The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-05-28
A French Diamond Robbery.

Inflated second empire. Inc trlumphS
OF the Crimea were not yet forgotten,
the laurels won at Magenta were still
verdant and fresh; Sedan, with all its
bitter humiliation and disastrous
train of tragic consequences, doomed
in the misty future, u%ndreamed OF
amidst the almost fabulous luxury
and Incredible frivolity which paved
the way for the final terrible fiasco.
It was an evening in mid-winter.
The Partisan season was at it's height
and q brilliant audience had assem-
bled at the Theater Franchise to wit
g the performance OF Jules San
deans delightful play, "Mlle. de Ia
Seigiierre," i'll which the role OF Des-
t%ournelles vas filled by the great Reg
nier, and that OF Helene by Madeline
Brohan, then in the zenith other fame,
radiant with youth, beauty, and those
destinations, the outcome OF innate
talent andrefinement, which rendered
this gifted lady one ofthemost charm
ing and perfect actresses OF modern
days.
The empress was present, graceful
and beautiful; the emperor at her side,
wrapped in his favorite air Of gloomy
abstraction, which, like Lord Bur
ieigh's celebrated nod, was supposed
to mean SO much, yet which, viewed
by the impartial light of subsequent
veracious history, seems to have sig
niiied SO very little. Several officers
in glittering uniforms were in attend
ance, sparkling with decorations
showered upon them by a grateful
sovereign; and. among these gallant
warriors, conspicuous by reason of
the ~sombreness OF his attire, was a
solitary. humble, b~lack-coated civil
ian in ordinary evening dress, with
the inevitable speck of red at his but
ton-hole.
In a box almost Immediately oppo-
site that occupied by their imperial
majesties, was q young and exceeding
ly handsome Russian lady, the Count
ess Ivanof, CONCERNING whose mani
fold graces and facinations the great
world OF Paris elected to interest it.
self considerably at this period.
The beauty and wit OF this fair
northern enchcntress were the theme
OF every masculine tongue, and her
magnificent diamonds the envy and
admiration OF all feminine beholders.
The countess was accompanied by
her husband, u fine man of distin-
guished, prepossessing appearance,
who looked III embodied refutation OF
the celebrated Napoleonic aphorism,
as though no amount of Scratching
could ever unearth the Cossack ele-
ment underneath his refined polished
exterior.
The curtain fell after the first act.
The emperor and empress withdrew
during the ontr' acte. Many humber
mortais followed their example; among
them Count IvanoH, apparently in no
wise disturbed by the fact that the
golden youth in the stalls were bring
ing q small battery of opera glasses to
bear upon the dazzling charms OF his
beautiful wife, with a brazen persist
ency which we chiyalrous Britlsher,
like to aatter ourselves is the monop.
oily of foreigners.
The countess leaned backin her lux
urious fauteuil, tanning herself dream
lily, serenely Indifferent to the interest
she was exciting. In the dim light oi
her curtain shaded box the glitter OF
her splendiddlamonds seemed to form
q sort OF luminous halo around her
graceful head; a myriad starry brill
iants cleaned among the masses OF
her gold.brown hair, and two priceless
stones, ,popularly reported TO be
worth that unknown quantity,a kings
ransom, flashed andtwinkled liketWin
planets in her little shelled ears.
The count had not beer gone FIVE
minutes when there was agentle knock
at the door, and III answer to the
countess "Entrez," the ouvreuse ap.
paared and saiddeferentially:
Pardon, Nine. la Comtesse, q gen
tleman charged with a message from
her majesty the empress waits in the
corridor, and desires to know if mad
anne will have the goodness to re
ceive him."
Certainly! Enter, ! beg OF you, mon
sieur,n replied the countess in q low
sweet voice which was not the least OF
her many attractions, bowling gra-
ciously, as she recognized the distin-
guished-looking civilian she had al
ready noticed in close proximity to
the emperor in the imperial box.
The visitor advanced a few steps,
ard, still standing in a deep shadow,
said with grave dignity:
81 trust my intrusion may be par.
doned. / am desired by her majestyt to
ask . favor OF Nine. Ia Comtesse, and,
ct the same time, to beg that she will
have the goodness to excus a some.
what unusual request"
1.-THE obligation will be mine if I can
fulfill even the least of her majesty's
Wishes" answered the countess grace.
fully. {
1.-THE case is this" explained the
gentleman, in q tone OF well-bred ease;
argument has arisen concerning
the size of the diamonds in your ear
ings and those ofthe Countess w. The
empress begs that you will intrust one
OF your pendants to her care for a few
mOmentg as the only satisfactory
method Of disposing of the vexed ques.
ton. / will myself return it the in
dtant her majesty gives it back into
my keeping"
ssWiththe greatest pleasure" agreed
tho countess, with amiable alacrity
dstaching the precious jewelforthwith,
and deposing it, without misgiying, in
thu outstretched palm of the imperi-
a messenger; for, indeed, diamonds
were almost "a plentiful in the ex-
btsn1es lot this fortunate lady as in
tho paRtes 81 Lothian. and abe attached
no moro Importance to them than
did tho Lowell laden heroines Of our
iats kroat and hmented premier.
T76ecountesS bestowed q smile and
IsSn,souel ssrow has