their unwilling hands.
There was plot brewing which, il
successful, would relieve the jewellers oi
the NOS obnoxious necklace, but which
would not place it within the hands oi
royalty. 1t was plot wonderfully con.
trived and wonderfully carried out, the
chief conspirator, woman, showing re-
markable fertility OF resource, uncom.
mon audacity, and great recklessness Of
consequences.
This woman, the Countess de ls
Motto, was descended in an irregular
way from Henry ii. of Valois. The
Saint Remi family, however, had beer
reduced through poverty to the Lowest
extreme of degradation; and, however
their exalted lineage, they had lost al
traces of their royal pedigree.
When we are first introduced to the
wickedLcountess she is begging on th'
roadside with her little sister on he
back, she herself child of tendel
years. Deserted by her unnatura
mother these little ones had to taxi
care OF themselves, and perhaps th,
cunning for which the willy countess
was distinguished had been acquired
during her vagrant career.
It was fortunate day for her when
running beside the carriage of the Mar
chioness de Boulainvilliers, she cried
"Pray take pity on two orphans, de
of Franc" Such an appeal was likel,
to attract attention, as it was uuusua
to see the members of royal family re
duced to such plight. The marchiones
inquired into the girls story, and find
ing that her lineage could be traced
even though remotely and irregularly
to O king of France, she sent for th,
children 10 her chateau and befriendeC
them. Every educational advantage
was given them, and by persistent ef
forts she had their claim to royal de
scent acknowledged, and q pension O
S160 year settled on each of the thre
children-for there was boy also. Th
little beggar-girl was now known q
Mademoiselle Valois; and after she haC
completed her education she went t,
Bar-Sur-Aube, the place of her birth
Here she encountered M. de Ia Motto
an officer in the gendarmes, and marriet
him.
Even at this early age her mora
character was not above suspicion, an,
it is clear that she was utterly deficien
in self-respect and in proper principle
Full of pretense and of ambitious as
pirations, she thought that a daughte
of the house of Valois should support
certain style. Neither her husband no
herself had the means to keep up dis
play, or even a moderately genteel ap
pearance, and like many other weak
minded people under similar circum
stances, they began to borrow, beg AM
steal. She now assumed the title O
countess and her husband that of count
Fancying that she was kept out of he
ancestral estate, she fairly besieged al
who she thought could be of service i
pushing her claims.
Having beens unfortunately for hin
introduced to the Cardinal de Rohar
grand almoner Of France, she prepare
secure him in her tolls. he was nc