The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-10-23
THE STOLEN DIAMONDS.

1t was during the palmiest days Of the
empire.
The overture was over; the emperor,
accompanied by the empress, radiant in
her ,eauty and glittering with jewels,
had just entered the royal box. In an
other moment the bell would tinkle and
tiie opera commence. But in an instant
the second box to the right of the en-
ueror was opened, the curtains were
ura.vn aside and revealed the lovely wife
of the Russian ambassador, Duke Metz
ierwitcn.
Every eve was fixed with fascinated
gaze upon the woman who had just
taken her seat, and was with we'll bred
nonchalance glancinS about the house;
for upon her arms, blazing like bea-
coiIs. sparkled the diamonds of which
Paris had heard SO much, ani which
royalty i'll vain had long sought to pur-
Chase.
A hum of admiration ran through tho
house.
When the curtain fell upon the first
act, a servant, wearing the imperial iv-
cry, presented himself at the Russian
ambassadors box, raped only as an inn
perial flunkey could rap. and then entered
the box.
"Her majesty had noticed the brace
let's and was dumb with admiration;
would milady be so gracious as to allow
the empress to make a personal examl-
nation.
In an instant the fair arm was shorn
of a bracelet. and with a smothered
circulation of delight the man wearing
the imperial livery bowed himself out OF
the box.
The curtain fell upon the third act,
ascended again on the fourth, the notes
of the nnaIe rolled through the house.
the curtain fell for the last time, and
still with we'll bred politeness the wife
of the Russian ambassador waited TO,
the return of her priceless jewels. Tht
, imperial party rose and departed, and
! vet the bracelet was not returned. Then
l the duke, with terrible frown of i'm
patience, rose and drove rapidly to thu
Tuileries and demanded the return Of
\ the diamonds.
4 Explanations followed, and the dok'
n was at last convinced that the empress
had never sent for the bracelet, and tn
!, man wearing the imperial livery was on
: Lof the daring thieves who infested tn
n capital He bade his coachman drive t.
= the prefeet of police, and ere daylight
\ hundred of the slirewdest officers wer'
!, y searching Paris for the gems. The duke
= filed witl.Nnxiety, remained at the oftic
n for tidiugs, while the duchess awaitet
n the recovery Of her diamonds at home.
The great clock has just tolied 3, whel
!, u the bell OF the dukes hotel rang. and al
n officer of the police was ushered into tn
n presence of the duchess.
Il WAS the bracelet recovered?" an
, "would they iinprison the scoundrel TO
- the rest of hi, d,ys?"
- With a grave bow the officer state
8. that the thief was taken and upon hi
- person was found the bracelet. But tn
N \, fellow stoutly insisted that he was nc
m m the thief, and that the bracelet had bee
m in his family many years Would mad
m anne intrust to him the mate of the mis-
II, II, ing bracelet, that the identity might 3
m complete!
M Madame, the duchess, without wore
m unlocked her casket and placed in th
III III hands of the trusty officer the secon
m bracelet The officer, with profoun
m bow, left the apartment. and madam
. retired once more-this time to sleep an
IN to dream of her precious diamond
N When the bell tolled the hour of 8 Il
. Russian ambassador. haggard and di
m ordered, entered his wife's apartmel
m ard threw himself in despair into chai
M M Madame opened her eyes, and, with
m smile of delight. asked for the bracelet
m Satan! we can learn nothing Of them
m "What!" shrieked the madame, "ha'
lily you not recovered it? The officer wi
came for the other bracelet said that t
,x- thief had been taken, the brace]
,on found!"
10 The duke. with an exclamation
'rd amazement, sprang to his feet, and, II
nd husky voice, besought his wife to e
ion plain. In a few words she told hi
m And then, with a groan, the du
er, dropped into a seat
'ha II see it ALL" said he; "the rasc
zen have robbed you Of the second bracel
on The man to whom you gave it was
officer, but bolder thief than
ex. first.
And so it proved. The bracelets VI
18th never returned, and the Russian amb
w ~ sador recalls the fete day OF the faA
teS- ,-;<L - loo~ dro ciOh