Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-25
T.r .rowy or A MING.
How Well the Jewels OF an Actress
Keen Thefr own secret.

Mile. Mars related 10 ber you'niu' oor
league of the Theatre Franchise, the
pretty Aimee Doze, the history OF
diamond ring occasionally worn by her.
"Many years ago." she said, 81 was
playing at the Coincide Francalse
Mile. do Beauval in Brueys ct Pala-
pratt the plo. OF which is extremely
simple. and hinges OH the delivery OF an
author from prison by means OF dia-
mond ring generously offered him by
celebrated actress Of the time. Before
commencing the stage mansger brought
ne, according TO custom, the property
rirg used FOR the piece, which was
merely a bit Of rudely.cut glass IN
rim Of copper; ] wore It as usual, and
gave it back in The course OF the eve
ming. Two day s after the same comedy
was again given, and this time the
house was crowded to excess. ! had Jdst
left my dressing room, when, instead OF
the ring had worn on the previous oc-
casion. the stsge.mauager presented me
with small case in light blue velvet,
together with a sealed note, saying that
they lad been left for me by servant
in livery, with the request that ! would
wear the enclosed ring in lieu OF the
other. IOpened the case and discoy-
cred a magnificent diamond ring, which
so surprised and dazzled me that for
moment forgot the accompanying
note; but at length, rejecting that it
would probably explain the mystery, |
broke the seal and read as follOws:
"'Tbe ring worn two nights ago By
Mile. dc Beauval was neither worthy OF
her nor of you. Accept this one,
Madam, without fear it is offered as a
simple homage to the artist, and he who
sends il pledges himself ever to remain
her unknown admirer.'
1.-The lines bore no signature, and
confess that felt momentary hesita'
ton before complying with a request
which, after all, might pot be quite so
DISTINGUISHED as it at first sight ap-
ptsred. | had, however, no time for
reflection, as the stage was waiting; so
slipping the ring on my finger, | man
aged to get through my part without
any unWonted emotion. During the
performance | tried to discover among
the audience the writer Of the note, but
in vain. and when the curtain fell re.
turned to nay dressipg.room, where my
maid, Lisette, was waiting for me.
Naturally, the diamond attracted her
notice, and, on my telling her how ]
came byit, Depend upon it, Madame
she said, it is 10 real stone If it were,
it would be worth an enormous sum Of
money 80 much the better | re-
piled those who make valuable pres
ents TO actresses generally end by de-
handing something in return, and !
have not the least desire to acanow-
ledge the obligation.
Presently the room was filed With
the regular habitneS, AID ] c2Iefully
scarned every face IN the hope Of d.
yining the mysterious donor, bus with
out success. When they we're gone
iisttte came back in great excitement,
: have sometime 10 tell Madame, she
said, Which will astonish her.. Have
sou found out tho writer's name:' !
eagerly asked. No. she replied, 'but
what Is more to the purpose, have as
ccItained the value oC the diamond.
While Madame was talking 10 the gen.
tlemen | took il to jo6eller in the
Palais Royal, and he assured me tina. it
vas worth at the very least thirty
thousand francs On my scoldjng her
Tor doing this without my permission,
she urged that | ought to know IT'S value
saucily adding that 'if people we're not
aware how much they Owed they would
never be in a position to pay their
debts
Time passed, and nothing occurred
to relieve my anxiety the ring had
been long since carefully put away in
my iewel.boz, for | felt that | ought
not to wear it, regarding it as a deposit
which, sooner or later, would ineylta-
bly, be demanded back from me. About
a year after / had received 1t, while
dining with & colleague of our theatre,
one ofmy mothers old friends suddenly
burst into the room where we were sit
ting and announced TO me that M hotel
had been broken into, and all my dia-
monds stolen. | ha,.ened home, and
found everything in disorder, and M
servants in panic Of CONSERVATION.
Thanks to the activity Of the police the
thief was ultimately captured, and, as
you may baye read in the journals Of
the time, condemned to the gaIleys ; the
greater part Of the Jewels were re-
covered and restored to me, but among
those missing, much to my regret, was
the diamond ring.
4" Some years later, | was invited %
a fancy bali given by the Countess do
il, a lady holding a prominent
position in society, who had spared
nothing to render her fte the great
event OF the season. 1t was scene OF
aud the night was far adj
vsnced before / could tear myself
away from so brilliant n spectacle.
Passing through gallery leading to the
entrance hail, | suddenly felt hand
upon NY arm, and looking up beheld
gazing ihtently al mo masked figure
in the costume OF Charles tho Seventh's
time and wearing a blue velvet skull
cap with a eweled clasp. For mo-
ment or Two he remained silent, but
presently asked me, in voice trem-
bling with emotion, if had forgotten
the evening Of Bruey's ct Palaprat.'
"No, / replied, with vain attemp.
at compOsure. How could ~
My words seemed to make pro-
found impression on him, for he seized
my hand and claSped it warmly. You
it still, he exclaimed, 'eyen
though the token that might have kept /
it in your memory has disappeared |
Tell me, did you regret its loss?'
Bitterly | said mot so much for !
its value, as on account Of the mystery
attached to it,
"If it we're again in your possession,
and here he paused on the same
conditions as before, would it give you
pleasure ?
50 How can you doubt it!
"Ile held my hand in his and pressed
it tenderly; then mastering his agita-